Areas with high population densities tend to rely on the resources of less populated hinterlands, and thereby increase the risk of exceeding regional carrying capacities for stock and sink resources. With sub-national data, relationships to ecosystems, urban issues, and arable land, for example, can be addressed at a more local level. International agreements do not establish national or global targets. By definition, population density is calculated as population size divided by surface area. In practice, the definition differs among countries, but is sufficiently comparable for interpretation and analysis.
Population density represents a demographic State indicator.
The significance of the indicator is limited in countries which serve as international hinterlands importing all their food and natural resources. Large uninhabited areas, such as deserts, tend to distort the indicator. Disaggregation to the ecumene, or other sub- national areas, may be difficult in many countries. Total land area instead of total area could represent a useful alternative definition. Assessment of the Availability of Data from International and National Sources Collected by the United Nations on a regular basis and available for all countries at the national level.