AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 Distribution and Density of Population in Sheohar District of Bihar (India) Dr. Nidhi Kumari Department of Geography, B. R. A. Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India. Abstract: This paper presents the study of distribution and density of population in Sheohar district of Bihar. Keywords: Population Distribution, Population Density, Sppatio- temporal Expression. 1. Introduction Population geography is concerned with spatio-temporal expression of various population attributes. The explanation of such spatio-temporal expression and the processes involved in the creation of this spatio-temporal expression.Glenn.T.Trewarth of the unitedstates was perhaps the first and foremost personality to elevate population studies to the status of a systematic branch of geography. area differentiation is one of the themes of geography in general and of population in particular.Since man is not only the utilize of physical earth but also the creator of cultural earth. population geography is the most important branch of today. This branch is concerned with the nature and man in general and their inter relationship in particular since the evolution of geographical ideas,the concept of nature and man has developed clarke has however defined that population geography is concerned with demonstrating how spatial variation in distribution, composition, migration and growth are related to the spatial variation in the nature of places. In a way, methodology refers to the theoretical part and the techniques to the practical part of the methods and principles of a discipline. Various types of models have been constructed as par the nature of facts. Maps, diagrams and graphs have been used in this study. Choropleths and isoplrths were preferred to other in order to show the spatial variation of population distribution or pattern of literacy etc. maps of various types and diagrams of various dimensions are the main tools which have been applied. Sheohar district is located on global map between 26°18' and 26°36' North latitude and 85°10' and 85°24 ‟ East longitude. The district occupies an area of 349 square kilometers. The district is bounded in the east and north by the district of Sitamarhi, on the west by the district of PurbaChamparan and on the south by the district of Muzaffarpur. Only 0.47 percent of the total area of the state of Bihar is covered by this district. The concept of population growth of population is often used to can not the change in the number of inhabitants of a territory during a specific period of time, irrespective of the fact whether the change is negative or positive. Growth or decline of population of a region during a certain period is the sum or natural replacements which has taken place plus net migration into a region during the period under study. The population growth is not a unitary phenomena but a combination of four major components i.e. fertility, mortality, emigration and immigration. The growth of population in terms of percentages is generally calculated by dividing the absolute changes by the population at an earlier date and multiplying it by hundred. Recent decades have witnessed growing interest of social scientist including population geographers in the ever increasing demographics dynamism, especially in the less developed areas. Consequently, the number of studies exploring the trends in population changes which have recorded a conspicuous spurt in the recent part. For a population geographer, however the phenomenon a population growth is of special significance. Volume 8, Issue 10, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 84 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 2. DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION The distribution of population is more locational, while the density is more proportional. The former refers to the spatial pattern in which the population finds its location such as linear, dispersed, nucleated, agglomerated, etc. and the latter is concerned with the ratio between the size of population and the area. Table no. 1 DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY OF POPULATION IN BIHAR:2011 Sl.no. District . Headquarters Area in Total Density Km. 2 Population per Km. 2 1. Pashchim Bettiah 5,229 39,35,042 753 Champaran 2. Purbi Motihari 3,969 50,99,371 1285 Champaran 3. Sheohar Sheohar 443 6,56,246 1,481 4. Sitamarhi Sitamarhi 2,199 34,23,574 1,492 5. Madhubani Madhubani 3,501 44,87,379 1,282 6. Supaul Supaul 2,410 22,29,076 919 7. Araria Araria 2,830 28,11,569 993 8. Kishanganj Kishanganj 1,884 16,90,400 897 9. Purnia Purnia 3,229 32,64,619 1011 10. Katihar Katihar 3,057 30,71,029 1005 11. Madhepura Madhepura 1,788 20,01,762 1120 12. Saharsa Saharsa 1,702 19,00,661 1127 13. Darbhanga Darbhanga 2,279 39,37,385 1,728 14. Muzaffarpur Muzaffarpur 3,172 48,01,062 1,514 15. Gopalganj Gopalganj 2,003 25,62,012 1,260 16. Siwan Siwan 2,219 33,30,464 1,501 17. Saran Chapra 2,641 39,51,862 1,496 18. Vaishali Hajipur 2,036 34,95,021 1,717 19. Samastipur Samastipur 2,905 42,61,566 1,467 20. Begusarai Begusarai 1,918 29,70,541 