Differentiate between the following pairs on the basis of what is mentioned in brackets:
Demography and Population density [Definition]
Topic: Demography and population density
Answer
DEMOGRAPHY is the statistical STUDY of human populations, with reference to their size, density, distribution and the changes in them.
POPULATION DENSITY is the NUMBER of individuals living per unit area (per square kilometre) at a given time.
The brackets ask for DEFINITIONS, so define both.
THE DISTINCTION IS ONE OF KIND, and stating it makes the contrast sharp: DEMOGRAPHY is a SUBJECT — a field of study — while POPULATION DENSITY is one of the MEASUREMENTS that subject uses.
DEMO- means people and -GRAPHY means description or study: the study of people.
The other measurements demography uses, all RATES rather than densities: NATALITY (births per 1,000 per year), MORTALITY (deaths per 1,000 per year), GROWTH RATE (the difference between them). The UNIT tells you which term is meant — density is per AREA, the rest are per THOUSAND PEOPLE PER YEAR.
| Point of difference | Demography | Population density |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The statistical study of human populations | The number of people per unit area |
| What it is | A FIELD OF STUDY | A MEASUREMENT used within that study |