DISTRIBUTION OF WORLD’S POPULATION 23
varies greatly. The differences, however, are not by
any means solely due to the physical differences of that
surface. They are affected by the degree of civilisation
 attained, by the capacity for civilised life, by the
prevailing standards-of-living, and by the nature of
human activities. Japan and her dependencies have
no less than 320 per square mile; British India has 226;
Ceylon has 198; Tongking has 182. These are instances
where the standards-of-living do not make great
demands upon the natural resources of the territory.
The very elementary wants of the inhabitants make it
possible for large numbers to occupy very small areas,
a common phenomenon in China, India and Japan.
When a comprehensive survey of the densities of
existing human populations is made, it becomes
evident that the natural resources of the areas they
occupy cannot of themselves support these populations
 in foodstuffs. In other countries the territories
can support them, but the natural resources are only
just sufficient; in others again the resources are but
moderately drawn upon; in some cases the natural
resources greatly exceed the population requirements.
In general, it may be said that no simple relation
exists between a territory’s capacity to carry population
and its actual population-density. It does not depend
solely upon the physical characters of the territory
itself.
It is worthy of note here, that increasing knowledge
of the nature of the earth’s crust, and of the forms of
life existing upon its surface, have made territories,
formerly useless, now available for human occupation.
The discoveries, for example, of artesian supplies in
America, Africa and Australia, have opened up regions
which had appeared to be quite useless. Great irrigation
 schemes have successfully met various dangers to
human life, and have enormously increased the numbers
that can live in the territories served by them. Again,