Maldistribution of population within countries

Unbalanced national population

Nature

Maldistribution of population within countries refers to the uneven spatial distribution of people across regions, resulting in densely populated urban areas and sparsely inhabited rural zones. This imbalance creates significant challenges, including overburdened infrastructure, housing shortages, environmental degradation in cities, and underutilization of resources in less populated areas. It can exacerbate economic disparities, limit access to services, and hinder balanced regional development. Addressing maldistribution is crucial for sustainable growth, social equity, and efficient resource allocation within nations.

Background

The maldistribution of population within countries emerged as a recognized concern in the early 20th century, as rapid urbanization and rural depopulation became pronounced with industrialization. Scholars and policymakers noted the resulting economic, social, and environmental strains, particularly in densely populated cities and neglected rural areas. By the mid-20th century, international organizations began systematically documenting these imbalances, highlighting their persistence across diverse regions and their implications for sustainable national development.

Incidence

80% of the EEC/EU population lives in towns or cities whilst 80% of the land is rural.

Claim

Almost all developing countries consider the current geographic distribution of their population partially or wholly unacceptable. Their major cities have already become too large, and are growing too rapidly compared with smaller cities, towns and rural areas. Since urbanization is proceeding faster than industrialization, unemployment and underemployment are rampant; crime rates are increasing; and traditional social forms are disappearing.

Counter-claim

The so-called "maldistribution of population within countries" is vastly overstated as a problem. People naturally gravitate toward areas with better opportunities, and this organic movement drives economic growth and innovation. Forcing artificial balance wastes resources and ignores individual choice. Modern technology and infrastructure can bridge regional gaps, making population distribution irrelevant. Obsessing over this issue distracts from genuinely pressing concerns like education, healthcare, and climate change. It simply isn’t a significant problem.