Physical factors affecting distribution of population are:
(i) Relief
(ii) Climate
(iii) Availability of water
(iv) Soils
(i) Relief
Distribution of population is greatly affected by relied features.
Generally, flat plains or gently sloping lands are densely populated.
Plains are suitable for agricultural activities.
In these areas it is easier to construct roads and railways and development of industries and trade. As a result, many people are attracted to plains and they become densely populated.
For example, Ganga plains are thickly populated.
On the other hand, in mountainous and hilly areas density of population is low. This is because in such areas agricultural development is difficult.
The construction and development of transport facilities is very difficult and costly too. Such areas are inaccessible.
Due to inaccessibility, movement of goods and people are restricted. Therefore, mountainous and hilly areas are thinly populated.
For example, north eastern states of India have less population due to hilly and mountainous relief.
(ii) Climate
Climate is the most important factor of all the factors influencing the distribution of population.
Areas having very hot or very cold climate, heavy rainfall are very uncomfortable for human settlement. Such areas are thinly populated.
For example, polar regions where Eskimos and Lapps live are sparsely populated due to extreme cold climate Sahara Desert is sparsely populated due to extreme hot climate.
On the other hand, areas with equable climate, that is climate having not much seasonal variation attract people. People feel comfortable to stay in these areas.
For example, coastal areas have dense population because of equable climate and wide scope for the development of agriculture, industries and trade.
(iii) Availability of water.
Water is the most important factor affecting distribution of population. It is the most essential factor for all human activities.
Therefore, more people live in areas where potable and sufficient water is available. As a result of this most of the river valleys are densely populated i.e. Nile river valley.
Even in desert areas there is more population near oasis due to availability of water.
(iv) Soil
Fertile soils are most important for the development of agriculture.
The areas having fertile alluvial soil have developed intensive agriculture and support large number of people and hence they are densely populated, e.g., Gangetic Plain, Plains of Mississippi, Irrawaddy and Yangtze etc.
Similarly, in the areas having very fertile black cotton soil or regur soil, agriculture is well developed and hence such areas are densely populated.
The volcanic soil is very fertile hence, it supports agriculture. Therefore, slopes of volcanic mountains have dense population.
For example, volcanic mountain slopes of Java island.
