Befolkninger

Befolkninger refers to the groups of people living in a given area or belonging to a broader community. In demography the term describes the size, composition and distribution of human populations, and can denote a national population as well as subpopulations defined by geography, ethnicity, language, age or other characteristics. In biology, befokninger can also describe a group of individuals of the same species in a defined environment, but in social science the focus is on human populations.

Key concepts include population size (how many people), density (people per area), and structure (age and sex distribution). Geographic distribution examines where people live, such as urban versus rural areas, or regional patterns. Population dynamics cover births, deaths and migration, which together determine growth or decline. Fertility rates, life expectancy and net migration are common indicators. Demographic transitions describe shifts from high to low fertility and mortality as societies develop.

Data sources include censuses, civil registrations and administrative records. These data inform policy, planning and research, but may be affected by undercounting, privacy considerations and definitional differences between countries. Subpopulations, such as ethnic, linguistic or immigrant groups, are often studied to understand social diversity, integration and inequality.

See also: population, urbanization, aging, migration, demographic transition.