1. POPULATION PYRAMIDS

2. Objectives WHAT is a population pyramid?
HOW to read a population pyramid?
Recognise SHAPES of population pyramids.
IMPORTANCE of population pyramids.

3. WHAT IS A POPULATION PYRAMID?
It is a diagram that gives information about the proportion of males and females in each age group.
Policy Planning
future housing estates
future schools
future jobs
Comparison with other countries
developed (US) vs developing (India)
Normally Males are on the left side and Females are on the right side
Age categories are in 5 year intervals labeled up the center
Age groups are divided into:
- proportion of young people (0 -14 )
- proportion of working people (15 – 59)
- proportion of elderly people (60+)
The horizontal axis is measured in numbers appropriate for the country.
Each pyramid tells a story about the past, present & future of a country & its people

4. What is a population pyramid?
Young dependents
Working population
Elderly dependents
Vertical Axis - Age Groups
Horizontal Axis – Percentage / number

5. 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
Note the sex ratio
Interpret the data

6. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A POPULATION PYRAMID?
SHAPE OF THE SIDES
Concave (curved in) sides indicates a high death rate and convex (curved out) indicates a low death rate.

7. Hong Kong
2000
Taiwan
2000

8. Hong Kong
2000
Taiwan
2000

9. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A POPULATION PYRAMID?
WIDTH OF THE BASE
Birth rates varies with the width of the base. A WIDE base indicates high birth rate and a NARROW base indicates low birth rates

10. Indonesia
2000
Malaysia
2000

11. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A POPULATION PYRAMID?
Bumps in the sides or Symmetry
Statistically speaking pyramids should be relatively symmetrical. Any ASYMMETRY indicates a difference in the male and female population. IRREGULARITIES in the sides indicate a demographic difference.

13. UK 2000
Netherlands
2000

14. RAPID GROWTH Population pyramid that has a triangular / pyramid shape
Wide base of this population indicates a HIGH birth rate
Narrow top indicates HIGH death rate
Rapid Growth indicates Lower Standard of living.
High birth rate due to poor access to lack of birth control, education
High death rate due to lack of medication, education, nutrition

15. SLOW GROWTH
Stable populations are characteristics of high standard of living due to:
Low birth rate due to good family planning, access to birth control, financial planning, education
Low death rate due to good medical care, nutrition, education

16. NEGATIVE GROWTH
Negative growth population have a narrower base that the reproductive age population
This indicates decrease population trend
Low birth rate reveals a more developed country

17. COMPARISON WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
MORE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Countries with high level of development and great deal of technology and manufacturing
Great number of automobiles, doctors, computers, telephones
Low Death Rates
High Standard of Living
Very good Healthcare
Literacy rate in the 90’s
Per Capita incomes $30,000 and above
Low Birth Rates
United States, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, England

18. COMPARISON WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
NEWLY INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES
Increase in income but standard of living has not improved (barely going through (INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION)
Medium to Low death rate
Improving standard of living
Improving Health Care
Literacy Rates in the 70% to 80%
Per Capita Incomes rising $10,000-$30,000
Birth Rate Declining
Brazil, Russia, India, China, Mexico

19. COMPARISON WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRY
Countries in the process of becoming industrialized, not economically advanced
Concentrated on agriculture, lack investment, small amount of doctors and hospitals
High Death Rate
Low Standard of Living
Poor Health Care
Low Literacy Rates-Below 50%
Low Per Capita Incomes $0-$5,000
High Birth Rate
Afghanistan, Countries in Africa,