Population distribution in china is highly uneven where the high population concentration is in the eastern area with a density of over 400 persons per km.
A sparse population is found in the northern and western parts of the country where the density is less than 50 persons per km. several factors explain such a pattern of population and some of them include the following;
1) Presence of fertile alluvial soils along river valleys such as Sikiang and Yangtze and yellow river in the east which favor human settlements hence dense population in the east while thin infertile soils in the Himalayas and the desert sands in the west limit crop cultivation and livestock farming thus a low population.
2) Heavy rainfall and warm temperatures especially in the south and central parts of china at least a high population while the very cold temperatures in the Tibetan highlands together with hot temperatures in the west limit population in the area.
3) The plains and lowlands especially in the central and eastern regions have attracted infrastructural development prompting dense settlement unlike the mountains west on the Himalayas with a steepness that limits population settlements.
4) The existing mineral potential of various areas stretching from Nanling to Xinfiang and the north –eastern region of Manchuria area attracting a dense population to enjoy mineral benefits unlike the less endowed west thus low population.
5) Eastern china is well- drained with numerous rivers and lakes that provide water for both domestic and industrial use and also useful for navigation which attracts a dense population compared to the west with poorly drained river valleys and water scarcity limiting population settlements.
6) The poor pastures in the west encouraged herding which leads to sparse populations in the west.
7) Urbanization with better social facilities especially in the coastal areas of Hongkong, shanghai, Cantan,Beijing (Peking) attract high densities of the population compared to the rural areas in the west and north with low densities.
8) Presence of well-developed transport and communication networks ranging from airports, waterways roads and railway systems has attracted dense populations in the east, central and northern parts unlike the less accessible areas in the west and south parts.
9) Industrial areas like Shangal, Beijing, Manchuria, Hongkong and Guanzhou have attracted dense population in search for employment and trade partnerships unlike the less industrialized areas of the west.
10) The positive government policy of starting up communes and redistributing the people led to dense populations in agricultural zones unlike places where agriculture was not possible i.e. the western areas.
11) Historical factors have also influenced population distribution in china. Early civilization stated along river valleys in the east creating a long history of dense settlements in such areas unlike western china where such histories are not traced.
12) Presence of social services such as education, health insurance, and banks and recreation centers especially eastern china attracted large settlements unlike western china where such services are limited.
13) Presence of employment opportunities in mining areas, manufacturing industries, and agriculture in eastern china accounts for the large population unlike the western part of China is limited in the same.
14) Racism in china where the easterners regard themselves as more superior than the Chinese in the interior. The easterners are more in number and cannot migrate to mix with the minority in the west.
15) Culturally, nomadic herders in western china encourage small population densities compared to the settled farmers in eastern china.
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