Population Structures

Aims of today’s lesson To find out how to read a population structure. To find out what the different shapes represent. To find out why they are important to planning for the future.

Population structures Interesting fact: Population structures are often called population pyramids due to there shape.

What can we see here? Age groupsPopulation (in millions)

What can we see here? Old dependents Young dependents Active population

What does this population structure tell us? Write down as much as you can about the population structure of Angola 2005.

Angola has a very large amount of young dependents. Angola has a very high birth rate. Angola has a very low life expectancy. Angola has a high death rate. Angola has a high infant mortality rate.

Q: Describe the population structure of the UK. ( Words to use: old/young dependents, active population, male/female, birth rate, death rate.)

Q: EXPLAIN the population structure of the Central African Republic.

The Central African republic has a very high birth rate because it is an LEDC and contraception/family planning will not be widely available. Birth rate is also high because it is likely families will want many children to work for them and provide for them. The more children the more money.

Infant mortality will also be high because of poor health care, this means people are more likely to have a lot of children so that they have a greater chance of survival. There is very little old dependents, this is because health care will be very poor and life expectancy will be low. This is shown by the low active population.

Lesson starter No.1No.2 Which of these population structures is an LEDC and which is an MEDC? Give reasons for your answers. 5ES

Problems with different population structures. We know that an LEDC has a high birth rate, high death rate and low life expectancy. This means that it has a very youthful population. Q: What problems could a youthful population cause for a country? 3mins discuss

Problems of a youthful population. Many young people have to be provided for with food, health care, schools etc. There are few adults to produce the countries wealth. In the country farms become smaller so less food is grown. There are not enough jobs in the country so people move to the city. In the cities this it means there are not enough jobs or housing for people causing unemployment and people to live in shanty towns. In poor LEDCs there is not enough health care or schools so people become ill and are often uneducated.

Problems of a youthful population. We have covered some of the problems of a youthful population. But now can you think of any benefits? 2 minutes to discuss. Many young people will one day grow up into the active population. This means more money will be generated in the future. Young people can work on the family farm and don’t need to be looked after as much as old people. (after they are a certain age) It saves money on looking after old people.

Video: A youthful population Africa We are going to watch a DvD on the Gambia and it’s rapidly growing population. You must take notes on ways in which they have tried to solve the problem of a rapidly growing population.

A youthful population After watching the DvD what are some of the problems of a youthful population? We must also know the solutions to a rapidly growing population. Using what you have seen on the DvD and your own knowledge discuss and come up with ideas to how a country can reduce a rapidly growing population. (5 mins write down your answers)

Solutions to a rapidly growing population. Solution 1: Reduce birth rate. Family planning and contraception. Couples fined if they have a large family. Couples rewarded if they have a small family, for example free education. Abortion and sterilisation made easier. Couples not allowed to marry until they are older. Couples only allowed to have a set amount of children.

Solutions to a rapidly growing population. Solution 2: Increase a country’s wealth This could be used alongside reducing the birth rate. It means that doesn’t matter as much if the population grows as there would be more money for everyone. Finding and exploiting natural resources Using farmland more efficiently Making more farmland Setting up manufacturing and tourism industries

An aging population An aging population can be just as bad as a youthful population. What problems do you think that a growing population of older people could cause? (5 minutes think of ideas)