Preface of the first edition (1970):In chapter 1 presents a brief summary of the major demographic features of the continent, including a discussion of the short comings of available statistical data. In chapter 2 analyzes the significance of population densities, noting the very limited utility of crude density figures, and examines the major factors of population distributions in many African regions. Chapter 3 attempts to synthesize the role of population movements in Africa, stressing their impacts on the areas and people involved. Chapter 4 contains a range of data related to urbanization in Africa and a discussion of some of the problems it poses, which are presenting dilemmas of increasing concern to African countries. Chapter 5 consists of thumbnail sketches of a number of urban communities, indicating the wide diversity among them but also the commonality of many of their problems. And chapter 6 focuses upon population pressure in Africa, a condition which is considered to be far more perversive than has generally been acknowledge. An overall objective is to encourage greater awareness of the population factor in African studies, a factor which, despite the work of numbers of dedicated students, has not yet received the attention that its importance demands.