Final answer:
In spite of having a large population, much of the African region is sparsely populated. Various factors such as challenging terrain, extreme climates, and historical barriers contribute to the uneven distribution of population density across the continent.
Step-by-step explanation:
In spite of having a large population, much of the African region is sparsely populated. Africa is the second-largest continent in terms of landmass and population, with 1.341 billion people in 2020. However, due to various factors such as challenging terrain, extreme climates like deserts and rainforests, and historical barriers like the Sahara desert, population density is unevenly distributed across the continent.
For example, regions like the Sahel and tropical woodland savanna have encouraged the migration of groups, while arid deserts and inhospitable areas result in low population density. Additionally, socioeconomic factors like poverty and inadequate access to food can also contribute to sparsely populated areas.