Population per 1 square kilometer. Population of countries of the world

Monaco, a dwarf state, has 18,700 inhabitants per square kilometer of territory. By the way, the area of ​​Monaco is only 2 square kilometers. What about countries with the smallest population densities? Well, such statistics also exist, but the indicators may change slightly due to the constant change in the number of residents. However, the countries presented below end up on this list anyway. Let's watch!

Don't say you've never heard of such a country! The small state is located on the northeastern coast of South America, and this, by the way, is the only English-speaking country on the continent. Guyana's area is comparable to that of Belarus, with 90% of the people living in coastal areas. Almost half of Guyana's population are Indians, and blacks, Indians and other peoples of the world also live here.

Botswana, 3.4 people/sq.km

The state in South Africa, bordering South Africa, is 70% territory of the harsh Kalahari Desert. The area of ​​Botswana is quite large - the size of Ukraine, but there are 22 times fewer inhabitants than in this country. Botswana is predominantly inhabited by Tswana people, with small groups of other African peoples, most of whom are Christians.

Libya, 3.2 people/sq.km

The state in North Africa on the Mediterranean coast is quite large in area, however, the population density is small. 95% of Libya is desert, but cities and settlements are distributed relatively uniformly throughout the country. The majority of the population is Arabs, with Berbers and Tuaregs living here and there, and there are small communities of Greeks, Turks, Italians and Maltese.

Iceland, 3.1 people/sq.km

The state in the north Atlantic Ocean is entirely located on a fairly large island of the same name, where the majority of Icelanders live, descendants of the Vikings who speak the Icelandic language, as well as Danes, Swedes, Norwegians and Poles. Most of them live in the Reykjavik area. Interestingly, the level of migration in this country is extremely low, despite the fact that many young people go to study in neighboring countries. After graduation, most return for permanent residence to their beautiful country.

Mauritania, 3.1 people/sq.km

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is located in West Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and bordered by Senegal, Mali and Algeria. The population density in Mauritania is approximately the same as in Iceland, but the territory of the country is 10 times larger, and there are also 10 times more people living here - about 3.2 million people, among whom most of the so-called black Berbers, historical slaves, and also white Berbers and blacks speaking African languages.

Suriname, 3 people/sq.km

The Republic of Suriname is located in the northern part of South America.

A country the size of Tunisia is home to only 480 thousand people, but the population is constantly growing little by little (maybe Suriname will be on this list in 10 years, say). The local population is represented largely by Indians and Creoles, as well as Javanese, Indians, Chinese and other nations. There is probably no other country where so many languages ​​of the world are spoken!

Australia, 2.8 people/sq.km

Australia is 7.5 times larger than Mauritania and 74 times larger than Iceland. However, this does not prevent Australia from being one of the countries with the lowest population density. Two-thirds of Australia's population lives in 5 major mainland cities located on the coast. Once upon a time, until the 18th century, this continent was inhabited exclusively by Australian Aborigines, Torres Strait Islanders and Tasmanian Aborigines, who were very different from each other even in appearance, not to mention culture and language. After European immigrants, mostly from Great Britain and Ireland, moved to the distant “island,” the number of residents on the mainland began to grow very quickly. However, it is unlikely that the scorching heat of the desert, which occupies a decent part of the mainland’s territory, will ever be developed by humans, so only the coastal parts will be filled with inhabitants - which is what is happening now.

Namibia, 2.6 people/sq.km

The Republic of Namibia in southwest Africa is home to more than 2 million people, but due to the huge problem of HIV/AIDS, accurate figures fluctuate.

Most of Namibia's population is made up of Bantu people and several thousand Mestizos, who live mainly in a community in Rehoboth. About 6% of the population are white - descendants of European colonists, some of whom retain their culture and language, but still, the majority speak Afrikaans.

Mongolia, 2 people/sq.km

Mongolia is currently the country with the lowest population density in the world. Mongolia is a large country, but only just over 3 million people live in the desert areas (although there is currently a slight population increase). 95% of the population are Mongols, Kazakhs, as well as Chinese and Russians are represented to a small extent. More than 9 million Mongolians are believed to live outside the country, mostly in China and Russia.

degree of population, population density of a given territory. Expressed as the number of permanent residents per unit of total area (usually per 1 km2) of the territory. When calculating P. n. Sometimes uninhabited areas are excluded, as well as large inland waters. Density indicators for rural and urban populations are used separately. P.n. varies greatly across continents, countries and parts of the country, depending on the nature of human settlement, the density and size of settlements. In large cities and urban areas it is usually much higher than in rural areas. Therefore P. n. of any region is the average of the population levels of individual parts of this region, weighted by the size of their territory.

Being one of the conditions for population reproduction, P. n. has some influence on its growth rate. However, P. n. does not determine population growth, much less the development of society. Increase and unevenness of increase in P. n. in certain parts of a country it is the result of the development of productive forces and the concentration of production. Marxism denies the views according to which P. n. characterizes absolute overpopulation.

In 1973, the average P. n. inhabited continents was 28 people. per 1 km2, including Australia and Oceania ≈ 2, America ≈ 13 (North America ≈ 14, Latin America ≈ 12), Africa ≈ 12, Asia ≈ 51, Europe ≈ 63, USSR ≈ 11, and in the European part ≈ 34, in the Asian part ≈ ​​about 4 people. per 1 km2.

See also Art. Population.

Lit.: National Economy of the USSR in 1973, M., 1974, p. 16≈21; Population of the countries of the world. Handbook, ed. B. Ts. Urlanisa, M., 1974, p. 377-88.

A. G. Volkov.

Uneven distribution of the world's population

The world's population has already exceeded 6.6 billion people. All these people live in 15–20 million different settlements - cities, towns, villages, hamlets, hamlets, etc. But these settlements are distributed extremely unevenly across the earth's landmass. Thus, according to available estimates, half of all humanity lives on 1/20 of the inhabited land area.

Rice. 46. Cultural regions of the world (from the American textbook “Geography of the World”)

The uneven distribution of population on the globe is explained by four main reasons.

The first reason is influence of natural factors. It is clear that vast areas with extreme natural conditions (deserts, ice expanses, tundra, highlands, tropical forests) do not create favorable conditions for human life. This can be demonstrated by the example of table 60, which clearly shows both general patterns and differences between individual regions.

