The burstling streets of Harare. Image credit herald.co.zw

The burstling streets of Harare. Image credit herald.co.zw

ZIMSEC O Level Geography Notes: Population:Population Distribution in Africa

  • The total area of Africa is 30.2 million square kilometers
  • As of 2013 it had a population of about 1.11 billion people accounting for 15% of the world’s population
  • It thus has an average population density of about 36.7 people per square kilometer
  • Low population density areas with a population of less than 10 people per square kilometer include:
  • The Sahara and its surrounding areas, as well as the Namib and Kalahari deserts
  • These areas are arid and semi arid thus making human settlement difficult
  • There is no water for animals and people to drink
  • There are also very little pastures for animals and little to no vegetative cover
  • Medium population density areas with between 10 and 50 people per square kilometre include:
  • The Zaire basin, West African interior, the central plateau
  • These areas have fertile soils and receive good rain
  • There are a lot of farming settlements in these areas as well as forestry activities such as lumbering
  • High population density areas include:
  • Cities such as Cairo and Johannesburg, the Great Lakes region of Malawi,  the Copperbelt of Zambia, the Nile valley, Coastal towns etc
  • These populations are attracted by employment opportunities, efficient transport networks

To access more topics go to the Geography Notes page.