Population Pyramids

What is a population pyramid? A visual representation of the population of a country. graphically display a population's age and gender composition show numbers or proportions of males and females in each age group show gains of members due to immigration and birth, and loss of members due to emigration and death reflect population growth or decline

Interpreting a Population Pyramid Remember that a population pyramid is basically a bar graph turned on its side. Each line is showing you what percentage of the population is a certain age. Examine the title and the type of data presented. (ex. Age breakup, numbers listed below, male-female notation.) True pyramids are developing countries. The majority of the population is younger and not many people live to an old age. Developed countries are more rectangular; the population is spread more equally through the age groups.

How to interpret population pyramids There main types of pyramids Rapid growth Slow growth Negative growth Shape of rapid growth Shape of Slow growth Shape of negative growth

Rapid growth

Rapid growth pyramids Have a large base to show high birth rates Amount of people decreases as the ages goes up indicating a lower standard of living Associated with developing countries like Brazil, Uganda, China

Slow Growth

Slow growth pyramids Take on a more rectangular shape Indicates population is remaining fairly steady Birth rates and death rates are similar Associated with developed countries like the UK, Germany, Canada

Negative growth

Negative growth pyramids Looks like a reverse pyramid Indicates the population of the country is decreasing Death rates are higher than birth rates Associated with developed countries like Austria, Japan, Italy

When can population pyramids be used in World History? TEKS: WH 18C Identify examples of political, economic, and social oppression and violations of human rights throughout history, including slavery, the holocaust, other examples of genocide, and politically motivated mass murders in Cambodia, China, and the Soviet Union

Essential Questions Using demographic data, distinguish between developed and developing nations in the contemporary world

Soviet Union WWI- 1914-1918 December 1934 http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/eur.htm WWI- 1914-1918 1,700,000 military dead December 1934 Stalin began a period of purging and terror that lasted until 1939 and was marked by the execution of virtually the entire political and military elite. Enemies of the State http://www.gendercide.org/case_stalin.html http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/riley/787/Soviet/Stalin/Stalin.html

Soviet Union How would you determine how World War I impacted the male population? What age group was impacted by Stalin’s purges?

Cambodia April 17th, 1975 the Khmer Rouge, a communist guerrilla group led by Pol Pot, took power in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. During their rule, it is estimated that 2 million Cambodians died by starvation, torture or execution.

Cambodia How did the rule of the Khmer Rouge impact Cambodia’s population? When did this occur?

China The Cultural revolution Mao formally launched the Cultural Revolution in August 1966. The Cultural Revolution ended in August 1977 http://members.fortunecity.com/stalinmao/China/Cultural/Cultural.html

China and the Cultural Revolution How did the Cultural Revolution impact China’s population? What current issues are visible in China’s population pyramid?

Poland During World War II 6 million Poles (about one sixth of the population) died, including nearly 3 million Polish Jews murdered in Nazi death camps http://www.yadvashem.org/exhibitions/album_auschwitz/159-161b.html

Poland How is World War II reflected in the population pyramid of Poland?

South Africa

South Africa What is happening to the population of South Africa? Why is this happening? Can you think of any other time periods where the population pyramid of a country changed like this?

Fantastic web site for population Pyramids http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbpyr.html