The main general pattern is that 80% of all people live in lowlands and hills up to 500 m high, which occupy only 28% of the earth's land, including in Europe, Australia and Oceania, more than 90% of the total population live in such areas, in Asia and North America - 80% or so. But, on the other hand, in Africa and South America, 43–44% of people live in areas exceeding 500 m in altitude. Such unevenness is also typical for individual countries: the most “low-lying” include, for example, the Netherlands, Poland, France, Japan , India, China, USA, and the most “exalted” are Bolivia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mexico, Iran, Peru. At the same time, most of the population is concentrated in the subequatorial and subtropical climate zones of the Earth.

The second reason is the impact historical features settlement of the earth's land. After all, the distribution of population across the Earth’s territory has evolved throughout human history. The process of formation of modern humans, which began 40–30 thousand years ago, took place in South-West Asia, North-East Africa and Southern Europe. From here people then spread throughout the Old World. Between the thirtieth and tenth millennia BC, they settled North and South America, and at the end of this period, Australia. Naturally, the time of settlement to some extent could not but affect the population size.

The third reason is differences in modern demographic situation. It is clear that the number and density of population is increasing most rapidly in those countries and regions where its natural growth is highest.

Table 60

DISTRIBUTION OF THE EARTH'S POPULATION BY HIGH ZONES

Bangladesh can serve as a striking example of this kind. This country with a small territory and very high natural population growth already has a population density of 970 people per 1 km 2. If the current level of birth rate and growth here continues, then, according to calculations, in 2025 the country's population density will exceed 2000 people per 1 km 2!

The fourth reason is impact. socio-economic conditions people’s lives, their economic activities, the level of production development. One of its manifestations may be the “attraction” of the population to the coasts of the seas and oceans, or more precisely, to the land-ocean contact zone.

The zone located at a distance of up to 50 km from the sea can be called zone of immediate coastal settlement. It is home to 29% of all people, including 40% of all urban residents of the world. This share is especially high in Australia and Oceania (about 80%). This is followed by North America, South America and Europe (30–35%), Asia (27) and Africa (22%). The zone located 50-200 km from the sea can be considered as indirectly connected to the shore: although the settlement itself here is no longer coastal, in economic terms it feels the daily and significant influence of the proximity of the sea. Approximately 24% of the total population of the Earth is concentrated in this zone. The literature also notes that the share of the population living at a distance of up to 200 km from the sea is gradually increasing: in 1850 it was 48.9%, in 1950 – 50.3, and now reaches 53%.

The thesis about the uneven distribution of population across the globe can be concretized using many examples. One can compare in this regard the Eastern and Western Hemispheres (80 and 20% of the population, respectively), and the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (90 and 10%). It is possible to distinguish the least and most populated areas of the Earth. The first of these include almost all the highlands, most of the giant deserts of Central and South-West Asia and North Africa, and to some extent tropical forests, not to mention Antarctica and Greenland. The second group includes the historically established main population clusters in East, South and Southeast Asia, Western Europe, and the Northeast of the United States.

To characterize the distribution of the population, different indicators are used. The main one - the population density indicator - allows us to more or less clearly judge the degree of population of the territory. It determines the number of permanent residents per 1 km2.

Let's start with the average population density for all inhabited land on Earth.

As one might expect, during the twentieth century. – especially as a result of the population explosion – it began to increase especially rapidly. In 1900, this figure was 12 people per 1 km 2, in 1950 - 18, in 1980 - 33, in 1990 - 40, and in 2000 already about 45, and in 2005 - 48 people per 1 km 2.

It is also interesting to consider the differences in average population density that exist between parts of the world. Populous Asia has the highest density (120 people per 1 km 2), Europe has a very high density (110), while in other large parts of the Earth the population density is lower than the world average: in Africa about 30, in America - 20, and in Australia and Oceania - only 4 people per 1 km 2.

The next level is a comparison of the population density of individual countries, which allows for Figure 47. It also provides the basis for a three-member grouping of countries in the world according to this indicator. A very high population density for a single country can obviously be considered an indicator of over 200 people per 1 km 2. Examples of countries with such population density are Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, India, Israel, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Republic of Korea, Rwanda, and El Salvador. The average density can be considered an indicator close to the world average (48 people per 1 km 2). As examples of this kind, we name Belarus, Tajikistan, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ecuador. Finally, the lowest density indicators include 2–3 people per 1 km 2 or less. The group of countries with such a population density includes Mongolia, Mauritania, Namibia, Australia, not to mention Greenland (0.02 people per 1 km 2).

When analyzing Figure 47, it is necessary to take into account that very small, mostly island, countries could not be reflected in it, and it is precisely they that are distinguished by particularly high population densities. Examples include Singapore (6450 people per 1 km2), Bermuda (1200), Malta (1280), Bahrain (1020), Barbados (630), Mauritius (610), Martinique (350 people per 1 km2) , not to mention Monaco (16,900).

In educational geography, consideration of contrasts in population density within individual countries is quite widely used. The most striking examples of this kind include Egypt, China, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. At the same time, we should not forget about the archipelagic countries. For example, in Indonesia, the population density on the island. Java often exceeds 2000 people per 1 km 2, and in the interior of other islands it drops to 3 people per 1 km 2. It should be noted in passing that, if appropriate data are available, it is better to analyze such contrasts on the basis of comparing the density of the rural population.

Russia is an example of a country with a low average population density of 8 people per 1 km 2. Moreover, this average hides very large internal differences. They exist between the Western and Eastern zones of the country (4/5 and 1/5 of the total population, respectively). They also exist between individual regions (population density in the Moscow region is approximately 350 people per 1 km 2, and in many regions of Siberia and the Far East - less than 1 person per 1 km 2). This is why geographers usually highlight in Russia The main settlement strip, stretching with a gradually narrowing range across the European and Asian parts of the country. About 2/3 of all residents of the country are concentrated within this band. At the same time, Russia has vast uninhabited or very sparsely populated territories. They occupy, according to some estimates, approximately 45% of the country's total area.

Rice. 47. Average population density by country of the world

The population on Earth is unevenly distributed. This is due to various reasons:

a) the influence of natural factors: deserts, tundra, highlands, areas covered with ice, and tropical forests do not contribute to the settlement of people;

b) the effect of historical features of the settlement of the earth's land;

c) differences in the modern demographic situation: features of population growth on continents;

d) the influence of the socio-economic living conditions of people, their economic activities, and the level of development of production.

The countries with the highest population density are those with 200 people per 1 km2. This group includes: Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Lebanon, Bangladesh, India, Republic of Korea, Japan, Philippines. Countries in which population density is close to the world average - 46 os/km2: Cambodia, Iraq, Ireland, Malaysia, Morocco, Tunisia, Mexico, Ecuador. Low population density - 2 individuals / km2 have: Mongolia, Libya, Mauritania, Namibia, Guinea, Australia.

