thinly populated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thinly populated" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe an area with a low population density or a small number of inhabitants per square mile. Example: The rural countryside was thinly populated, with only a few scattered houses and farms dotting the landscape.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Take two states as an illustration of this phenomenon: small, thinly populated West Virginia and populous, relatively suburban Pennsylvania.

The New York Times

Detzner's narrative also was rife with contradictions and omissions: Detzner named few villages or streams and stated that the valleys he discovered were thinly populated, whereas they actually contained large populations, at least by New Guinea standards.

Wikipedia

But the railroad's labor contracts provide stiff penalties for dropping routes, and dropping states from its itinerary would hurt its political support, especially in the Senate, where thinly populated states are overrepresented relative to their population.

The New York Times

The New Zealand countryside is thinly populated, but there are many small towns with populations of up to 10,000 and a number of provincial cities of more than 20,000.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In its thinly populated rural areas, general hospitals, called uchastok hospitals, served populations as small as 2,000 to 15,000 persons.

Encyclopedia Britannica

North Sinai is thinly populated and broadly underdeveloped, with some of the local population feeling marginalised from the government's investment programme on the mainland.

BBC

Other areas with poor soils are thinly populated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Large parts of the country are thinly populated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Thinly populated, the area is poorly served by communications.

Encyclopedia Britannica

• Thinly populated areas cannot support efficient public transport.

The Guardian

The political stage without him, seems rather thinly populated.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a region, consider specifying why it's "thinly populated". Is it due to geographical constraints, economic factors, or historical events? Providing context enhances the reader's understanding.

Common error

While "thinly populated" is accurate, varying your language can improve readability. Interchange it with phrases like "sparsely populated" or "lightly populated" to avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thinly populated" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, typically a geographical area (e.g., region, country, area). It describes the characteristic of having a low population density. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thinly populated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase, primarily employed to describe areas with low population densities. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its usage is correct and validated by numerous examples from reliable sources. Predominantly found in news articles, encyclopedias, and academic texts, the term serves to inform readers about the demographic characteristics of a location. While "thinly populated" is widely accepted, writers can enhance their prose by occasionally substituting it with synonyms such as "sparsely populated" or "lightly populated" to maintain reader engagement and interest.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sparsely populated

Focuses on the scattered distribution of the population.

lightly populated

Emphasizes the low number of people present.

underpopulated

Suggests that the area has fewer people than expected or needed.

scarcely inhabited

Highlights the lack of inhabitants in the area.

poorly inhabited

Implies that the area is not well-suited for habitation.

weakly populated

Stresses the insubstantial nature of the population.

meagerly populated

Indicates a small and inadequate population size.

infrequently populated

Highlights the rarity of population clusters.

minimally populated

Emphasizes the minimal amount of people living there.

modestly populated

Suggests a limited population size without negative connotations.

FAQs

What does "thinly populated" mean?

"Thinly populated" describes an area with a low population density, meaning there are few people living per square mile or kilometer. It suggests that the population is spread out over a large area.

What can I say instead of "thinly populated"?

You can use alternatives like "sparsely populated", "lightly populated", or "underpopulated" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "thinly populated" or "sparsely populated"?

Both "thinly populated" and "sparsely populated" are correct and often interchangeable. "Sparsely populated" may emphasize the scattered distribution of the population more strongly.

How does the term "thinly populated" relate to infrastructure?

Areas that are "thinly populated" often face challenges in developing and maintaining infrastructure such as roads, public transport, and utilities due to the high cost per person served. This can further isolate these areas.