Population density - wikipedia Population density Population density ( people per km ) by country, 2015 Population density ( people per km ) by country, 2006 Population density ( people per km ) map of the world in 1994. In relation to the equator it is seen that the vast majority of the human population lives in the Northern Hemisphere. Population density ( people per km ) map of the world in 1994 Deserts around the world. Compare with maps above. See also this image for location of densely populated areas ( cities ) in various vegetation zones. Population density ( in agriculture : standing stock and standing crop ) is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume ; it is a quantity of type number density. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and most of the time to humans. It is a key geographical term. Contents 1 Biological population densities 1.1 By political boundaries 1.2 Other methods of measurement 2 See also 2.1 Lists of entities by population density 3 References 4 External links Biological population densities Population density is population divided by total land area or water volume, as appropriate. Low densities may cause an extinction vortex and lead to further reduced fertility. This is called the Allee effect after the scientist who identified it. Examples of the causes in low population densities include : Increased problems with locating sexual mates Increased inbreeding Monaco in Southern Europe, currently holds the record for being the most densely populated nation in the world. Mongolia is the least densely populated country in the world. This population cartogram of the European Union ( 2007 -- 2012 ) uses areas and colors to represent population. Main article : List of countries and territories by population density For humans, population density is the number of people per unit of area, usually quoted per square kilometer or square mile ( which may include or exclude, for example, areas of water or glaciers ). Commonly this may be calculated for a county, city, country, another territory or the entire world. The world 's population is around 7,500,000,000 and Earth 's total area ( including land and water ) is 510,000,000 square kilometers ( 197,000,000 sq. mi. ). Therefore, the worldwide human population density is around 7,500,000,000 ÷ 510,000,000 = 14.7 per km ( 38 per sq. mi ). If only the Earth 's land area of 150,000,000 km ( 58,000,000 sq. mi. ) is taken into account, then human population density increases to 50 per km ( 129 per sq. mile ). This includes all continental and island land area, including Antarctica. If Antarctica is also excluded, then population density rises to over 55 people per km ( over 142 per sq. mile ). However, over half of the Earth 's land mass consists of areas inhospitable to human habitation, such as deserts and high mountains, and population tends to cluster around seaports and fresh - water sources. Thus, this number by itself does not give any helpful measurement of human population density. Several of the most densely populated territories in the world are city - states, microstates and dependencies. These territories have a relatively small area and a high urbanization level, with an economically specialized city population drawing also on rural resources outside the area, illustrating the difference between high population density and overpopulation. Cities with high population densities are, by some, considered to be overpopulated, though this will depend on factors like quality of housing and infrastructure and access to resources. Most of the most densely populated cities are in Southeast Asia, though Cairo and Lagos in Africa also fall into this category. City population and especially area are, however, heavily dependent on the definition of `` urban area '' used : densities are almost invariably higher for the central city area than when suburban settlements and the intervening rural areas are included, as in the areas of agglomeration or metropolitan area, the latter sometimes including neighboring cities. For instance, Milwaukee has a greater population density when just the inner city is measured, and the surrounding suburbs excluded. In comparison, based on a world population of seven billion, the world 's inhabitants, as a loose crowd taking up ten square feet ( one square metre ) per person ( Jacobs Method ), would occupy a space a little larger than Delaware 's land area. By political boundaries With population above 1,000,000 Rank Country / Region Population Area ( km ) Density ( Pop. per km ) Singapore 5,535,000 719 7698 Hong Kong 7,234,800 1,104 6553 Gaza Strip 1,816,379 360 5045 Bahrain 1,404,900 750 1873 5 Bangladesh 161,609,000 147,570 1095 6 Taiwan 23,361,147 36,190 646 7 Mauritius 1,288,000 2,040 631 8 Lebanon 6,237,738 10,452 597 9 South Korea 51,529,338 99,720 517 10 Rwanda 11,262,564 26,338 428 With population above 10,000,000 Rank Country / Region Population Area ( km ) Density ( Pop. per km ) Bangladesh 161,609,000 147,570 1095 Taiwan 23,361,147 36,190 646 South Korea 51,529,338 99,720 517 Rwanda 11,262,564 26,338 428 5 Netherlands 17,071,100 41,526 411 6 India 1,326,801,576 3,287,263 404 7 Haiti 10,413,211 27,750 375 8 Belgium 11,239,755 30,528 368 9 Burundi 10,114,505 27,834 363 10 Philippines 102,078,300 300,076 340 Other methods of measurement Although arithmetic density is the most common way of measuring population density, several other methods have been developed to provide a more accurate measure of population density over a specific area. Arithmetic density : The total number of people / area of land ( measured in square miles or square kilometers ) Physiological density : The total population / area of arable land Agricultural density : The total rural population / area of arable land Residential density : The number of people living in an urban area / area of residential land Urban density : The number of people inhabiting an urban area / total area of urban land Ecological optimum : The density of population that can be supported by the natural resources See also Demography Human geography Idealized population Optimum population Population genetics Population health Population momentum Population pyramid Rural transport problem Small population size Distance sampling List of population concern organizations Lists of entities by population density List of cities by population density List of city districts by population density List of European cities proper by population density List of United States cities by population density List of islands by population density List of countries by population density List of U.S. states by population density List of Australian suburbs by population density References ^ Jump up to : Matt Rosenberg Population Density. Geography.about.com. March 2, 2011. Retrieved on December 10, 2011. Jump up ^ Minimum viable population size. Eoearth.org ( March 6, 2010 ). Retrieved on December 10, 2011. Jump up ^ U.S. & World Population Clocks. Census.gov. Retrieved on December 10, 2011. Jump up ^ World. CIA World Handbook Jump up ^ Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division ( 2009 ). `` World Population Prospects, Table A. 1 '' ( PDF ). 2008 revision. United Nations. Retrieved March 12, 2009. Jump up ^ The Monaco government uses a smaller surface area figure resulting in a population density of 18,078 per km Jump up ^ Human Population. Global Issues. Retrieved on December 10, 2011. Jump up ^ The largest cities in the world by land area, population and density. Citymayors.com. Retrieved on December 10, 2011. Jump up ^ The Population of Milwaukee County. Wisconline.com. Retrieved on December 10, 2011. 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Question: where do population densities on earth tend to be highest
Answer: Southeast Asia