This point is about the speed of growth and population density, so the number of people per square mile. The Asian countries growth rates were slower and more drawn out, at least initially. Crazy fact, in the 1800s the western world grew more than threefold in population growth, Asian countries only 70 percent, but they caught up in the 20th century when healthcare properly reached them!

Another interesting fact, Western growth really started taking off in the 1600s off the back of the Age of Enlightenment, and it just kept speeding up until it exploded in 1800s.

Hope this makes sense, thanks for the comment, Roger!