Population Geography

Population geography is the study of how topography and geography affects population distribution, composition, migration, and development.

Crowded street in Tokyo, Japan by Alex Block

Study Forecasts World Population to Peak in 2064

Elizabeth Borneman

A report recently published by the University of Washington has estimated that the global population would peak in 2064 at 9.7 billion before declining to 8.8 billion in 2100.

Projected geographical shift of the human temperature niche from current (A) to 2070 (B). Map C shows shaded areas of red where suitability has shifted the most from suitable to less suitable. Maps: Xu et al., 2020.

Study Estimates That 3 Billion People Will Be Living In Extreme Heat By 2070

Katarina Samurović

Researchers used data from UN population projections to map out how a three-degree warming scenario will translate into temperature changes for the world's population.

Various types and sizes of plastics collected from the Kinnickinnic River, Milwaukee, WI. Photo: S. Mason, State University of New York at Fredonia. Public domain. Source: USGS.

The 2018 Statistic of the Year is About Plastic Recycling

Caitlin Dempsey

90.5% of all plastics that have ever been produced have never been recycled.

Geography and Family Structure

Mark Altaweel

Factors of geography, economics, and social trends have contributed to diverse ranges of household formation.

Tree establishment at large villages of the Jemez Province. (Upper) Number of trees and dates of establishment at Kwastiyukwa (LA 482), Tovakwa (LA 484), and Kiatsukwa (LA 132/133). (Lower) locations of sampled trees at Kwastiyukwa (Left), Tovakwa (Center), and Kiatsukwa (Right). From: Liebmann et al, 2016.

Using LiDAR to Show How Native American Depopulation Impacted Forests in the United States

Elizabeth Borneman

Researchers have used LiDAR to understand the impacts of Native American population decline on forest fires in the United States.