Where people live

Ages 9 to 12 Read alone or together · about 35 minutes

Read together

In November 2022, the world population passed 8 billion people. About six in ten people live in Asia. More than half of all people now live in towns and cities.

People live where they can find water, food and work. Rivers, coasts and fertile land have drawn many people. Some places are crowded and some are almost empty, such as deserts and polar regions.

The Philippines had over 109 million people in 2020. Many live in cities such as Metro Manila, and many families have members who work abroad.

Do it

1. Look at a population map or graph. Which continents have the most people?
2. Make a bar chart of five countries' populations from a table your grown-up finds.
3. Interview someone who has moved to a new place. Why did they move? What did they leave behind and what did they find?
4. Think about what makes a place a good place to live. Make a list of five things.

Talk about it

• Why do cities grow?
• How are migrants part of your community?

For the grown-up

Population grows and moves. The United Nations estimated 8 billion people on 15 November 2022. Many families live across countries, including millions of Filipinos who work overseas, and many Mexican and Latin American families. Be sensitive to children whose families have moved or been displaced.

Mark as done

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Where this comes from

• United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects and the 8 billion milestone (15 November 2022)
• Philippine Statistics Authority, 2020 Census of Population and Housing
• United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, World Urbanization Prospects

Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed. Please read it before sharing it with a child.