POPULATION PYRAMIDS

Population Pyramid represents the population structure, i.e.

Age and sex structure of a population

Using bar graphs to represent the percentage or number of people in each age-sex group

Population Pyramids allows one to compare the relative size of age and sex groups at a glance

It also compares pyramids of different countries, place, urban vs. rural areas

A Population Pyramid is obtained when a horizontal bar graph is rotated (inverted).

Information that can be extracted from population pyramids:

Young Dependants (0-14 years)

Working Population (15-64 years) – economically active group

Old dependants (>65 years)

Dependency ratio (old dependants + young dependants / working population) x 100

Sex ratio (proportion of males and females)

Broad-based, triangular-shaped pyramid which tapers at the apex (getting narrower) >65 years

Narrow-based, bee-hive/rocket shaped pyramid

(still growing)

Bars Contracting

Narrow-based, bee-hive/rocket shaped pyramid

(stop growing)

Broad-Based Pyramids

(>65 years) AGED POPULATION (but some tend to live beyond 80 years with higher life expectancy)

Narrow apex, indicating high death rate

(15-64 years) ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION

Tend to have a high dependancy ratio (aged and young burden on the working population/economically-active)

(0-14 years) YOUNG DEPENDANTS

Broad-based pyramid, shows a young and rapidly growing population, indicating high birth rate

High birth rates due to:

Lack/Failure in Family Planning (Mostly unenducated/illiterate people, hence, were not told about family planning/resistant to family planning)

Poor Medical Care High Infant Mortality Rate (People want more children to ensure that all won’t die)

Low income and low standard of living; agricultural economy (need more farmhands and cannot afford to hire helpers, hence, more children to help out in the farms and agricultural activities)

Illiteracy rate high, most women uneducated (Were not told about family planning/resistant to family planning)

Social Mindset – Children are assets as farm labour and old aged security (Preference for boys over girls/Show that one is rich as ony the rich can afford to have many children)

Problems

Overpopulation Large amounts of large dependants strain resources Few jobs Lacking in housing, unhygenic living conditions Spread of diseases prevalent

Constrictive/Regressive Pyramids

(>65 years) AGED POPULATION

Broad Apex, indicating low death rate and high life expectancy (but many, especially females tend to live beyond 80 years, with higher life expectantcy)

(15-64 years) ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION

Tend to have a very high dependency ratio (becomes more straight up and down with almost equal numbers of people in adjacent age groups)

(0-14 years) YOUNG DEPENDANTS

Has a narrow base (squaring at the bottom), showing a small young population, indicating falling and low birth rate

Narrow based – low birth rate

Low Birth Rates due to:

Success in family planning

High income and high standard of living; high cost of living career conscious delayed marriage; prefer no/few children Child bearing years shortened

Social Mindset – children are inabilities

Problems:

Ageing population shrinking and less vibrant workforce labour unattractive for investments less revenue for country smaller tax receipts hinders development

Negative Growth Population Pyramids

(>65 years) AGED POPULATION

Very Broad Apex, indicating low death rate and high life expectancy (but many, especially females tend to live beyond 80 years, with higher life expectantcy)

(15-64 years) ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION

Tend to have a very high dependency ratio (becomes eventually ‘inverted pyramid—broad apex with narrower and narrower base)

(0-14 years) YOUNG DEPENDANTS

Has a narrow base showing a small young population, indicating falling and very low birth rate

Very Low Birth Rates due to:

Success in family planning

Very high income and very high standard of living; high cost of living career conscious delayed marriage; prefer no/few children Child bearing years shortened

Social Mindset – children are inabilities

Problems:

Ageing population shrinking and less vibrant workforce labour tight labour market high labour cost unattractive for investments less revenue for country smaller tax receipts hinders development

Extreme Situation of Very Low Birth Rate

Inverted pyramid

Very narrow base

A disproportionate percentage of aged

Great economic burden on country’s resources as revenue is shrinking due to a small and shrinking workforce