Video: How is the population distributed in Africa and what factors influence this?

﻿Hello, and welcome to this lesson in the Africa unit of work. In today's lesson, we are going to be looking at the population of Africa, which is 1.3 billion people. And we're going to look at how that is distributed across the continent because there's not even distribution. You need as ever, something to write with something to write on. And ideally you need to find somewhere quiet, where you can focus and work hard on your learning. And when you've got all of those things, and you are somewhere where you can focus, hit play, and we can start properly. Hello, my name is Mr. Burton. Welcome to this lesson in the Africa unit of work. In today's lesson, we are going to be learning about population within Africa. Specifically, we're going to look at how the population is distributed, and the factors that affect this. You need as ever a pen, a pencil and then either an exercise book or a piece of lined paper to write on. Please pause the video now to go and gather together those things and when you are ready to begin properly, hit play, and we can start. Underneath your title for today, which I'd like you to write down, which is how is the population distributed in Africa? And what factors influence this? Can you write down your two key terms for today? The first one is population density. You probably come across this in geography already, but it's worth recapping. The population density is the number of people who live within one square kilometre. And you're right one square kilometres, is one kilometre squared. And then population distribution is how many people are spread out over an area. If you could pause the video here, please to note down both of those key terms. We're going to be looking at Africa's population today. Africa is the world's second largest continent, but it's also the second most populous, which means it's home to many, many people, specifically home to one point 3 billion people, it also is interesting in terms of its population because it has the youngest population of all the continents. We're going to look at population density, which if you remember when you wrote down your key terms is the number of people per square kilometre. If you have a look at the key on the right hand side of the slide, you can see what the different colours indicate. The darkest red are areas where there's over, 250 people per square kilometre, and then the palest yellow is where there's less than five people per square kilometre. Have a look at this map. Do you notice specific patterns about where people are living? I'm going to label a few things for you. The vast area in North Africa where population densities is very low is the Sahara Desert desert, and that probably shouldn't Come as a huge surprise, we know that deserts particularly Sahara can be very, very dry. The Sahara is a hot and dry desert, which makes life very difficult. I've also labelled for you some mega cities in Africa. We've got Cairo in Egypt in the North. We've got Lagos in Nigeria, and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Those are mega cities where population density is very, very high. Your first task for today I'd like you to pause the video here to complete it. You need to describe the distribution of population density in Africa using the figure that's on screen now. Specifically, you've got three bits of success criteria, you need to describe the population distribution across Africa. Give a general trend. Secondly, can you identify a densely populated area? Thirdly, can you identify a sparsely populated area, that means an area where not many people are living. Pause the video now please to have a go at that Remember to use the key. Here are the answers or what I think you should have put. If we're looking at a general pattern, you should say that population distribution is uneven. There isn't an even pattern across the continent. There's some areas where there's lots of people living, and some areas that are very sparsely populated, for example, the Sahara as we've labelled before, for example, one area that's densely populated is the Northwest coastline. And that's Morocco, just for your information, have one area that's sparsely populated is this area, to the south of this most northern region, or its area north, which we've labelled, before as the Sahara. Please pause the video now to mark and correct your work. We're going to begin to examine some factors which may influence this pattern of population density across Africa. This first factor that we're going to look at is precipitation. This map is showing you precipitation in millimetres in Africa. And you can have a look at the key there. To help you identify the pattern, you should see that the highest amounts of precipitation. The green parts of the map are those areas nearest the equator, which is that pink line, running through the centre of Africa, sort of halfway down. We can see that that's the area of highest precipitation. We can also see areas where there isn't much precipitation. For example, a significant chunk of Northern Africa. Where we know the Sahara desert is, but also the Southwest. And we should know that the mammoth desert is a coastal desert there, as is the Kalahari Desert. We've got areas of high precipitation, and also areas of very, very low precipitation. If we then compare that again, with population density, hopefully you can see that, those areas where there wasn't much precipitation, we've got a lower population density. And those areas where rainfall or precipitation was higher. In fogging, we've got more people living. Second fact we're going to look at is mean temperature in degrees C, again, have a look at the key. The darker the red, the higher the mean temperature, and the lighter the colour. The light yellow indicates a slightly cooler temperature. If you look again, we can see that the highest mean temperatures are existing where probably you'd expect in that northern region of Africa where we know the Sahara desert is and then the milder locations tend to be the very Northwest and the southern section of Africa, which we know is South Africa. If we compare that with our population density map again, straight away, we should be able to see that Northwest where temperatures, were slightly milder, we've got high population density. And that's also the case for the south east of Africa, Parts of South Africa. It's interesting to see how temperatures also seems to have some kind of link with population density. Finally, we're going to look at biome