Population distribution

Population distribution describes where people live; population density describes how closely packed they are. A densely populated area has many people per square kilometre, while a sparsely populated area has few. These ideas are connected, but an average density for the whole UK hides large differences between places.

The built-up area becomes larger, and more residents live towards its outskirts. This is spatial growth and a change in population distribution. Movement from the centre to these suburbs can redistribute a city's residents without necessarily increasing its total population.