Distribution and Density of Population

2026 Syllabus Objectives

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

  1. Distinguish between distribution of population and density of population
  2. Recognise the variations in both distribution of population and density of population between the Provinces (including the Northern Area) and within the Provinces (including within the Northern Area)
  3. Explain the physical, economic, social and political factors which contribute to these variations

1. Understanding Distribution and Density of Population

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What is Population Distribution?

Population distribution means the spread of people across an area — in other words, where people live. It describes how people are scattered or clustered in different regions.

For example, in Pakistan:

  • Many people live in Punjab (especially in cities like Lahore and along river valleys)
  • Fewer people live in the mountains of Balochistan

When describing distribution, we use compass directions (North, South, East, West) and name specific places or provinces.

What is Population Density?

Population density is a number that shows how crowded an area is. It tells us how many people live in each square kilometer (or square mile) of land.

Formula:

Population Density=Total PopulationTotal Land Area\text{Population Density} = \frac{\text{Total Population}}{\text{Total Land Area}}

Example: If a province has 20 million people and covers 100,000 square kilometers:

Population Density=20,000,000100,000=200 people per km2\text{Population Density} = \frac{20,000,000}{100,000} = 200 \text{ people per km}^2

This means, on average, there are 200 people living in every square kilometer of that province.

Key Difference

DistributionDensity
Describes where people live (the spread or pattern)Describes how many people live per unit area (a number)
Example: "Most people live in North-East Punjab along the rivers"Example: "Punjab has 358 people per km²"
Shown on maps using dots or shadingCalculated using a mathematical formula

2. Variations in Distribution and Density Across Pakistan

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Between Provinces

Pakistan has four main provinces plus areas like Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. Population density varies greatly between them:

ProvinceArea (km²)Population Density (people per km²)
Punjab205,345358 (Highest)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa74,521238
Sindh140,914216
Balochistan345,19019 (Lowest)

Key Observations:

  • Punjab is the most densely populated province (358 people per km²)
  • Balochistan is the largest province by area but has the lowest density (only 19 people per km²)
  • This shows that a large area does not automatically mean a large population

Within Provinces

Even within a single province, density varies greatly:

Punjab:

  • High density areas: North-East Punjab (cities like Lahore, Faisalabad), along the Indus River and its tributaries
  • Lower density areas: Southern and western parts away from rivers

Sindh:

  • High density areas: Karachi (major city on the coast), along the Indus River valley (Hyderabad, Nawabshah)
  • Low density areas: Tharparkar Desert in the south-east

Balochistan:

  • Slightly higher density: Around Quetta (the provincial capital)
  • Very low density: Western mountain ranges, deserts like Kharan

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:

  • High density: Vale of Peshawar, around Islamabad-Rawalpindi
  • Low density: Mountainous northern regions

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