The overall population density of the Earth is constantly changing. If in 1950 it was 18 os/km2, in 1983 - 34, in the early 90s - 40, and in 1997 - 47. About 60% of humanity lives in low-lying areas of the Earth no higher than 200 m, and 4/5 - at altitudes up to 500 m above sea level. Sparsely populated or not at all populated areas (including the continental glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland) occupy almost 40% of the land area; 1% of the Earth's population lives here.

The most populated areas of the world, occupying up to 7.0% of the territory, are home to up to 70% of the total population of the Earth.

Significant population concentrations have formed in both old agricultural and new industrial areas. Population densities are especially high in industrialized areas of Europe, North America, as well as in ancient areas of artificial irrigation (Ghana, Nile and Great Chinese lowlands). Here, in the most densely populated areas of the globe, occupying less than 10% of the land, about 2/3 of the planet's population lives. The most populated part of the world is Asia. The demographic center in Asia is located in the region of the Hindustan subcontinent. The most populated areas here are areas of intensive agriculture, in particular rice cultivation: the Ganges delta with the Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy. In Indonesia, the majority of the population is concentrated on the island of Java with fertile soils of volcanic origin (population density exceeds 700 people/km2).

The rural population of South-West Asia is concentrated along the foothills of Lebanon, Elbrus, and between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Quite a high population density on the coast of the Persian Gulf, which is associated with oil production, as well as around the Sea of ​​Japan (on the Japanese Islands - more than 300 people/km2, in South Korea - about 500 people/km2).

Europe is also unevenly populated. One region of high population density extends from north to south - from Northern Ireland through England, the Rhine Valley to Northern Italy - and is interrupted only by the Alps. This belt concentrates many industries, intensive agriculture, and developed infrastructure. The second runs in western Europe from Brittany, along the Sambir and Meuse rivers through northern France and Germany. The high concentration of population in North-West Europe is explained by the fact that it was here that industrial areas arose, which led to an increase in natural population growth and influx of labor. About 130 million people live in Western, Central, Southwestern and Southern France, on the Iberian and Apennine peninsulas, and on the islands of the Mediterranean Sea. The average population density here reaches 119 people/km2.

Among the countries of Central-Eastern Europe, Ukraine has a high population density - 81 individuals / km2, Moldova - 130 individuals / km2. The average population density in Russia is 8.7 individuals/km2.

A fairly high population density is characteristic of a number of countries in Central Europe, but it is unevenly distributed. Mountain areas and forests are sparsely populated. The usual population density in Poland is 127 people/km2, the maximum - more than 300 - in the industrial regions of Upper and Lower Silesia. The population density of the Czech Republic is 134 individuals / km2, Slovakia - 112, Hungary - 111. Many of the populations of the eastern part of Southern Europe are concentrated on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, per 1 km2 there are: in Serbia, Montenegro - 42 people each, Slovenia - 100, Macedonia - 4 , Croatia - 85, Bosnia and Herzegovina - 70 os/km2.

The distribution of the population in North America largely depends on the time of settlement of individual territories. The bulk of the population of the United States and Canada is concentrated east of 85°N. in the region bounded by the Atlantic coast, a narrow strip of the border between the United States and Canada (up to the Great Lakes), and the southern shores of the Mississippi and Ohio lakes. About 130 million people live in this part of the continent.

In the Central American region, the Antilles are especially densely populated: in Jamaica there are 200 people per 1 km2, in Trinidad, Tobago and Barbados - 580 people. Low population densities in the desert regions of northwestern Mexico.

A significant number of South Americans live in coastal areas on the western and eastern edges of the continent. Large areas of equatorial Amazon forests and savannas (Chaco), as well as Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, are underpopulated.

On the African continent, population density is very low. Particular causes are natural conditions (deserts, moist equatorial forests, mountainous areas), as well as colonization and the slave trade in the past. The population is more concentrated in coastal areas, where large cities or plantations are concentrated. These are the Mediterranean regions of the Maghreb, the shores of the Gulf of Guinea from Côte d'Ivoire to Cameroon, as well as the plains of Nigeria.

In Australia, the most densely populated areas are in the eastern, southeastern edge of the continent.

Harsh climatic conditions prevented the settlement of the Arctic and subarctic zones; less than 0.1% of the planet's population lives here.

True, in modern conditions the role of contrasts caused by natural conditions is decreasing. In connection with industrialization and the introduction of scientific and technological progress, socio-economic factors have an increasingly greater influence on the distribution of the population.

The world's population is distributed very unevenly across the territory. This can be easily tracked using a concept called average population density, that is, the number of inhabitants of the world, country or city per square kilometer. The average density of countries varies hundreds of times. And within countries there are absolutely deserted places or, on the contrary, cities where several hundred people live per square meter. East and South Asia and Western Europe are especially densely populated, while the Arctic, deserts, tropical forests and highlands are sparsely populated.

The world population is extremely unevenly distributed. About 70% of the total population of the planet lives on 7% of the land area. Moreover, almost 80% of the Earth's population lives in its eastern part. The main parameter that shows the distribution of the population is population density. The average global population density is 40 people per square km. However, this figure varies depending on the location, and can be from 1 to 2000 people per kilometer.

The lowest population densities (less than 4 people per kilometer) are Mongolia, Australia, Namibia, Libya and Greenland. And the highest population density (200 people per square kilometer or more) is in Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Israel, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Korea, and El Salvador. Average population density in the countries: Ireland, Iraq, Morocco, Malaysia, Ecuador, Tunisia, Mexico. There are also areas with extreme conditions that are unsuitable for life; they belong to undeveloped territories and occupy approximately 15% of the land area.

Over the past ten years, huge concentrations of people called conurbation have appeared in several places around the world.

They are constantly increasing, and the largest of such formations is Bostonians, located in the USA.

Huge differences between regions in the rate of development and population growth are rapidly changing the map of the planet's population.

Russia can be classified as a sparsely populated country. The population of the state is disproportionate compared to its vast territory. Most of Russia is occupied by the far north and areas equivalent to it, the average population density of which is 1 person per square meter.

The world is gradually changing, and at the same time it is coming to a modern reproduction regime, in which the birth rate is low and the death rate is low, which means that soon the number, and therefore the population density of countries, will stop increasing, but will remain at the same level.

