What term describes the number of people living per unit of area?

The term that describes the number of people living per unit of area is arithmetic density. This measure is calculated by dividing the total population of a region by the total land area, providing a straightforward way to understand how densely populated an area is. It helps geographers and demographers assess population distributions and trends in different regions, allowing for comparisons between urban and rural areas, as well as across different countries or regions.

Arithmetic density does not take into account the availability of resources or the actual land suitable for living; it simply provides a ratio of people to land area, making it a useful general statistic for understanding population distribution at a broad level. This concept is foundational in human geography for evaluating how population impacts land use, environment, and urban planning.