type across Africa. You can see, according to the key, the very northwest of Africa is a Mediterranean biome type, then we've got hot desert, which we know is the Sahara. Then we've got grasslands and tropical rainforest on the equator. That solid line running through the centre of Africa, halfway down is the equator. And then in the southwest, again, we've got the hot desert, and we've also got some more Mediterranean areas. If you keep that in your mind, specifically, look at the North West. Again, this seems to be some link with population density doesn't know, areas where there was a Mediterranean climate and biome we tend to get a higher population density. Here is a task for you to do, you can just shout out the answers. Why are some parts of Africa sparsely populated? There were two reasons. Can you find them? Why are some parts of Africa sparsely populated? That means not many people live there? What are the two reasons for that? Shout that out in five, four, three, two, one. Well done if you said that. The mean temperature is very hot. We know for example, the Sahara is a hot and dry desert and therefore, it's very sparsely populated because life is very difficult. Also some areas , precipitation can be very, very low between zero and 100 millimetres per year. That is a very small amount. By comparison, the UK receives approximately 800 millimetres of rainfall per year. Those are two reasons why Africa, some parts of Africa are sparsely populated well done if you've got both of those correct. Another job that you need to do please pause the video here to complete it. I've given you six factors, which affect population density in Africa. Some of them are human factors, and some of them are physical factors. What I'd like you to do is to draw this grid into your notes for today's lesson, and then categorise them into other human factors or physical factors. I'm going to read them to you please follow along on screen now. Factor number one, Northwest Africa is close to Europe. And this means Morocco, for example, has strong trade links with the EU. Factor number two in general, the most densely populated areas found bordering the lakes in the river basins and along the coastal belts. Factor number three, Northern Africa is covered by the Sahara Desert which is an extremely hot and arid climate. Arid means dry. Factor number four, the Northwest and the south of the continent experienced a milder climate and are within the Mediterranean scrub biome. Factor number five, many major cities were established under colonial rule as administrative trading or industrial centres and ports. Factor number six, many large cities are seaports along the case and thriving areas for trade. Can you pause the video here please, to sort them either into human factors or physical factors. Here are the answers, human factors was number one, Northwest Africa is close to Europe and this means Morocco for example, a strong trade links with the EU. Number five is also human factor, many major cities were established under colonial rule as administrative trading or industrial centres and ports. Also factor number six, many large cities are seaports along coasts and thriving areas for trade. Your physical factors was number two. In general, the most densely populated areas of town bordering the lakes in the river basins and along the coastal belts. Number three Northern Africa is covered by the Sahara Desert, which has an extremely hot and arid climate. And also factor number four, the Northwest and the south of the continent experience a milder climate and are within the Mediterranean scrub biome. Please pause here check and correct your work, well done if you've got all of those correct. Here is your final task for today. Please pause the video here to follow the instructions on the screen now. You need to explain why the population density of Africa varies, specifically, I want you to do three things, I want you to explain one physical factor which has led to higher or low population density. I want you to explain one human factor which has led to a higher or low population density. And I want you to include two pieces of place specific information. Try and use some data from some of the maps earlier in the lesson to help so you can rewind through the video if you need to, or you can use your notes perhaps. Here's a model that I have written, let's have a look at it. One physical factor that affects population density is biome type, for example, northwest of the continent is densely populated. And this is due to the fact that there's a Mediterranean climate, which is good for growing crops. A human factor is the fact this error is close to Europe and therefore is able to develop a strong trade links with the EU. This means that the economy at the area can develop. If we were giving feedback to the students written this answer, they have explained a physical factor, a biome type, and they've also explained human factor of trade links with Europe, they're both well explained using connectives. And I've highlighted the connectors in blue. There's also some very good place specific information in good detail. And I've coloured that in purple. For example, naming the country marker, naming the climate type and then naming the fact they have trade links with the EU. On the whole it's very good model. What I'd like you to do Pause the video here, have a go this task on your own now. Keeping that model in mind, you need to explain why the population density of Africa varies. Using that specific success criteria. It should take you nine minutes, please pause the video now. To have a go at this task set a timer for nine minutes. That brings us to the end of today's lesson well done for the fantastic learning you have achieved. Before you close this lesson. Please make sure you've completed the exit quiz to help test and consolidate your learning. In the next lesson, we are going to be learning about some of the historical factors which have affected countries within the continent of Africa. Hopefully I see you then enjoy the rest of your day.

Exit Quiz: How is the population distributed in Africa and what factors influence this?

Completed: How is the population distributed in Africa and what factors influence this?

In today's lesson we will be learning about how the population is distributed in Africa and the factors which influence this.

Geography

How is the population distributed in Africa and what factors influence this?

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Final Quiz

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