Steadily growing. But at the same time, people are distributed very unevenly across the surface of the planet. What is this connected with? Let's talk about which country has the highest population density and how this can be explained.

Earth's population: features

Throughout Earth's history, peoples have migrated across the planet in search of better living conditions. Initially, people settled in places with a warm climate, near water, with sufficient food and other resources. It is in such points that today there is a larger number of people living than in areas with more harsh living conditions. That is why the countries with the greatest predominance are in warm latitudes. Later, when all the favorable zones were intensively populated, people began to move to less comfortable places. Civilization made it possible to deal with deprivation without great expense. And peoples began to strive to those places where comfortable conditions for existence had already been created. That is why today they are much more attractive for migrants than developing countries. Also, demographics strongly depend on the culture and traditions of the people. Therefore, countries with the highest population density are states in which it is common to have many children.

Population density concept

Observations of demography on Earth began in the 17th century. During the Industrial Revolution, they became necessary for quality planning and use of resources. In the 20th century, population density was added to traditional demographic indicators. It is calculated based on the area of ​​the country and the total number of its inhabitants. Knowing how many people there are per 1 square kilometer, taking into account the number of births and deaths allows us to calculate how many people will need different material goods: food, housing, clothing, etc. and plan competent life support for the population.

In the first quarter of the 20th century, countries with the highest population density were first identified and the first scenarios were developed for the further development of the demographic situation on Earth. Today the average on the planet is 45 people per 1 sq. km, but due to the increase in the number of earthlings, this figure is gradually increasing.

The value of the population density indicator and factors influencing it

Demographic calculations are initially associated with the rational use of natural resources. Back in 1927, sociologists introduced the term “optimal density”, but have not yet decided on its numerical expression. Observations of this indicator are necessary in order to identify countries with the highest population density, because they are a potential source of social tension. The more people live in a limited space, the more intense the competition among them for vital resources. Information on density forecasts allows you to begin to solve this problem in advance and find ways to eliminate it.

This indicator is influenced by several main factors. These are, firstly, natural living conditions: people like to live in warm countries with a good climate, which is why the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, and the equatorial zones, are so densely populated. It is also common for peoples to strive to go where comfortable, modern living conditions already exist, with sufficient social security. That is why there is such a large flow of migrants to developed countries in Europe, the USA, New Zealand, and Australia. The number of residents is directly influenced by the culture of a nation. Thus, the Muslim religion is built on the value of a large family, which is why the population in Islamic countries is higher than in Christian countries. Another factor influencing density is the development of medicine, in particular the use of contraception.

List of countries

The answer to the question of which countries have the highest average population density does not have a clear answer. Since the ratings are based on the results of national population censuses, and they are conducted in all states at different times, and therefore exact figures on the number of residents at a certain moment do not exist. But there are stable indicators and forecasts that allow us to compile the TOP 10 countries with the highest density. Monaco is always in first place (slightly less than 19 thousand people per 1 sq. km), followed by Singapore (about 7.3 thousand people per 1 sq. km), the Vatican (about 2 thousand people per 1 sq. km), Bahrain (1.7 thousand people per 1 sq. km), Malta (1.4 thousand people per 1 sq. km), Maldives (1.3 thousand people per 1 sq. km). km), Bangladesh (1.1 thousand people per 1 sq. km), Barbados (0.6 thousand people per 1 sq. km), China (0.6 thousand people per 1 sq. km) and Mauritius (0.6 thousand people per 1 sq. km). The last three states on the list often change their positions in accordance with the latest data.

Most populous regions

If you look at a world map to find out where the most people live, you can easily see that the greatest density is in Europe, Southeast Asia and certain countries in Africa. When we explore Asia and ask ourselves which countries in the region have the highest population density, we can say that the leaders here are Singapore, Hong Kong, the Maldives, Bangladesh, and Bahrain. These states do not have birth control programs. But China was able to curb the growth in numbers and today is in 134th place in the world in terms of density, although not long ago it was among the leaders.

Population Density Outlook

When characterizing countries with high population densities, sociologists look to the future with pessimism. Asia's growing population is a potential conflict zone. Today we already see how migrants are besieging Europe, and the process of resettlement will continue. Since no one can stop the growth of the number of inhabitants on Earth, it is obvious that population density will only increase. And large overcrowding of people always leads to conflicts for resources.

There are cities in the world with large populations. And nothing else if the city occupies a large territory and the population density in it is small. What if the city has very little land? It happens that the country is small, but there are rocks and the sea around the city? So the city has to build up. At the same time, the population per 1 square kilometer is growing rapidly. The city goes from simple to densely populated. We immediately note that it is population density that is taken into account here, while there are other ratings where megacities are located by area, number of inhabitants, number of skyscrapers, as well as many other parameters. You can find most of these ratings on LifeGlobe. We will go directly to our list. So, what are the biggest cities in the world?

Top 10 most populous cities in the world.

1. Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city in China and one of the largest cities in the world, located in the Yangtze River Delta. One of the four cities under central control of the People's Republic of China, an important financial and cultural center of the country, as well as the world's largest seaport. By the beginning of the 20th century. Shanghai has grown from a small fishing town into the most important city in China and the third financial center in the world after London and New York. In addition, the city became a center of popular culture, vice, intellectual debate and political intrigue in Republican China. Shanghai is the financial and commercial center of China. Market reforms in Shanghai began in 1992, a decade later than in the southern provinces. Before this, most of the city's income went irrevocably to Beijing. Even after the tax burden was reduced in 1992, tax revenues from Shanghai accounted for 20-25% of revenues from all of China (before the 1990s, this figure was about 70%). Today Shanghai is the largest and most developed city in mainland China. In 2005, Shanghai became the world's largest port in terms of cargo turnover (443 million tons of cargo).

According to the 2000 census, the population of the entire Shanghai area (including the non-urban area) is 16.738 million people, this figure also includes temporary residents of Shanghai, whose number is 3.871 million people. Since the previous census in 1990, Shanghai's population has increased by 3.396 million people, or 25.5%. Men make up 51.4% of the city's population, women - 48.6%. Children under 14 years old make up 12.2% of the population, the age group 15-64 years old - 76.3%, elderly people over 65 - 11.5%. 5.4% of Shanghai's population is illiterate. In 2003, there were 13.42 million officially registered residents in Shanghai, and more than 5 million more. live and work in Shanghai unofficially, of which about 4 million are seasonal workers, mainly from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Average life expectancy in 2003 was 79.80 years (men - 77.78 years, women - 81.81 years).

