Population is the number of individuals in a given area or region. Population density is a measure of how densely populated an area is. The average global population density is 50 people per square kilometer (19 people per square mile). This means that, on average, there are 50 people living in every 1 square kilometer (0.3861 square miles) of land on Earth. The world’s population has been growing steadily for centuries, but the rate of growth has been accelerating in recent decades. In 1950, the world’s population was 2.5 billion; by 2025, it is projected to be 8 billion.
The human population is not evenly distributed across the globe. Africa has the highest population density of any continent, with 97 people per square kilometer (251 people per square mile). Europe has a much lower population density of only 41 people per square kilometer (106 people per square mile). North America lies in between these two extremes, with a population density of 35 people per square kilometer (91 people per square mile). Asia is the most populous continent, with a total population of 4.4 billion as of 2016.
There are many factors that contribute to differences in population density from one place to another. One important factor is climate: areas that have warm climates tend to have higherpopulation densities than those with cold climates because warmer weather is more conducive to human habitation. Another important factor is availability of resources: areas that are rich in natural resources tend to have higher populations because they can support more people. Additionally, political factors such as conflict and instability can lead to lowerpopulation densities as people flee violence or insecurity.