1,549 21. Khagaria Khagaria 1,486 16,66,886 1122 22. Bhagalpur Bhagalpur 2,570 30,37,766 1182 23. Banka Banka 3,019 20,34,763 674 24. Munger Munger 1,419 13,67,765 964 25. Lakhisarai Lakhisarai 1,229 10,00,912 815 26. Sheikpura Sheikpura 689 06,36,342 924 27. Nalanda Biharsharif 2,354 28,77,653 1,222 28. Patna Patna 3,202 58,38,465 1,823 29. Bhojpur Ara 2,474 27,28,407 1139 30. Buxar Buxar 1,624 17,06,352 1002 31. Kaimur Bhabua 3,362 16,26,384 488 32. Rohtas Sasaram 3,850 29,59,918 763 33. Jehanabad Jehanabad 1,569 11,25,313 1209 34. Aurangabad Aurangabad 3,305 25,40,073 769 35. Gaya Gaya 4,976 43,91,418 883 36. Nawada Nawada 2,494 22,19,146 890 37. Jamui Jamui 3,098 17,60,405 568 38. ArwalArwal638 07,00,8431098 SOURCES :(i) Census of India, Final Population Totals, 2011.(ii) Manorma Yearbook, 2015 and (iii) Self Calculation. Volume 8, Issue 10, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 85 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 Thus, when one is dealing with distribution, the concern is more for the pattern of spread of population and when one is dealing with density, the concern is more for some kind of man-land-ratio. There are several means of describing the spatial distribution of population and many devises have been developed to portray population distribution and population density. Geographers, demographers, sociologists, statisticians have all made their contribution in developing the means to describe population distribution and concentration. One of the simplest ways of measuring population distribution has been PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION, whereby the percentage of people living in the geographic area of a given class has been computed. For instance, in order to have an idea of spatial spread of Bihar’s population one can simply calculate the percentage of country’s population living in each district. The sum of all such percentage will total upto 100. The spatial variations in distribution and density of population have been the concern of geographers. The geographical analysis of the pattern of population distribution and density is fundamental to the understanding of population geography of any area. According to Hoosen geography itself is concerned with the problem of uneven distribution of population over the earth. The regional disparities in the distribution and density of population are much influenced by the physical environment, type of economy, cultural pattern and past history of the area. The distribution and density of population are not identical rather they are so closely related that they used to be discussed simultaneously. Still there persists a minute difference between them. The term “DISTRIBUTION” may be defined as the way the people are spaced over the earth’s surface’. “The term distribution of population in geography refers to the placing of people in life. The term “DENSITY” of population refers to a ratio between population and land area. It is the number of persons per unit area. The number of per unit area varies from place to place. “Land and people constitute the two vital elements of non area so that the ratio between the two is fundamental consideration in all population studies.” The numerator in such a calculation is population while the denominator is area. The distribution of population pattern is like a sensitive photographic plate which records changing conditions”. Following table no.1 shows the distributionand density of population in the districts of Bihar-The distribution of population in terms of numbers, degree of concentration, size and spacing of settlements is the most fundamental aspect of the population geography of Bihar State. The general characteristics of population distribution in the districts may be observed by the table no. 1. The most characteristics feature of the present distribution of population in the 38 districts of Bihar is the uneven distribution. The average density does not, however, portray the actual distributional pattern of the population in the districts as it includes Orchards, agricultural fields, rivers, water bodies, hilly areas etc.The analysis of population distribution and density holds immense significance for population geographers as its successful understanding holds the key to the analysis of entire demographic character of an area. Volume 8, Issue 10, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 86 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 POPULATION(2011) Residence District Persons Male Female Total Sheohar 656246 346673 309573 Bihar 104099452 54278157 49821295 India 1210569573 623121843 587447730 Rank of District in State 37 37 37 Rank of District in India 511 508 515 Rural Sheohar 628130 331 792 296338 Bihar 92341436 48073850 44267586 India 833463448 427632643 405830805 Rank of District in State 37 37 37 Rank of District in India 467 463 471 Urban Sheohar 28116 14881 13235 Bihar 11758016 6204307 5553709 India 377106125 195489200 181616925 Rank of District in State 38 38 38 Rank of District in India 589 589 591 PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL POPULATION (2011) Bibliography 1.