Like many other regions of China, Shanghai is experiencing a construction boom. Modern architecture in Shanghai is distinguished by its unique style, in particular, the upper floors of high-rise buildings, occupied by restaurants, are shaped like flying saucers. Most of the buildings under construction in Shanghai today are high-rise residential buildings, varying in height, color and design. Organizations responsible for planning the development of the city are now increasingly focusing on the creation of green areas and parks within residential complexes to improve the quality of life of Shanghai residents, which is in keeping with the slogan of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai: “A better city - a better life.” Historically, Shanghai was very Westernized, and now it is increasingly taking on the role of the main center of communication between China and the West. One example of this is the opening of the Pac-Med Medical Exchange, an information center for the exchange of medical knowledge between Western and Chinese health institutions. Pudong has houses and streets very similar to the business and residential areas of modern American and Western European cities. There are major international shopping and hotel areas nearby. Despite its high population density and large number of visitors, Shanghai is known for its very low crime rate towards foreigners.

As of January 1, 2009, the population of Shanghai is 18,884,600, if the area of ​​this city is 6,340 km2, and the population density is 2,683 people per km2.

2. Karachi

KARACHI, the largest city, main economic center and seaport of Pakistan, is located near the delta of the Indus River, 100 km from its confluence with the Arabian Sea. Administrative center of Sindh province. Population as of 2004: 10.89 million people. Originated in the early 18th century. on the site of the Baloch fishing village of Kalachi. From the end of the 18th century. under the rulers of Sindh from the Talpur dynasty, it was the main Sindh maritime and commercial center on the Arabian coast. In 1839 it became a British naval base, in 1843-1847 - the capital of the province of Sind, and then the main city of the region, which was part of the Bombay Presidency. Since 1936 - the capital of the Sindh province. In 1947-1959 - the capital of Pakistan. The favorable geographical position of the city, located in a convenient natural harbor, contributed to its rapid growth and development during the colonial period and especially after the division of British India into two independent states in 1947 - India and Pakistan.

The transformation of Karachi into the main political and economic center of the country led to rapid population growth, mainly due to the influx of immigrants from outside: in 1947-1955. with 350 thousand people up to 1.5 million people. Karachi is the largest city in the country and is one of the largest cities in the world. The main trade, economic and financial center of Pakistan, seaport (15% of GDP and 25% of tax revenues to the budget). About 49% of the country's industrial production is concentrated in Karachi and its suburbs. Factories: metallurgical plant (the largest in the country, built with the assistance of the USSR, 1975-85), oil refining, engineering, car assembly, ship repair, chemical, cement plants, pharmaceutical, tobacco, textile, food (sugar) industries (concentrated in several industrial zones : CITY - Sindh Industrial Trading Estate, Landhi, Malir, Korangi, etc. The largest commercial banks, branches of foreign banks, central offices and branches of insurance companies, stock and cotton exchange, offices of the largest trading companies (including foreign ones). International airport (1992).The port of Karachi (cargo turnover over 9 million tons per year) serves up to 90% of the country's maritime trade and is the largest port in South Asia.Naval base.
The largest cultural and scientific center: university, research institutions, Aga Khan University of Medical Sciences, Hamdard Foundation Center for Oriental Medicine, National Museum of Pakistan, Navy Museum. Zoo (in the former City Gardens, 1870). Mausoleum of Quaid-i Azam M.A. Jinnah (1950s), Sindh University (founded in 1951, M. Ecoshar), Art Center (1960). Architecturally interesting are the central streets, built in the period between the world wars with buildings made from local pink limestone and sandstone. Business center of Karachi - Shara-i-Faisal streets, Jinnah Road and Chandrigar Road with buildings mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries: the High Court (early 20th century, neoclassical), the Pearl Continental Hotel (1962), architects W. Tabler and Z. Pathan), State Bank (1961, architects J. L. Ricci and A. Kayum). To the northwest of Jinnah Road is the Old Town with narrow streets and one- and two-story houses. In the south is the fashionable area of ​​Clifton, built up mainly with villas. Buildings from the 19th century also stand out. in the Ingothic style - Frere Hall (1865) and Empress Market (1889). Saddar, Zamzama, Tariq Road are the main shopping streets of the city, where hundreds of shops and stalls are located. There are a significant number of modern multi-storey buildings, luxury hotels (Avari, Marriott, Sheraton) and shopping centers.

As of 2009, the population of this city was 18,140,625, area 3,530 km2, population density 5,139 people. per km.sq.

3.Istanbul

One of the main reasons for the transformation of Istanbul into a world metropolis was the geographical location of the city. Istanbul, located at the intersection of 48 degrees north latitude and 28 degrees east longitude, is the only city in the world that is located on two continents. Istanbul lies on 14 hills, each of which has its own name, but now we won’t bore you with listing them. The following should be noted - the city consists of three unequal parts, into which it is divided by the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn (a small bay 7 km long). On the European side: the historical peninsula located in the south of the Golden Horn, and in the north of the Golden Horn - the districts of Beyolu, Galata, Taksim, Besiktas, on the Asian side - the "New City". There are numerous shopping and service centers on the European continent, and mostly residential areas on the Asian continent.

Overall, Istanbul, 150 km long and 50 km wide, has an approximate area of ​​7,500 km. But no one knows its true borders; it is about to merge with the city of Izmit in the east. With continuous migration from villages (up to 500,000 per year), the population is rapidly increasing. Every year, 1,000 new streets appear in the city, and new residential areas are built in the west-east axis. The population is constantly increasing by 5% per year, i.e. Every 12 years it doubles. Every 5 residents of Turkey live in Istanbul. The number of tourists visiting this wonderful city reaches 1.5 million. The population itself is unknown to anyone; officially, according to the last census, 12 million people lived in the city, although now this figure has increased to 15 million, and some claim that 20 million people already live in Istanbul.

