1.3 TRANSITION OF POPULATION

　　The watershed-land of the Seto Inland Sea spread out about 68,000 km2 as shown in Table 1-4, that is, 18 % of the total land area of Japan. The population of the area is about 35,000,000 that is, about 18 % of the total population of Japan, and its annual specific increasing rate is around 28 % which is similar to the average of all over Japan as shown in Figure 1-4.

　　And as shown in Figure 1-5, the population density there is 643 persons/km2, which is 1.6 times as large as the average of Japan, about 330 persons/km2. This means people concentrate to this area.

　

Note: after the census in fiscal year of 1955

Table 1-4 Populations and Areas of the Prefectures Located
in the Watershed in the Seto Inland Sea

　

Figure 1-5 Population Densities in Restricted Areas by the Law Concerning Special easures For Conservation of the Environment of Seto Inland Sea in Each 13 Prefectures Located in the Watershed in theSeto Inland Sea

　

　
Table 1-4 Populations and Areas of the Prefectures Located in the Watershed
in the Seto Inland Sea Enclosed seas In Japan,
Name of Pref.
Population (thousand)
Land Area (km2)
Population Density (persons/km2)
Total Designated Region Total Designated Region Total Designated Region
Total in Japan (A)
124,914
-
377,753
-
330
-
Kyoto Pref.
2,551
2,197
4,613
1,773
553
1,239
Osaka Pref.
8,815
8,815
1,892
1,892
4,659
4,659
Hyogo Pref.
5,404
5,180
8,387
6,213
644
834
Nara Pref.
1,434
1,372
3,690
1,790
388
766
Wakayama Pref.
1,099
795
4,723
1,692
233
470
Okayama Pref.
1,951
1,948
7,111
7,111
274
274
Hiroshima Pref.
2,871
2,697
8,474
5,839
339
462
Yamaguchi Pref.
1,550
1,413
6,110
4,478
254
316
Tokushima Pref.
838
808
4,144
3,650
202
221
Kagawa Pref.
1,034
1,034
1,875
1,875
551
551
Ehime Pref.
1,523
1,472
5,675
4,476
268
329
Fukuoka Pref.
4,895
1,148
4,967
1,066
986
1,077
Oita Pref.
1,241
1,115
6,337
4,812
196
232
Total in the 13 Pref.(B)
35,206
29,994
67,998
46,667
518
643
(B)／(A)％
28,2%
-
18.0%
-
-
-

Note: after the data by Ministry of Home Affairs of Japan