Population PyramidPopulation PyramidShows the proportion of males and females Shows the proportion of males and females in different age groupsin different age groups

Measured in % or no of total popMeasured in % or no of total pop

Shape determined by BR, DR and migrationShape determined by BR, DR and migration

Analyse according Analyse according

Proportion of male vs femaleProportion of male vs female

Economically non-active:Economically non-active: 0-14 (young 0-14 (young dependents), >65 (elderly)dependents), >65 (elderly)

Economically active:Economically active: 15-65 (Working pop) 15-65 (Working pop)

BR, DR, Life expectancyBR, DR, Life expectancy

A Pyramidal-shaped A Pyramidal-shaped Population Pyramid Population Pyramid (Progressive)(Progressive)

Describing and Describing and interpretinginterpretingBroad baseBroad base indicates high BR or fertility rate indicates high BR or fertility rate

and an expanding/youthful populationand an expanding/youthful population

Large dependent population account 35% or Large dependent population account 35% or more of the total populationmore of the total population

Pyramid narrows towards the topPyramid narrows towards the top, indicating , indicating high DRhigh DR

The narrow top from the 65 – 69 age group The narrow top from the 65 – 69 age group indicates low life expectancyindicates low life expectancy

Overall Overall sex ratiosex ratio is balanced which reflects is balanced which reflects little immigration or emigrationlittle immigration or emigration

Such a population diagram is typical of Such a population diagram is typical of developing countriesdeveloping countries with increasing with increasing populationpopulation

A bee-hived Pyramid A bee-hived Pyramid (Regressive)(Regressive)

Describing and Describing and InterpretingInterpretingNarrow baseNarrow base indicates low BR and fertility rate indicates low BR and fertility rate

Young dependentYoung dependent makes up less than 30% of the makes up less than 30% of the total populationtotal population

Broader topBroader top indicates a long life expectancy and indicates a long life expectancy and a relatively low DRa relatively low DR

AgedAged can account more than 15% of the can account more than 15% of the population – greying poppopulation – greying pop

There is a possibility of the population shrinking There is a possibility of the population shrinking as birth and population growth rates continue to as birth and population growth rates continue to drop each yeardrop each year

Such a pyramid typifies the population structure Such a pyramid typifies the population structure of of developed countriesdeveloped countries

Population Pyramids of Population Pyramids of S’poreS’pore

1 (a) Describe the changes in the structure of the pyramids between 1997 and 2025. (3)

(b) Give reasons for the changes described in (a). (6)

Reasons for high growth rate:Developing countries

Low DR High BR

Better medical and health care

•low infant mortality•higher life expectancy

Lack of family planning

Better hygiene & sanitation

Early marriages

Access to clean drinking water

Preference for sons

Need for farm labour

Reasons for high growth rate: Developing countries

Consequences: Overpopulation

Strain on country’s resources (food, housing, education)

High unemployment rate

Environmental problems

Overcrowding in squatters

pollution

Reasons for high growth rate: Developing countriesSolutions

Education on family planning

Incentives and penalties through policies

China’s one child policy

India’s national planning policy

Case Study: NigeriaNigeria is the largest country in Africa by population. As of 2000, its population was estimated to be 117 million, placing it first among African countries and tenth among all countries.

Countries Ranked by Population: 2000 (in millions)

1 China 1,256

2 India 1,017

3 United States 275

4 Indonesia 219

5 Brazil 174

6 Russia 146

7 Pakistan 141

8 Bangladesh 129

9 Japan 126

10 Nigeria 117http://www.uni.edu/gai/Nigeria/Background/Standard9.html

Case Study: NigeriaNigeria’s rate of natural increase for 1999 was 3.0

%. This percentage is significantly higher than that for the world as a whole (1.5%) and all of the continental averages, including Africa

Nigeria’s Rate of Natural Increase in Context

Nigeria 3%

World 1.5%

Africa 2.6%

Latin America 1.8%

Asia 1.6%

Australia and Oceania 1.1%

North America 0.6%

Europe -0.1%http://www.uni.edu/gai/Nigeria/Background/Standard9.html

Case Study: NigeriaAIDS is one factor that could have a dramatic impact

on Nigeria’s future demographics. While AIDS is not the severe national health problem that it is in other sub-Saharan African countries, it is still a problem of grave concern.

While Nigeria does not presently have such high rates of infection, some population forecasts expect that the impact of AIDS will indeed be severe in Nigeria in the coming years. Life expectancy forecasts from the United States Census Bureau predict that Nigeria’s average life expectancy will fall from 53 years in 1998 to 46 years by the year 2010.

If these trends continue, concerns about rapid population growth may become irrelevant.

Case Study: NigeriaThere is a high proportion of the population under the age

of 15 and a low percentage of the population over the age of 65. If you were to visit Nigeria, you would immediately recognize that this is a country of children.

In a poor country like Nigeria, having such a young population presents several different social and economic challenges. Generally, it is difficult for state and individual families to provide for the material and educational needs of these children.

young people represent a great proportion of the population relative to economically productive segments of society. Unfortunately, this demographic and economic challenge is often addressed by child labor. Children are often sent to work by their parents as early as age 6 or 7.