Tradition says that the founder of the city in the 7th century BC. There was a Megarian leader, Byzantus, to whom the Delphic oracle predicted where it would be better to establish a new settlement. The place really turned out to be very successful - a cape between two seas - the Black and Marmara, half in Europe, half in Asia. In the 4th century AD. Roman Emperor Constantine chose the settlement of Byzantium to build the new capital of the empire, which was named Constantinople in his honor. After the fall of Rome in 410, Constantinople finally established itself as the undisputed political center of the empire, which since then was no longer called Roman, but Byzantine. The city reached its greatest prosperity under Emperor Justinian. It was a center of fabulous wealth and unimaginable luxury. In the 9th century, the population of Constantinople numbered about a million people! The main streets had sidewalks and canopies, and were decorated with fountains and columns. It is believed that Venice represents a copy of Constantinople architecture, where bronze horses taken from the Constantinople Hippodrome after the sack of the city by the Crusaders in 1204 are installed on the portal of St. Mark's Cathedral.
As of 2009, the population of this city was 16,767,433, area 2,106 km2, population density 6,521 people. per km.kv

4.Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, its administrative, financial, cultural and industrial center. Located in the southeastern part of the island of Honshu, on the Kanto Plain in Tokyo Bay of the Pacific Ocean. Area - 2,187 sq. km. Population - 15,570,000 people. The population density is 5,740 people/km2, the highest among Japanese prefectures.

Officially, Tokyo is not a city, but one of the prefectures, or rather, a metropolitan area, the only one in this class. Its territory, in addition to part of the island of Honshu, includes several small islands to the south, as well as the islands of Izu and Ogasawara. Tokyo District consists of 62 administrative units - cities, towns and rural communities. When they say “Tokyo City,” they usually mean the 23 special districts included in the metropolitan area, which from 1889 to 1943 formed the administrative unit of the city of Tokyo, and are now themselves equated in status to cities; each has its own mayor and city council. The capital's government is headed by a popularly elected governor. The government headquarters is located in Shinjuku, which is the county seat. Tokyo is also home to the state government and the Tokyo Imperial Palace (also using the obsolete name Tokyo Imperial Castle), the main residence of the Japanese emperors.

Although the Tokyo area has been inhabited by tribes since the Stone Age, the city began to play an active role in history relatively recently. In the 12th century, local Edo warrior Taro Shigenada built a fort here. According to tradition, he received the name Edo from his place of residence. In 1457, Ota Dokan, ruler of the Kanto region under the Japanese shogunate, built Edo Castle. In 1590, Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the shogun clan, took possession of it. Thus, Edo became the capital of the shogunate, while Kyoto remained the imperial capital. Ieyasu created long-term management institutions. The city grew quickly and by the 18th century became one of the largest cities in the world. In 1615, Ieyasu's armies destroyed their opponents, the Toyotomi clan, thereby gaining absolute power for about 250 years. As a result of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the shogunate came to an end; in September, Emperor Mutsuhito moved the capital here, calling it the “Eastern Capital” - Tokyo. This has sparked debate over whether Kyoto can still remain the capital. In the second half of the 19th century, industry began to develop rapidly, then shipbuilding. The Tokyo-Yokohama railway was built in 1872, and the Kobe-Osaka-Tokyo railway in 1877. Until 1869 the city was called Edo. On September 1, 1923, a major earthquake (7-9 on the Richter scale) occurred in Tokyo and the surrounding area. Almost half of the city was destroyed, and a strong fire broke out. About 90,000 people became victims. Although the reconstruction plan turned out to be very expensive, the city began to partially recover. The city was again seriously damaged during World War II. The city was subjected to massive air attacks. More than 100,000 residents died in one raid alone. Many wooden buildings burned down, and the old Imperial Palace was damaged. After the war, Tokyo was occupied by the military, and during the Korean War it became a major military center. Several American bases still remain here (Yokota military base, etc.). In the mid-20th century, the country's economy began to rapidly revive (what was described as an "Economic Miracle"), in 1966 it became the second largest economy in the world. The revival from war traumas was proven by the holding of the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, where the city showed itself favorably on the international stage. Since the 70s, Tokyo has been overwhelmed by a wave of labor from rural areas, which led to further development of the city. By the end of the 80s, it became one of the most dynamically developing cities on Earth. On March 20, 1995, a sarin gas attack occurred in the Tokyo subway. The terrorist attack was carried out by the religious sect Aum Shinrikyo. As a result, over 5,000 people were injured, 11 of them died. Seismic activity in the Tokyo area has led to discussions about moving the capital of Japan to another city. Three candidates have been named: Nasu (300 km north), Higashino (near Nagano, central Japan) and a new city in Mie province, near Nagoya (450 km west of Tokyo). A government decision has already been received, although no further action is being taken. Currently, Tokyo continues to develop. Projects to create artificial islands are being consistently implemented. The most notable project is Odaiba, which is now a major shopping and entertainment center.

5. Mumbai

The history of the emergence of Mumbai - a dynamic modern city, the financial capital of India and the administrative center of the state of Maharashtra - is quite unusual. In 1534, the Sultan of Gujarat ceded a group of seven unwanted islands to the Portuguese, who, in turn, gave them to the Portuguese princess Catarina of Braganza on the day of her wedding to King Charles II of England in 1661. In 1668, the British government surrendered the islands leased to the East India Company for 10 pounds of gold per year, and gradually Mumbai grew into a center of trade. In 1853, the first railway line on the subcontinent was built from Mumbai to Thane, and in 1862, a colossal land development project turned seven islands into a single whole - Mumbai was on the path to becoming the largest metropolis. During its existence, the city changed its name four times, and for those who are not experts in geography, its former name is more familiar - Bombay. Mumbai, after the historical name of the area, reverted to its name in 1997. Today it is a vibrant city with a distinct character: a major industrial and commercial center, it still has an active interest in theater and other arts. Mumbai is also home to the main center of the Indian film industry - Bollywood.

Mumbai is the most populous city in India: in 2009, the city's population was 13,922,125 people. Together with its satellite cities, it forms the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the world with a population of 21.3 million people. The area occupied by Greater Mumbai is 603.4 sq. km. The city stretches along the coast of the Arabian Sea for 140 km.

6. Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, the administrative, cultural and economic center of the country and one of the largest cities in South America.

Buenos Aires is located 275 km from the Atlantic Ocean in a well-protected bay of La Plata Bay, on the right bank of the Riachuelo River. The average air temperature in July is +10 degrees, and in January +24. The amount of precipitation in the city is 987 mm per year. The capital is located in the northeastern part of Argentina, on flat terrain, in a subtropical natural zone. The natural vegetation of the city's surroundings is represented by tree and grass species typical of meadow steppes and savannas. Greater Buenos Aires includes 18 suburbs, with a total area of ​​3,646 square kilometers.

