What describes the average number of people within a specific geographic area?

Population density refers to the average number of people living in a specific geographic area, typically measured per square kilometer or square mile. This concept is essential in understanding how crowded a place is and can influence various factors such as urban planning, resource allocation, and socioeconomic conditions. High population density might indicate a bustling urban center, while low density might point to rural areas with more space per person.

The other concepts, while related to population and geography, address different aspects. Poverty deals with the economic status of individuals or communities, natural increase refers to the difference between birth rates and death rates in a population, and natural disasters involve significant environmental events that can impact human populations and geographies. While these factors can influence population density, they are not descriptions of it themselves.