The number of people per unit area of arable land is termed as

The number of people per unit area of arable land is termed as physiological density. This measure provides a more accurate understanding of the population pressure on resources by relating the total population to the net cultivated or arable land [1]. In contrast, arithmetic density is a crude measure calculated by dividing the total population by the total land area [3]. Agricultural density specifically refers to the ratio of the agricultural population (farmers and their families) to the net cultivable area, rather than the total population [2]. Physiological density is often considered a superior measure for assessing food security and sustainability because it highlights the relationship between a country's population and its actual agricultural capacity to support that population.

Sources

1. [1] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition > Density of Population > p. 5
2. [3] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition > Density of Population > p. 3
3. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Setting > Agricultural or Physiological Density of Population > p. 76