Reasons for low growth Reasons for low growth rate: rate: Developed countriesDeveloped countries

Low DR low BR

Better hygiene Later marriages

Better nutrition Fewer marriages

Better medical and health care

Preference for smaller families

Reasons for low growth Reasons for low growth rate: rate: Developed countriesDeveloped countriesConsequences:

Underpopulation

Ageing population (a trend in which there is an increasing proportion of elderly dependents in the population)

Hinder economic development

Labour shortages / rising labour cost

Strain on working population – pay more taxes

More healthcare services needed

Measures:

To overcome low BR: …incentives to encourage marriage and child bearing

To overcome labour shortages:

Raise retirement age

Attract women back to workforce

Employ foreign workers

Mechanisation

Reasons for low growth Reasons for low growth rate: rate: Developed countriesDeveloped countries

Case Study: Sweden

http://www.scb.se/templates/tableOrChart____159280.asp

See Link: Population Pyramid 1850 - 2050

Population Pyramid at 31 Dec 2006

Factors that influence natural increase

1) Standard of living

medical facilities, health care

housing

hygiene

water supply

sanitation and nutrition

Factors that influence natural increase

2. Cultural factors

way of living, customs and beliefs

role of children, religion

region of the world (developed vs. under-developed)

3. Government policies

increase/slow down BRs

Overpopulation Overpopulation Definition:Definition:

a situation when there are too many a situation when there are too many people relative to the resources and people relative to the resources and level of technology to provide a level of technology to provide a reasonable standard of living reasonable standard of living

Overpopulation Overpopulation Characteristics:Characteristics:

High BRHigh BR

Low life expectancyLow life expectancy

Low level of literacyLow level of literacy

High rate of unemployment in urban High rate of unemployment in urban areasareas

Rural people caught in the vicious cycle Rural people caught in the vicious cycle of poverty due to poor farming techniquesof poverty due to poor farming techniques

Many live in poor, congested, unhygienic Many live in poor, congested, unhygienic conditionsconditions

OverpopulationOverpopulationCauses:Causes:

High BR due to poor family planning …High BR due to poor family planning …

Consequences:Consequences:

High unemployment rate Strain on High unemployment rate Strain on country’s resourcescountry’s resources

OvercrowdingOvercrowding

SolutionsSolutions

Raise level of educationRaise level of education

Improve standard of livingImprove standard of living

Control population through policies Control population through policies

OverpopulationOverpopulation

Underpopulation Underpopulation Definition: Definition:

a situation when there are not enough people to a situation when there are not enough people to fully develop the resources in an area or countryfully develop the resources in an area or country

Likely to occur in:Likely to occur in:

large areas which are not fully exploited eg large areas which are not fully exploited eg CanadaCanada

Developed countries such as Japan and Sweden Developed countries such as Japan and Sweden where BR and population growth rates are where BR and population growth rates are fallingfalling

Low replacement rateLow replacement rate

Countries where the proportion of people over Countries where the proportion of people over 60 are increasing60 are increasing

Optimum PopulationIncome per person

Total population of a country

underpopulation overpopulation

Optimum population

The theoretical state in which the number of people, when working with all the available resources, will produce the highest per capita economic return (ie., the highest standard of living and quality of life)

Optimum Population

A dynamic situation that changes with time as

1. Technology improves

2. Population totals & structures change

3. Trade opportunities change

4. New raw materials are discovered

Ageing PopulationAgeing Population

Definition:Definition:

a trend in which there is an increasing a trend in which there is an increasing proportion of elderly dependents in the proportion of elderly dependents in the population.population.

Ageing PopulationAgeing PopulationCauses:Causes:

Low BR & low DR…High LELow BR & low DR…High LE

Low population growth rateLow population growth rate

Consequences:Consequences:

Hinder economic developmentHinder economic development

Labour shortages / rising labour costLabour shortages / rising labour cost

Strain on working population – pay more taxesStrain on working population – pay more taxes

More healthcare services neededMore healthcare services needed

Ageing PopulationAgeing PopulationSolutionsSolutions

To overcome low BR: …incentivesTo overcome low BR: …incentives

To overcome labour shortages: To overcome labour shortages:

Raise retirement ageRaise retirement age

Attract women back to workforceAttract women back to workforce

Employ foreign workersEmploy foreign workers

MechanisationMechanisation

Ensuring funds and care for elderlyEnsuring funds and care for elderly

Central Provident Fund (CPF)Central Provident Fund (CPF)

Fund raising to build facilitiesFund raising to build facilities

Encourage participation in activitiesEncourage participation in activities

Provision of elderly-friendly features in Provision of elderly-friendly features in homehome

Ageing PopulationAgeing Population

References1. Chong, M. (2000) Aspect of Human Geography,

Singapore: Pekoe Books. Chapter 1 (p.1 – 47)

2. Waugh, D. (2000) Geography An Integrated Approach, UK: Nelson. Chapter 13 (p. 344 – 383)

3. Wikipedia