POPULATION STRUCTURES AND PYRAMIDS

• Population structure and population pyramids

• Population structure means the 'make up' or composition of a
population.
• Looking at the population structure of a place shows how the
population is divided up between males and females of different age
groups.
• Population structure is usually shown using a population pyramid.
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• Population pyramids:
• show the structure of a population by comparing relative numbers
of people in different age groups.
• Population structures differ markedly between Less Economically
Developed Countries LEDCs and More Economically Developed
Countries MEDCs.
•A population pyramid can be drawn up for any area, from a whole
continent or country to an individual town, city or village.
•The left side of each pyramid shows the number of men in each age
group, the right side shows the number of women in each age group.
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• Analysing population pyramids
• Key things to know about population pyramids
• The shape of a population pyramid can tell us a lot about an area's population.
• It gives us information about birth and death rates as well as life expectancy.
• A population pyramid tells us how many dependants there are.
• There are two groups of dependants; young dependants (aged below 15) and
elderly dependants (aged over 65).
• Dependants rely upon the economically active (15-64 years) for economic support.
• Many LEDCs have a high number of young dependants, whilst many MEDCs have a
growing number of elderly dependants, this will be shown by the pyramid having
straight sides or a barrel shape.
• The pyramid will also be much taller.
POPULATION STRUCTURES AND PYRAMIDS
• POPULATION STRUCTURE
POPULATION STRUCTURE AND POPULATION PYRAMIDS
• LEDC
•
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• The population pyramid shown above has a broad base
• A broad base means:
• A high birth-rate/ baby boom
• A lot of children are being born.
• REASONS FOR A HIGH BIRTHRATE
• Children may be viewed as a source of labour for agri-based economies.
• Children work for parents and bring wealth home, so couples bear a lot of
them.
• The need for a boy child to carry on the family name. This means that child
bearing does not stop until there is a baby boy in the family.
• Lack of knowledge on family planning methods.
• Lack of education- children who do not go to school start child bearing very
early in their lives resulting in high birthrates
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• Religions-some religions prohibit the use of family planning methods, instead
they encourage couples to have many children as they are viewed as a blessing.
• Prestige- in traditional societies someone with a lot of children is highly
respected.
• Early marriages
• Lack of pensions, so parents want to be kept at old age.
• A NARROWING MIDDLE MEANS
• A high infant mortality rate, most of the children do not survive to adulthood.
• A few working population
• A poor economy
• Poor standards of living
• A high dependency ratio
• Starvation and poverty
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• A THIN POINTED TOP MEANS
• A high death-rate
• A low life expectancy
• People in that country do not live longer
• REASONS FOR A HIGH DEATHRATE
• Lack of modern medical health care facilities.
• Lack of good nutrition/ poor diets
• Outbreak of diseases eg cholera, AIDS etc
• Poor water supplies
• Poor hygiene and sanitation
• Poor transport networks –lack of roads to transport sick people to hospital
• Poverty –lack of money to buy medicines
• Religion – some people are taken to traditional doctors when they get sick instead of
getting quick medical attention.
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• MEDC: A POPULATION PYRAMID OF A DEVELOPED COUNTRY E.G UK.
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• The population pyramid shown has a narrow base:
• A NARROW BASE MEANS:
• A low birth-rate
• A few children are being born
• REASONS FOR A LOW BIRTHRATE
• They are enlightened or educated on family planning methods
• The level of education is so high, they spend most of their time at school.
• They have legalised abortion
• Children are viewed as a liability/ expense or a burden
• Most of the mothers are employed, they spend most of their time at work and they
have no time for looking after children.
• Emancipation for women
• Late marriages.
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• A BROAD/ WIDE MIDDLE MEANS
• There is a high working population
• There are good job opportunities
• A low dependency ratio
• A high standard of living
• A good economy for the country
• A BROAD /WIDE TOP MEANS
• There is a low death rate
• A high life expectancy or a high life span
• People in that country live longer
• REASONS FOR A HIGH LIFE EXPECTANCY
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• Improved modern health care facilities
• They have access to balanced diets or they can afford good nutrition
• There is a high standard of living
• Availability of money to purchase medicines
• Improved water facilities/ they drink piped water
• Improved sanitation and personal hygiene
• Improved transport network to take those who are sick to hospital
• DIFFERENT TYPES OF POPULATION PYRAMIDS
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• EXPANDING
• The pyramid shows an expanding population
• It is usually found in developing countries eg. Zimbabwe.
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• STABLE
• The pyramid shows a stable population
• It is usually found in developed countries eg Britain
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• EXPANDING URBAN SETTLEMENT
• There is a larger number of males who migrate from rural areas to urban areas
in search of employment or greener pastures
• Birth rate is low because they are enlightened on family planning methods
•
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• RURAL AREAS
• Large population of females because:
• Men have migrated to urban areas in search of employment.
• Men have gone to war and women are remaining behind looking after children
and working in the fields
• In rural areas there is a high birth rate because they are not enlightened on
family planning methods
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