Population Pyramids

A Scaffolded Analysis

What is a population pyramid?

• A diagrammatic representation of the age and sex composition of a population.

• Allows you to analyze trends in birth and death rates, fertility rates, infant mortality rates, as well as in similarities and differences in gender.

• Helps to make predictions about future growth or decline.

• Can give insight to the status of a particular country (core, periphery, semi-periphery).

• Is really two bar graphs, one male and one female, back to back.

What is a population pyramid? ...

What is a population pyramid? ...

Analyzing population pyramids

• By only the shape of the population pyramid, you can make predictions about a country’s future growth

• There are five general shapes to look for:

I. Unstable

II. Expanding

III.Stable

IV.Stationary

V. Declining

Unstable Population

• High birth rates• High death rates• Brings a countries medical system or political system into question

• lack of contraceptives• lack of medical treatment• Consider: Infant Mortality Rate• War?

Expanding Population

• High birth rates • Death rates a bit lower• Suggests a decent medical system• Expect the country’s population to increase rapidly• Lots of young people, not many elderly people• Medical improving, nutrition improving, standard of life improving

Stable Population

• Slow growth• Low birth rate• Low death rate • Birth rate > Death rate • Suggests a good medical system: availability of contraceptives and medical treatment • Incomes increasing, standard of living increasing, children are becoming more of an expense

Stationary / Diminishing Population

• All age groups similar• Birth rates low• Death rates low• Less and less babies• No growth• Birth rate = death rate

Declining Population

• No country has reached this stage yet, therefore this pyramid represents a prediction of future trends• Low birth rate• Low death rate• Death rate > Birth rate

Canada’s Population Pyramid

*What can we decipher about Canada’s population from this pyramid? Which of the five classifications might we give to Canada?

How did our population pyramid reach this shape?

Analyzing Pyramids

• classification? • death rate?• birth rate?• life expectancy? • predicted growth? • periphery, semi-periphery or core?

Afghanistan 2009

Analyzing Pyramids

• classification? • birth rate?• death rate?• life expectancy?• infant mortality?• predicted growth?• periphery, semi-periphery or core?

United Kingdom 2009

Analyzing Pyramids

• classification?• birth rate?• death rate?• life expectancy?• infant mortality?• predicted growth?• periphery, semi-periphery or core?

Brazil 2009

Your turn...