The population of the capital of Argentina proper is 3,050,728 (2009, estimate) people, which is 275 thousand (9.9%) more than it was in 2001 (2,776,138, census). In total, 13,356,715 people live in the urban agglomeration, including numerous suburbs immediately adjacent to the capital (2009 estimate). Residents of Buenos Aires have a half-joking nickname - porteños (literally, residents of the port). The population of the capital and its suburbs is growing rapidly, including due to the immigration of guest workers from Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and other neighboring countries. The city is very multinational, but the main division of communities occurs along class lines, and not along racial lines as in the United States. The majority of the population is Spanish and Italian, descendants of both the settlers of the Spanish colonial period from 1550-1815 and the larger wave of European immigrants to Argentina from 1880-1940. About 30% are mestizos and representatives of other nationalities, among which the following communities stand out: Arabs, Jews, English, Armenians, Japanese, Chinese and Koreans; there is also a large number of immigrants from neighboring countries, primarily from Bolivia and Paraguay, and more recently from Korea , China and Africa. During the colonial period, groups of Indians, mestizos and black slaves were visible in the city, gradually disappearing into the southern European population, although their cultural and genetic influences are still noticeable today. Thus, the genes of modern residents of the capital are quite mixed compared to white Europeans: on average, the genes of residents of the capital are 71.2% European, 23.5% Indian and 5.3% African. Moreover, depending on the quarter, African admixtures vary from 3.5% to 7.0%, and Indian admixtures from 14.0% to 33%. . The official language in the capital is Spanish. Other languages ​​- Italian, Portuguese, English, German and French - have now practically fallen out of use as native languages ​​due to the mass assimilation of immigrants in the second half of the 19th - early 19th century. XX centuries, but are still taught as foreign languages. During the period of the massive influx of Italians (especially Neapolitans), the mixed Italian-Spanish sociolect Lunfardo became widespread in the city, which gradually disappeared, but left traces in the local linguistic version of the Spanish language (See Spanish in Argentina). Among the city's religious population, the majority are adherents of Catholicism, a small part of the capital's residents profess Islam and Judaism, but in general the level of religiosity is extremely low, since a secular-liberal way of life predominates. The city is divided into 47 administrative districts, the division was initially based on Catholic parishes, and remained so until 1940.

7. Dhaka

The name of the city is derived from the name of the Hindu goddess of fertility Durga or from the name of the tropical tree Dhaka, which produces valuable resin. Dhaka is located on the northern bank of the turbulent Buriganda River almost in the center of the country and is more similar to the legendary Babylon than to the modern capital. Dhaka is a river port in the Ganges Brahmaputra delta, as well as a center for water tourism. Although travel by water is quite slow, water transport in the country is well developed, safe and widely used. The oldest section of the city, lying north of the coastline, is an ancient trading center of the Mughal Empire. In the Old City there is an unfinished fortress - Fort LaBad, dating back to 1678, which houses the mausoleum of Bibi Pari (1684). It is also worth paying attention to the more than 700 mosques, including the famous Hussein Dalan, located in the old City. Now the old City is a vast area between the two main water transport terminals, Sadarghat and Badam Tole, where the experience of observing the daily life of the river is especially charming and interesting. Also in the old part of the city there are traditional large oriental bazaars.

The city's population is 9,724,976 inhabitants (2006), with its suburbs - 12,560 thousand people (2005).

8. Manila

Manila is the capital and main city of the Central Region of the Republic of the Philippines, which occupies the Philippine Islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the west, the islands are washed by the South China Sea, in the north they adjoin Taiwan through the Bashi Strait. Located on the island of Luzon (the largest in the archipelago), Metro Manila includes, in addition to Manila itself, four more cities and 13 municipalities. The name of the city comes from two Tagalog (local Filipino) words "may" meaning "to appear" and "nilad" - the name of the original settlement located along the banks of the Pasig River and the bay. Before the Spanish conquest of Manila in 1570, the islands were inhabited by Muslim tribes who acted as intermediaries in Chinese trade with South Asian merchants. After a fierce struggle, the Spaniards occupied the ruins of Manila, which the natives set fire to escape from the invaders. After 20 years, the Spaniards returned and built defensive structures. In 1595, Manila became the capital of the Archipelago. From this time until the 19th century, Manila was the center of trade between the Philippines and Mexico. With the arrival of Europeans, the Chinese were limited in free trade and repeatedly rebelled against the colonists. In 1898, the Americans invaded the Philippines, and after several years of war, the Spanish ceded their colony to them. Then the American-Philippine War began, which ended in 1935 with the independence of the islands. During the period of US domination, several enterprises in the light and food industries, oil refining plants, and the production of building materials were opened in Manila. During World War II, the Philippines was occupied by the Japanese. The state gained final independence in 1946. Currently, Manila is the main seaport, financial and industrial center of the country. Factories in the capital produce electrical equipment, chemicals, clothing, food, tobacco, etc. The city has several markets and shopping centers with low prices, attracting visitors from all over the Republic. In recent years, the role of tourism has been growing.

As of 2009, the population of this city was 12,285,000.

9. Delhi

Delhi is the capital of India, a city with 13 million people that most travelers cannot miss. A city in which all the classical Indian contrasts are fully manifested - grandiose temples and dirty slums, bright celebrations of life and quiet death in the gateways. A city in which it is difficult for an ordinary Russian person to live for more than two weeks, after which he will begin to quietly go crazy - the incessant movement, general bustle, noise and din, the abundance of dirt and poverty will become a good test for you. Like any city with a thousand-year history, Delhi has many interesting places worth visiting. Most of them are located in two areas of the city - Old and New Delhi, between which is the Pahar Ganj area, where most independent travelers stay (Main Bazaar). Some of the most interesting attractions in Delhi include the Jama Masjid, Lodhi Garden, Humayun Tomb, Qutb Minar, Lotus Temple, Lakshmi Narayana Temple ), military fortresses Lal Qila and Purana Qila.

As of 2009, the population of this city was 11,954,217

10. Moscow

The city of Moscow is a huge metropolis, consisting of nine administrative districts, which include one hundred and twenty administrative districts. There are many parks, gardens, and forest parks on the territory of Moscow.

The first written mention of Moscow dates back to 1147. But settlements on the site of the modern city were much earlier, in a time distant from us, according to some historians, by 5 thousand years. However, all this belongs to the realm of legends and speculation. No matter how everything happened, in the 13th century Moscow was the center of an independent principality, and by the end of the 15th century. it becomes the capital of the emerging unified Russian state. Since then, Moscow has been one of the largest cities in Europe. For centuries, Moscow has been an outstanding center of all-Russian culture, science, and art.

The largest city in Russia and Europe by population (population as of July 1, 2009 - 10.527 million people), the center of the Moscow urban agglomeration. It is also one of the ten largest cities in the world.

