INTERPRETING AGE-SEX PYRAMIDS

Interpreting Age-Sex (Population) Pyramids

Age- sex pyramids can tell us about how a population changes over time.

They can also tell us about the birth rate, death rate and life expectancy of a country.

They can help us predict population change.

Basic Interpretation of an Age-Sex Pyramid

A population or age-sex pyramid can tell us a lot and you can gain this information by examining the shape of it. The height

tells us what life expectancy is The

steepness of the sides tells us the death rateBirth rate has

dropped in last 10 years

Size of base tells us the birth rate

Young dependents

0-14Lots = YOUTHFUL

population

Economically Active15-64

Elderly dependents

65+ Lots = AGING

population

There are 3 main patterns of population pyramid

First a pyramid shape – this has a high birth rate, high death rate and low life expectancy.

Second is a bell shape This has a lower birth and death rate and

higher life expectancy.

Third is a country with negative growth – a coffin shape

A very low birth rate, low death rate and high life expectancy

India’s age-sex population pyramids over time

http://populationpyramid.net/india/1950/

Task In an exam you could be asked to

describe the age-sex characteristics of your selected country (Switzerland)

You are going to write a paragraph that FULLY DESCRIBES (says what NOT why) the age-sex pyramid for Switzerland in 2015

Write another paragraph describing Switzerland’s predicted population pyramid in 2050

Switzerland’s population pyramid

The narrow base shows that they have a LOW birth rate.

The 3 bottom bars show the population’s YOUNG dependents (0-14 year olds). In Switzerland this is only 15% of the population.

We can also see from this that the birth rate has stabilized in the last 15 years (not increasing anymore). Currently 11/1000

The broad mid section shows that there is a large (68%) Economically Active group

The fact that the base is smaller than the middle tells us that the fertility rate is less than 2.1.

The height of the pyramid tell us that they have a very life long expectancy (currently 83 years) 18% of the population are over 65. This shows us Switzerland has an ageing population.

How different is the population structure of India?

The wide base shows that they have a HIGH birth rate.

The height of the pyramid tell us that they have a MEDIUM life expectancy (currently 68 years) but it is increasing.

The 3 bottom bars show the population’s YOUNG dependents (0-14 year olds). In India this is approx. 28% of the population. This means they have a YOUTHFUL population. Only 5% are over 65.

We can also see from this that the birth rate has stabilised in the last 10 years (not increasing anymore). Currently 20/1000

The steepness of the sides is decreasing which indicates their death rate is also declining, currently 7/1000

And what about Uganda?

The wide base shows that they have a HIGH birth rate. (44/1000)

The height of the pyramid tell us that they have a low life expectancy (currently 68 years)

In Uganda approx. 48% of the population is between 0-14. This means they have a YOUTHFUL populationThe concave sides indicate the death rate is high (11/1000)

Uganda’s population will increase by 1,228,068 people this year.

The fact that the base is wider than the middle tells us that the fertility rate is more than 2.1.