population density

[pop-yuh-ley-shuhn den-si-tee]

noun

plural

population densities 

1. the number of people, or members of a particular plant or animal species, living in a specified unit of area: a measure of how crowded or spread out inhabitants are.

   At the time of this research, the city had a population density of 537 persons per square mile.

   Our free-range chickens are raised without antibiotics and in low population densities, with plenty of room to roam around.

Word History and Origins

Origin of population density¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Related Words

• anthropology