 Understand population pyramids, their purpose, and role in understanding Human Geography  Identify spatial patterns of human settlement on a global scale  Identify and describe significant trends in human settlement  Make predictions as to how these trends relate to the physical environment

Of Course not!

 Population pyramids are used by demographers as a tool for understanding the make-up of a given population, whether a city, country, region, or the world.  A population pyramid does not tell you the actual population in numbers. Rather, it displays percentages and shows what portion of people fall into each distribution by age and sex.

 It is a special type of graph that shows the distribution of a location’s population in terms of age groups, called cohorts, and sex.  Note: that it is best to construct population pyramids using percentages rather than numbers since this makes it possible to compare countries with different size populations.

 Demographers use population pyramids to see population trends in the past, examine the current resident profile, and also to project how the population will increase/decrease in the future.  Understanding the distribution of population in terms of age and sex is important in understanding a country’s well-being and the challenges it faces.

 Some countries, such as Ethiopia, have a young population, meaning that a high percentage of the total population is below the age of 15 years.  What are some benefits to having a young population?  What are some disadvantages?

 Spain has an aging population, meaning that an increasing percentage of the people are older than 65 years.  What are some benefits to having a young population?  What are some disadvantages?

 uk/topics/popn1.html uk/topics/popn1.html

 Rectangular Graph = slow population growth (uniform population across all age groups)  Pyramid Graph = fast population growth  Irregularities in the profile of the population pyramid convey information about changes in the population  A bulge or an indentation in the profile of the population pyramid may indicate unusually high fertility or mortality or changes in the population due to immigration or emigration.

 Fertility Rates, mortality rates  Population pyramids are also useful in planning for the future.  They can be used in helping to predict changes in the age structure of the population over the next fifty or so years so that plans can be introduced to cope with the predicted changes.  Governments need to know this information to meet the needs of their people!

 ALWAYS use a ruler and a pencil  Make sure you have a title, a legend, and that your axis is labeled  Create the outline of your graph before filling it in, double check your data, then fill it in  Differentiate between the sexes (the bars should be different colours/shadings)  Ensure your work is readable

 You and your partner will create your own population pyramid based on the data you have been provided.  One of you will create a population pyramid for Bolivia, and the other for Canada.  Tip: create the outline for your graph first, so you can identify, compare trends, and answer the questions in class.  You may answer the questions together, but you must submit your own responses with your population pyramids.

 How are they similar?  How are they different?  Which age group is largest in each country?  How might this affect the quality of life in each country?  What challenges might this age distribution create for each country?  Due: Next Class