POPULATION

PYRAMIDS
 Objectives
 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?
 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+)
Each age-group designation is called a COHORT
What is a population pyramid?
Vertical Axis - Age Groups
Elderly dependents

Working population

Young dependents

Horizontal Axis – Percentage / number

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 (cohorts)
 Note the sex ratio
 Interpret the data
Types of Population Pyramid
1. Triangular-shaped
2. Beehive-shaped Pyramid
3. Rectangular-shaped Pyramid
Shape of pyramids is controlled by

Births (but mostly CBR!)

deaths, &

migrations.
Triangular-shaped Pyramid
(Broad-based Pyramid)
 Broad-based Pyramid
Title: India, 2000
Shape: 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
 STOP
 Where is India on the Demographic
Transition Model?
Indonesia
2000

Malaysia
2000
Beehive-shaped Pyramid
 Beehive-shaped Pyramid
Title: Singapore, 2000
Shape: Rocket-shaped / Narrow Base
– Low Birth Rates, Slow pop growth
Proportion: Large proportion of working
population, 15-59 yr old - large
group of economically active pop
Sex Ratio: Balanced pyramid
Hong Kong
2000

Taiwan
2000
 STOP
 Where are Beehive shaped pyramids
on the Demographic Transition Model?
Rectangular-shaped Pyramid
 Rectangular Pyramid
Title: Netherlands, 2000
Shape: 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

Netherlands
2000
 STOP
 Where are Rectangular Based
Pyramids on the Demographic
Transition Model?
 Population Structure and
Composition
 Population pyramids…show age and
gender groups. How do MDC’s and
LDC’s differ?


1.) Sex Ratio: # of males per 100 females.
In general slightly more males born, but
women outlive men
• Eur and NA 95 males: 100 females
• World wide 102 males: 100 females
Pop Structure and Composition –
cont’d.
 2.) Age Distribution

Dependency Ratio: # of people too old or young
to work, compared to # of people in productive yrs.
• % of pop under 15 = % over 65 divided by % in between
15-65 multiplied by 100
• Tells you how many dependents for every 100 workers
• Stage 2 countries: ratio is 1:1 (1 worker for every
dependent) Dependents are young
• Stage 4 countries ratio is 2:1 (2 workers for every
dependent) Dependents are young and old
 Age Distribution – cont’d

Graying of the pop in MDCs – more than ¼
of all govn’t expenditures in US, Canada,
Japan, and W. Eur goes to Social Security,
health care, and other programs for the
elderly


Baby Boomer Cohort in US (born 1946-
1964)…what does this mean for you?


Generation X = 1965-1980
What do you see? Why?
Population Pyramids in Transition
Importance of Population Pyramids
 Policy Planning
~ future housing estates
~ future schools
~ future jobs
 Comparison with other countries
~ developed (US) vs developing
(India)