POPULATION POPULATION POPULATION POPULATION PYRAMIDSPYRAMIDSPYRAMIDSPYRAMIDS

ObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesObjectives� WHAT is a population pyramid?

� HOW to read a population pyramid?

� Recognise SHAPES of population pyramids.

� IMPORTANCE of population pyramids.

What is a population pyramid?What is a population pyramid?What is a population pyramid?What is a population pyramid?

� It is a diagram that gives information about the proportion of males and females in each age group.

� Also shows:

- proportion of young people (0 -14 )

- proportion of working people (15 – 59)

- proportion of elderly people (60+)

What is a population pyramid?What is a population pyramid?What is a population pyramid?What is a population pyramid?

Vertical Axis - Age Groups

Horizontal Axis – Percentage / number

Young dependents

Working population

Elderly dependents

How to read a population pyramid?How to read a population pyramid?How to read a population pyramid?How to read a population pyramid?� Read the title e.g. country or city or

racial group

� Comment on general shape of the pyramid

� Note the proportion of people in various age groups

� Note the sex ratio

� Interpret the data

Types of Population PyramidTypes of Population PyramidTypes of Population PyramidTypes of Population Pyramid

1. Triangular-shaped

2. Beehive-shaped Pyramid

3. Rectangular-shaped Pyramid

Shape of pyramids is controlled by

� births,

� deaths, &

� migrations.

TriangularTriangularTriangularTriangular----shaped Pyramidshaped Pyramidshaped Pyramidshaped Pyramid(Broad(Broad(Broad(Broad----based Pyramid)based Pyramid)based Pyramid)based Pyramid)

Smaller portion of

elderly! Few 80+

BroadBroadBroadBroad----based Pyramidbased Pyramidbased Pyramidbased PyramidTitle: India, 2000Shape: Broad Base - high birth rates

Narrow Top - small elderly pop- high death rate

Proportion: - Large proportion of young- high young dependency ratio

Sex Ratio: Balance pyramid - Balance sex ratio

Often the pattern we

find with 2nd World

countries.

OK healthcare,

but not good

Geriatric Care (Not a lot of Elderly!)

Indonesia2000

Malaysia2000

Not a 3rd

world

pattern, but

not 1st as

well.

BeehiveBeehiveBeehiveBeehive----shaped Pyramidshaped Pyramidshaped Pyramidshaped Pyramid

Classic Baby

boom following

a major

upheaval,

usually a war!

BeehiveBeehiveBeehiveBeehive----shaped Pyramidshaped Pyramidshaped Pyramidshaped PyramidTitle: Singapore, 2000Shape: Rocket-shaped / Narrow Base

– Low Birth Rates, Slow pop growthProportion: Large proportion of working

population, 15-59 yr old - large group of economically active pop

Sex Ratio: Balanced pyramid

Very slow growth

rate. Decent

health care,

because of

survival of babies,

but still 2nd world

because of lack of

older people 80+.

Hong Kong2000

Taiwan2000

Larger aged

populations for both

populations, reduced

need for large families

as more kids survive.

Approaching 1st world

status.

RectangularRectangularRectangularRectangular----shaped Pyramidshaped Pyramidshaped Pyramidshaped Pyramid

Post WW2 baby

boom. Zero pop.

Growth.

Rectangular PyramidRectangular PyramidRectangular PyramidRectangular PyramidTitle: Netherlands, 2000Shape: Rectangular-shaped - Zero Pop Growth

Narrow Base - Low Birth Rates- Life-expectancy is high e.g. 80+- Low death rates

Proportion: Bars of equal length - Balance Proportion

Sex Ratio: Balance pyramid - Balance Sex Ratio

UK 2000

Netherlands2000

Tons of kids, bad health

care, low life expectancy

Balanced, great health

care, high life

expectancy.

Shrinking, great health

care, very high life

expectancy.

Population Pyramids in TransitionPopulation Pyramids in TransitionPopulation Pyramids in TransitionPopulation Pyramids in Transition

Each of these show a pattern to us about the country. In the first, kids outnumber adults greatly. This

means that there are probably large class sizes, if they have schools. It would also mean that families

would begin earlier (if you were only going to live to be 45 years old wouldn’t you?). Slow growth occurs

as more children survive into adulthood (IE health care improved!), so families are smaller, and parents and

grandparents live longer thereby passing down some of the wisdom of age. (This tends to stabilize

populations.) It is also usually when the transition from 3rd world to 2nd world happens. As a culture

approaches zero population growth rate it often means that they are approaching 1st world status (IE high

standard of living, education, high life span, excellent life prospects.) As the population ages, we often see

family size continue to shrink enabling parents to provide more opportunities to their children. This leads

unfortunately to a shrinking population. Most of the world’s current population growth is occurring in the

2nd and 3rd world.

Each pyramid tells a story

about the

past, present & future

of a country & its people.

Importance of Population PyramidsImportance of Population PyramidsImportance of Population PyramidsImportance of Population Pyramids

� Policy Planning

~ future housing estates

~ future schools

~ future jobs

� Comparison with other countries

~ developed (US) vs developing (India)