DID YOU KNOW?

In the United States, at 14 percent, the unemployment rate for blacks in 2011 is almost double the rate for whites. More...

Q and A: How densely populated is the planet?

Population Densities by Region, 2007   Density (population/sq. km.) World 49 More developed 27 Less developed 65 Less developed (excl. China) 56 Africa 31 Africa—Eastern 46 Africa—Middle 18 Africa—Northern 23 Africa—Southern 20 Africa—Sub-Saharan 32 Africa—Western 46 America—Caribbean 171 America—Central 60 America—Latin America/Caribbean 28 America—North 15 America—South 21 Asia 126 Asia (excl. China) 121 Asia—East 132 Asia—South-Central 154 Asia—Southeast 128 Asia—Western 46 Europe 32 Europe—Eastern 16 Europe—Northern 54 Europe—Southern 116 Europe—Western 169 Oceania 4 Source: PRB 2007 World Population Data Sheet.

The world's major regions not only vary in population size, they also vary in terms of population density — the number of people per square kilometer, or other unit of land area. The most densely settled region is the Caribbean, with 171 people per square kilometer. Western Europe ranks second, with 169 people per square kilometer. The least densely settled region, Oceania, has four people per square kilometer — about the same as Canada. The population density of the United States was 31 in 2007.

While population densities vary from region to region, they actually tell us little about where people live, the availability of resources, or the standard of living in a particular region. Density is not homogeneous within a country. In Australia, for example, overall population density is very low—three people per square kilometer. However, 91 percent of the population lives in urban areas where densities are much higher.

Population density, particularly in urbanized areas, does play a role in environmental degradation. Some analysts speculate that high levels of population density can trigger other socially disruptive events such as civil violence or poverty creating push or pull factors for migration.

But population density alone does not determine well-being. A densely populated Singapore with 6,785 people per square kilometer had a 2005 per capita gross national product that was nearly US$31,700, compared to sparsely populated Somalia, which continually faces severe food shortages, despite a density of 14 people per square kilometer.