How is population density defined?

Population density is defined as the number of individuals living in a specific area, typically expressed as people per unit of land area, such as per square kilometer or square mile. This measurement provides insight into how crowded or spacious a particular region may be. It's an important concept in urban planning, resource allocation, and understanding social dynamics, as higher population densities can indicate greater demands on infrastructure, services, and resources.

While other options present related demographic measures, they focus on different aspects of population studies. For instance, population growth rate pertains to how quickly a population increases over time, average household size gives information about family structures, and the percent of urban versus rural populations compares living environments rather than measuring density itself. Therefore, understanding population density specifically is essential for analyzing geographic and social patterns within a given area.