Today's holiday is dedicated to humanity, which recently passed the 7 billion mark - World Population Day. On the occasion of the planet's population continuing to increase every hour, we propose to explore the most densely populated cities on Earth.

The main city of Taiwan, which has determined the vector of economic and urban development for communist China since the eighties, miraculously manages to combine population density with the comfort of its stay. In general, even the city metro is not particularly congested here.

The capital of the Philippines, famous for its incredible number of ancient churches and temples, has rightfully held the title of the most populous city in the world for many years. Manila's population density is more than forty thousand people per square kilometer of area - an unattainable record. Although, if we take into account the agglomeration, the picture is not so sad - a little more than ten thousand per kilometer.

The Indian city is the fourth most populous in the country, but the first in terms of density. Rightfully considered an educational and cultural center, Kolkata has not escaped all the side effects of overpopulation - massive slums with their half-starved inhabitants.

Also known as Bombay, the most populous city in India, which has surpassed the demographic mark of a billion people, simply could not help but be one of the global settlements with a record high population density. The figure is five thousand less than in Calcutta and two times lower than in Manila, which, however, does not make it less impressive and terrifying at the same time.

Having a population of just over two million people (this does not take into account the numerous suburbs, where five times more people working in the capital are settled), it is among the most densely populated cities in the world due to its compact size - only a hundred square kilometers (25 times less than than Moscow Square!). At the same time, it does not cause the effect of overpopulation, unlike the same one dotted with slums.

Egypt's capital of eight million is famous for its neighborhoods that look more like huge monumental buildings, a city of garbage collectors and traffic lights that can be counted on one hand. The first of the city's dubious attractions did not appear because of a good life - Cairo has nowhere to expand given the constantly high number of internal migrants arriving in the city.

With a vast agglomeration, in the center of the largest city of Pakistan, there is, so to speak, no crowding - more than ten million people live on just over five hundred square kilometers of area. Even more of them arrive in the center every morning to work from far-flung surrounding areas.

In terms of population and population density, Nigeria's largest city is rapidly catching up with the Egyptian capital - having gained almost five million people in ten years, the important African port has reached the mark of eighteen thousand people per square kilometer. And Lagos is clearly not going to stop there.

Chinese Shenzhen, which sets records for population growth rates, has long surpassed other cities in the Middle Kingdom in terms of the number of people per unit area. In addition to traditionally not the best environmental condition in the entire country, Shenzhen, being the main business center of China, was able to avoid the main problems of overpopulation.

The capital of South Korea is filling up with people clearly faster than it can grow. With a population density of almost eighteen thousand people per square kilometer, it continues to be one of the most comfortable cities in the world to live in.

Another Indian city on the list, following the example of its peers, is not too bothered to solve the problems associated with overpopulation. Being the fourth largest in India, Chennai suffers from the usual problems for the region - slums, streets clogged with traffic, problems with communications and sanitary conditions for citizens.

The Colombian capital is always included in the lists of dynamically developing cities in the world - the city government deserves the respect of many international authorities for its efforts and success in solving the problems of the most populous city in South America. Of course, there are also slums formed by new migrants, but Bogota copes with its almost eleven million people perhaps better than anyone in the region.

The largest city in China and the first most populous city in the world could not be left out of this selection. Thanks to the rather vast territory occupied by Shanghai, it finds itself in one of the last positions, more or less successfully distributing a damn dozen thousand people across its 746 square kilometers. And if we take into account the agglomeration, then the business capital of the Celestial Empire can be considered a city of free spaces.

A small Belarusian mining town may seem like an alien, it’s unclear how it got on this list, but the facts speak for themselves - with an area of ​​only ten square kilometers, the town is inhabited by more than one hundred thousand people. Unlike other small settlements, Soligorsk is not expanding, but becoming denser, sacrificing green spaces.

The territory occupied by Lima usually does not take into account the huge slums on the outskirts of the city and the numerous small settlements of the agglomeration. The bulk of the seven million population of the Peruvian capital is concentrated on six hundred square kilometers of area, which allows the city to take last place among the fifteen overpopulated settlements in the world.

According to the latest data, on average, about seven billion people live on the globe. Their distribution is characterized by extreme unevenness: more people live in one part of the world, and fewer in another. Today we are talking about the average population density of Foreign Europe.

General information

Before moving on to the topic “Density of Overseas Europe”, the concepts of “Overseas Europe” and “population density” should be defined. The countries of Foreign Europe include 40 sovereign states located on the European part of the Eurasian continent.

The term “population density” refers to the ratio of the number of inhabitants per 1 sq. km. This indicator is calculated using the following formula: the population of a country, region, or world is divided by the total land area, which is favorable for habitation.

So, if we divide the population of planet Earth - 6.8 billion people, by its total area - 13 million square meters. km, then we get an average population density of 52 people per 1 sq. km.

Rice. 1 Population density of Europe on the map

Population of Europe

Foreign Europe is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. If we take for comparison the average population density on the globe - 52 people per 1 sq. km, then a completely different picture emerges - more than 100 people per 1 sq. km. km. In addition, the distribution of people in Europe is relatively uniform: there are no unpopulated or large sparsely populated regions. A distinctive feature of settlement in Europe is the urbanization of the population. In other words, there are tens of times more city dwellers than residents of rural settlements (more than 70%, and in Belgium 98%).

Rice. 2 Map of night Europe from satellite

Countries of Foreign Europe

The population density of the countries of Foreign Europe is presented in the following table:

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Countries can be divided into three groups based on population density:

• High density (more than 200 people per 1 sq. km): Belgium, Germany, Great Britain and others;
• Average density (from 10 to 200 people per 1 sq. km): Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, France and others;
• Low density (up to 10 people per 1 sq. km): Iceland.

As can be seen from the table, the northern territories of Europe - Finland, Sweden, Norway - are sparsely populated. This is due, first of all, to unfavorable natural and climatic conditions for life and economy. Conversely, population concentration is observed in Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and further south to the Mediterranean coast, where the geographical location (access to the sea), relief, and climate are favorable for the development of agriculture, trade, and industry.

The population density of Monaco is 16,500 people per 1 sq. km, is the highest not only in Europe, but also in the whole world.

Rice. 3 Monaco is the most crowded place on the planet

What have we learned?

Foreign Europe includes 40 countries, the average population density of which is 100 people per 1 sq. km. This figure is quite high. In general, the settlement of people in Europe is uniform. There is only one country with low population density in this region - Iceland.

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