Population Dynamics

Population Structures
Suggested Responses

Comprehension Questions

1. Demographers arrange populations into structures to help them visualise large

groups. One common structure is the population pyramid.

2. Typically, the Y-axis of a population pyramid displays age groups divided into five-year
intervals.

3. Triangular; rectangular; inverted triangular

4. d) infant mortality decreases and life expectancy increases.

5. An increase in life expectancy and a reduction in crude birth rate might lead to an
inverted triangular pyramid.

6. Gender imbalance; people leaving or entering a country to work; deaths from an age-
specific illness

7. With an inverted triangular pyramid, a smaller proportion of the population is

employed. Older people need more healthcare, and with relatively fewer people of
working age, there are fewer people to provide it.

8. c) a situation where the working population can boost the economy.

9. False

10. Syria’s population is likely to increase in the future, given that it has a high birth rate,
as seen in the widening base of the population pyramid, and a high number of families
returning to the homeland.

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 Population Dynamics - Population Structures | Suggested Responses 2

Interpreting a Pyramid

1. Student responses will vary. The following is a sample response:

Pyramid Shape Characteristics (e.g. wide/narrow Country

1 Triangular
2 Rectangular
3 Inverted
triangular
4 Triangular w/
rectangular
base
base, indentations/bulges, gender
differences, significant age cohorts)
Classic triangular pyramid with a wide Kenya
base (largest cohort is 0-4). Tapers
inwards. Very few in 65+ category.
Represents a very young population.
Very consistent in all age cohorts. Slight United States
bulge in the 25-29 and 55-59 cohorts and
indentation in the 40-49 cohorts. Slight
tapering at the bottom indicates structure
may soon develop into an inverted
triangular shape.
Structure tapers towards the bottom with Italy
0-4 being the smallest cohort besides
the 75+ cohorts. Ageing population with
very few young people and a significant
proportion over 65. Large bulge in 45-54
cohorts. Larger proportion of females in
older cohorts.
Pyramid follows a triangular shape Vietnam
from the 25-29 cohort onwards. Below
this there is an indentation at 15-19
and more of a consistent base. This
indicates that there is still a relatively
low life expectancy but that the birth
rate is beginning to fall. Within another
generation the pyramid is likely to
become rectangular.

2. Student responses will vary, however they should refer to changes in Japan’s overall
population structure, identify how specific cohorts have changed and cite specific
percentage values as evidence of change.

3. a) Student responses will vary, however they should identify that the pyramid for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is more triangular, representing a high
birth rate, high infant mortality rate and low life expectancy. The largest cohort is 0-4,
creating a very wide base which tapers inwards in the 25+ cohorts. The
non-Indigenous pyramid is more rectangular, with a lower birth rate, low infant
mortality rate and high life expectancy. The widest cohort is 75+, followed by 30–34,
indicating a large elderly cohort but also a large amount of economically active
people.

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 Population Dynamics - Population Structures | Suggested Responses 3

b) Student responses will vary, however they should refer to the information from the
previous question and identify that the Indigenous pyramid is typical of a developing
country, similar to those in regions such as sub-Saharan African countries, whereas
the non-Indigenous pyramid is typical of a developed country, such as the United
States or a European country. This shows that although Australia is a developed
country, there is stark inequality within its population.

Transcript – For student and teacher use.

21GEO01C © ClickView Pty Limited 2022 Reproducing these additional resources in Australia: If your school is covered by an agreement with Copyright Agency, you may copy and
share this resource for teaching purposes under that agreement. This may result in a payment to ClickView from Copyright Agency from copyright fees paid on behalf of Australian schools.