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
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