Theory question 107
West Africa and ECOWAS(a) Explain any five factors that are responsible for the population distribution in West Africa. (b) Outline any five advantages of low population density in some parts of West Africa.
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(a) Climate (more people where rainfall is adequate; few in the Sahara/Sahel); fertile soils; relief (few in rugged highlands, many on plains and plateaus such as Jos); water supply; minerals (Jos, Tarkwa, Port Harcourt); industrialisation and employment in towns; historical factors (slave raids depopulated the middle belt; old kingdoms like Kano, Ife); pests and diseases (tsetse, river blindness); transport; government policy and capitals.
(b) Plenty of land for farming and grazing; less pressure on amenities; less pollution and congestion; lower crime; less environmental degradation; room for future development; fallowing restores soil fertility; resources conserved; lower cost of land.
Give a West African example for each factor.