Dear Christopher Hogan

Thank you for your discussion.

Although many studies use them as if they were the same, I think they are two different things and cannot be used interchangeably.

‘Demography’ means population science. Therefore, demography studies the structure, distribution, growth and other statistical characteristics of the population.

‘Population Geography’, on the other hand, investigates the geographical distribution of population and the causes and effects of this distribution by using the basic principles of geography. In other words, while demography is more concerned with numerical data and analyses, population geography focuses on the spatial dimension of these data.

Since you are in Australia, let me give example from Australia. For example, through demography (for some, this is a science), we can numerically/quantitatively reveal the characteristics of the population in Australia (or elsewhere) such as age, gender, educational status, marital status, fertility rate. It is only through population geography that we can reveal how a particular population in Australia is distributed and concentrated. For example, through population geography, we can make the spatial distribution of the elderly population or the young population in Australia. Thus, we can see in which regions or provinces of Australia the elderly population is high and in which regions the young population is high or low. Or we can spatially distribute the fertility rate of the population and see comparatively in which provinces, cities or regions the population growth rate is high or low. Thus, we can compare provinces, cities and regions on the basis of their population characteristics.

Now I would like to explain this through the basic principles of Geography.

1) Comparison, 2) Establishing cause-effect relationship 3) Distribution principles are one of the most basic features of geography. Population geography makes use of demography by utilising these principles.

For example, in geography and demography, the displacement of the population is generally called ‘population movements’. However, in departments such as Sociology, the concept of ‘population movements’ is not used much. Instead, the concept of ‘migration’ is used as a phenomenon.

Demography is a field where population characteristics are analysed in detail. It focuses on various topics such as age, gender, educational status, marital status, divorce rates, fertility rate, population growth rate. As other fields of science interact with each other, they also interact with demography. For example, disciplines such as economics, sociology, statistics, geography, psychology are sciences that benefit from demography.

As a result of the science of geography using its own principles and making use of demography, the field we call population geography emerges.

Thank you for raising this question.

It is really a necessary question and one that we need to discuss.

I hope I was able to contribute to this discussion even a little bit.

Best Wishes,

Recep Baydemir

Hi Recep Baydemir , thanks for your response to this question! I think you've covered the main points well and I think I have a clearer understanding of the differences between them. Much appreciated!

Hi Christopher Hogan , you are welcome.

Thank you once again for bringing up this question.

It was a very necessary question issue we need to discuss.

Best Wishes,