Population Dynamics

Background
Population dynamics is the study of changes in populations in terms of size and makeup.
Factors involved in population dynamics include fertility rates, age of the population, and
infant and childhood mortality. Demographers use the information to make predictions
about future population sizes and needs.

Part 1
Age pyramids are one way to represent the number of people in each group within a
population. The age pyramids below represent the populations of 3 nations: one growing
rapidly (Mexico), one growing slowly (United States), and one that is not growing at all
(Sweden).

Analysis
1. Which population includes the greatest percentage of people over the age of 65?
The greatest number of percentage of people with
the age of 65_____________________
and above is Sweden What percentage of the nation’s population falls into
The populations percentage is 2% to 2.5%.
that category? _____________________
2. Which nation has the greatest percentage of people in child-bearing years (ages
Mexico
15-44)? _______________ How does the number of people in this category
compare to the number of people over 65 in that nation? ___________________
The number of people in child bearing is higher than the number of people who are 65 and above.
_______________________________________________________________
Part B
When you combine population statistics from both the developed and developing nations
of the world, you can create a world population pyramid. Use the data presented below to
make an age pyramid of the world in the space provided. Before you actually make the
graph, predict which of the three types of growth patterns you would expect to find in the
world graph.
 The population will be rapidly growing and the population of female will be higher
Prediction ________________________________________________________
than male.

Analysis (Answer after completing the population pyramid on the next page.)
1. Based on the shape of the world population pyramid, do you think the world
The_______________________
population is growing slowly, rapidly, or not at all? world population is growing rapidly

2. Although there are more males than females in the younger age groups, there
are more older women than older men. At what age does the number of women
worldwide exceed the number of men? Suggest 2 reasons why this might be
true. Age that women exceed men: _________________
Ages 70-74 because the percent population at this age of women is 0-1 percent compared to men which
a. is______________________________________________________________
0 percent at all.

b. The
______________________________________________________________
population pyramid doesn't provide data at this ages maybe at this age the men will die.

3. What is the total percentage of people between the ages of 20 and 29?
4% is the total
_____________
percentage Because there are so many people in this large category, would
you expect there to be a greater percentage in the 30-40 year old group ten
yes
years from now? _____________ Explain why or why not. _________________
This will be a greater percentage over ten years period, because the percentage of 30-40 ranges only from 0-3 maximum
________________________________________________________________
percentage. The percentage of the ages 20-29 is higher than 30-40 ages by 1 percent.

World Population Pyramid

Age % Male %
Group Female 75+
0-4 6.0 6.0 70-74
5-9 5.3 5.2 65-69
10-14 5.1 4.9 60-64
15-19 5.1 4.7 55-59
20-24 4.6 4.4 50-54
25-29 4.1 4.1 45-49
Age (Years)

30-34 3.6 3.5 40-44

35-39 3.4 3.2 35-39
40-44 2.8 2.7 30-34
45-49 2.2 2.1 25-29
50-54 1.9 1.9 20-24
55-59 1.8 1.8 15-19
60-64 1.7 1.7 10-14
65-69 1.5 1.6 5-9
70-74 0.8 1.0 0-4
75+ 0.9 1.2 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Population (Percent)