World Population & Urbanization (Part

Total Questions: 50

31. Which one of the following regions of Asia is experiencing the highest annual growth rate of population? [I.A.S. (Pre) 1994]

(a) South Asia
(b) South-East Asia
(c) Central Asia
(d) West Asia

Correct Answer: (c) Central Asia

Solution:As per the question period, option (c) was the correct answer. As per 'World Population Prospects 2019' and United Nations Population Division Data Portal (based on World Population Prospects 2022 data), the average annual growth rates (in percentage) of population in the given regions in recent years are as follows:

Area	2015-20	2021	2022
Central Asia	1.64%	1.5%	1.5%
West Asia	1.64%	1.3%	1.5%
South Asia	1.2%	0.9%	0.9%
South-East Asia	1.05%	0.8%	0.8%

Note: Hence at present, the average annual growth rates of population in Central Asia and West Asia are almost equal.

32. Which one of the following countries has the highest population growth rate? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]

(a) Indonesia
(b) Japan
(c) Philippines
(d) Singapore

Correct Answer: (c) Philippines

Solution:As per the question period and also at present, option (c) is the correct answer. According to the "World Population Prospects 2019" and UNFPA's "State of World Population 2022," the average annual growth rates of the population of the given countries during 2015-20 and 2020-25 are as follows:

Country	Average Annual Population Growth Rate (2015-20)	Average Annual Population Growth Rate (2020-25)
Philippines	1.41%	1.3%
Indonesia	1.14%	1.0%
Singapore	0.90%	0.8%
Japan	-0.24%	-0.4%

33. Assertion (A): The areas of low density of population are often overpopulated. [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

Reason (R): Their carrying capacity is less.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Codes:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not a correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Correct Answer: (d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Solution:Assertion (A) is false, while Reason (R) is true. Areas of high density of population are generally overpopulated. Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Population density is a measure of people per unit area, while overpopulation is a more complex concept referring to a situation where the population exceeds the capacity of the environment to sustainably support it. A high density area might not be overpopulated if it has sufficient resources and infrastructure, but it can be a contributing factor. Places like Singapore and Monaco are densely populated but manage resources well, while some developing nations with high densities may struggle with overpopulation challenges.

34. Which Continent has the highest population density? [Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2007]

(a) Asia
(b) Europe
(c) Africa
(d) North America

Correct Answer: (a) Asia

Solution:Among all continents, Asia had/has the highest population density in the question period and at present. As per the United Nations Population Division Data Portal (based on World Population Prospects 2022 data), in 2022 the population density (persons per sq. km) of Asia is 151, followed by Africa (48), Europe (34), South America (25), and North America (20).

35. Which of the following continents had the lowest population density in the year 2011? [U.P.R.O/A.R.O. (Mains) 2014]

(a) South America
(b) North America
(c) Europe
(d) Africa

Correct Answer: (b) North America

Solution:As per the data of the question period and at present, option (b) is the correct answer. Among all continents, Asia had/has the highest population density in the question period and at present. As per the United Nations Population Division Data Portal (based on World Population Prospects 2022 data), in 2022 the population density (persons per sq. km) of Asia is 151, followed by Africa (48), Europe (34), South America (25), and North America (20).

36. Which one of the following countries has the lowest density of population? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]

(a) Canada
(b) Finland
(c) Norway
(d) Russia

Correct Answer: (a) Canada

Solution:As per the question period and also at present, Canada has the lowest population density among the given countries.

According to the United Nations Population Division Data Portal (based on World Population Prospects 2022 data), the 2022 population density of the given countries is as follows:

Country	Population Density (People per sq. km)
Canada	4
Russia	9
Norway	18
Finland	18

37. Which country has the lowest density of population? [U.P.R.O/A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]

(a) Mongolia
(b) Saudi Arabia
(c) Iraq
(d) Afghanistan

Correct Answer: (a) Mongolia

Solution:As per the United Nations Population Division Data Portal (based on World Population Prospects 2022 data), in 2022 the population density of the given countries is as follows:

Country	Population Density (People per sq. km)
Mongolia	2
Saudi Arabia	17
Iraq	102
Afghanistan	63

38. Most densely populated country among the SAARC countries is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009, 2008, 2003 U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002 Uttarakhand U.D.A/L.D.A. (Pre) 2003]

(a) Bangladesh
(b) India
(c) Maldives
(d) Sri Lanka

Correct Answer: (c) Maldives

Solution:Maldives is the most densely populated country of SAARC and South Asia. As per United Nations Population Division Data Portal (based on World Population Prospects 2022 data), in 2022 the estimated population density of South Asian countries are as follows:

Country	Population Density (2022)
Maldives	1746
Bangladesh	1315
India	477
Sri Lanka	348
Pakistan	306
Nepal	208
Afghanistan	63
Bhutan	20

Thus, South Asian countries in descending order of their population density are as follows: Maldives, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bhutan.

39. Which one among the following South Asian countries has the highest population density? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007 I.A.S. (Pre) 2009 Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]

(a) Sri Lanka
(b) India
(c) Nepal
(d) Pakistan

Correct Answer: (b) India

Solution:Among the given countries, India has the highest population density. See the explanation of the above question.

According to Census 2011, Bihar remains India's most densely inhabited state, whereas Delhi is the densely populated Union Territory. The 10 most densely inhabited states in India, according to Census 2011, are included in this article:

Rank	State	Area (sq. Km)	2011 Census Density	2011 Census Population	2001 Census Density	2001 Census Population
1	Delhi	1483	11320	16787941	9340	13850507
2	Chandigarh	114	9258	1055450	7900	900635
3	Puducherry	490	2547	1247953	2034	974345
4	Daman and Diu	111	2191	243247	1413	158204
5	Lakshadweep	30	2149	64473	1895	60650
6	Bihar	94163	1106	104099452	881	82998509
7	West Bengal	88752	1028	91276115	903	80176197
8	Kerala	38852	860	33406061	819	31841374
9	Uttar Pradesh	240928	829	199812341	690	166197921
10	Dadra and Nagar Haveli	491	700	343709	449	220490

40. The most densely populated country in East Asia is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]

(a) China
(b) Japan
(c) North Korea
(d) South Korea

Correct Answer: (d) South Korea

Solution:As per United Nations Population Division Data Portal (based on World Population Prospects 2022 data), in 2022 the population density of the given countries are as follows:

Country	Population Density (in 2022)
China	149
Japan	329
North Korea	217
South Korea	524

Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

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World Population & Urbanization (Part – I)