population density

American  

[pop-yuh-ley-shuhn den-si-tee] / ˌpɒp yəˈleɪ ʃən ˌdɛn sɪ ti /

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of population density

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Economic research has shown that an expanding population produces greater consumer demand, increases the supply of labor, and can generate innovation through greater population density.

From Barron's

The analysis showed that wood smoke pollution is especially harmful in urban and suburban areas, where population density, emissions patterns, and atmospheric movement combine to increase exposure.

From Science Daily

Once a hot spot for western film sets, Chatsworth now serves as a suburban retreat for those seeking space, with relatively low population density compared with other San Fernando Valley neighborhoods.

From Los Angeles Times

The country’s east is heavily urbanized, with a population density about 50 times that of Arctic Scandinavia and Finland, where every square mile houses on average five people.

From The Wall Street Journal

The city's population density is more than 7,100 people per square kilometre of land, on par with packed metropolises like Tokyo.

From Barron's

Related Words

• anthropology