Why are some areas in West Africa heavily or densely populated?

Why are some areas in West Africa heavily or densely populated?

In the arable regions, where soils are fertile and the climate is favorable for crop cultivation, higher population densities are found. Thus, the Peanut Basin of western Senegal, the Niger-Nigeria border region, central Burkina Faso, and southwestern Chad stand out by their relatively high rural population densities.

Where are the largest cities in West Africa located?

City Country City Pop Rank [Africa]
Lagos Nigeria 1
Abidjan Cote d’ Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 6
Kano Nigeria 7
Ibadan Nigeria 8

What are the reasons for high population growth in West Africa?

The interrelated factors are as follows: high crude birth rates; high fertility rates; childbirth at a young age; low rates of contraceptive use in most African nations; decline in infant mortality rates; decline in maternal mortality rates; decline in overall death rates; increase in life expectancy; and decline in …

Which country has the largest forest in West Africa?

Guinea-Bissau is by far the most forested country with 60 percent of its land area covered by forests. Mauritania and the Niger, on the other hand, are the least forested countries (0.3 and 1.0 percent of their total land area, respectively) because of dry climatic conditions.

Why does Africa have a high population density?

The country has also one of the smallest territories on the continent, which contributes to the high density. As a matter of fact, the majority of African countries with the largest concentration of people per square kilometer have the smallest geographical area as well.

Why does Africa have a low population density?

The low population density is attributed to the remoteness of the country with a large percentage of the country being covered by desert.

What is the largest in West Africa?

Niger
Chad, Mali, Mauritania and the Niger are by far the largest countries of West Africa, with a total land area accounting for almost 65 percent of the subregion, although mostly desert….Chapter 14. West Africa.

Country/area Guinea-Bissau
Forest area 2000 2 187
60.5
1.8
Area change 1990-2000 (total forest) -22

What is Africa’s climate?

Africa’s climate is dominated by desert conditions along vast stretches of its northern and southern fringes. The central portion of the continent is wetter, with tropical rainforests, grasslands, and semi-arid climates. Temperatures are about the same as those in the desert regions.

Which would be the most logical reason for Africa’s population growth?

Which would be the most logical reason for Africa’s population growth? safety and security. By 2100, Africa’s population will reach the level of Asia’s population in 2010.

What makes West Africa unique?

Nowhere in the world has been blessed with the same kind of natural beauty and diversity as West Africa. Within a short distance of one another, and often even within the same country, you can find glorious coastline, wild jungles, epic waterways, endless savannahs, dessert and towering mountains.

Where is biggest forest in Africa?

The Congo Basin
The Congo Basin is Africa’s largest contiguous forest and the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world. Covering about 695,000 square miles, this swamp-struck tropical forest covers portions of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

How does climate affect the population in Africa?

Evidence shows that the change in temperature has affected the health, livelihoods, food productivity, water availability, and overall security of the African people. Africa has seen a decrease in rainfall over large parts of the Sahel and Southern Africa, and an increase in parts of Central Africa.

Where are the forest zones in West Africa?

The forest zone of West Africa, in the strict sense, covers all of Liberia and Sierra Leone, most of Guinea, the southern halves of Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria, and parts of Ghana, Togo and Guinea-Bissau .

Which is the most populous country in West Africa?

Indeed, almost half of West Africans are Nigerian, and with over 172 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country in the entire African continent. The remaining 16 countries account for the other half of the West African population, with Ghana coming in at a distant second (7.5 percent of West Africa’s population).

How is the climate in West Africa changing?

Temperatures over West Africa have increased over the last 50 years, in line with an increase in global temperatures (Niang and others, 2014). The impact of global warming on rainfall in West Africa, however, remains notoriously difficult to assess in a climate that is susceptible to significant variation at multiple time scales.

How is the population of West Africa distributed?

West Africa’s population is unevenly distributed throughout the region, reflecting differences in the physical environment as well as the history of human settlement (see map above). In the arid northern part of the region, only a small, sparse population can be sustained.

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