1. Population Pyramids
A Scaffolded Analysis

2. What is a population pyramid?
A diagrammatic representation of the age and sex composition of a population.
Allows you to analyze trends in birth & death rates, fertility rates, infant mortality rates, life expectancy as well as in similarities and differences in gender.
Helps to make predictions about future growth or decline.
Can give insight to the status of a particular country (core, periphery, semi-periphery).
Is really two bar graphs, one male and one female, back to back.

3. What is a population pyramid? ...

4. What is a population pyramid? ...

5. Analyzing population pyramids
By only the shape of the population pyramid, you can make predictions about a country’s future growth
There are five general shapes to look for:
Unstable
Expanding
Stable
Stationary
Declining

6. Unstable Population High birth & death rates Low life expectancy
Brings a countries medical system or political system into question
lack of contraceptives
lack of medical treatment
Consider: Infant Mortality Rate
War? Disease?

7. Expanding Population High birth rates
Death rates a bit lower, life expectancy starting to improve
Suggests a decent medical system
Expect the country’s population to increase rapidly
Lots of young people, not many elderly people
Medical improving, nutrition improving, standard of life improving

8. Stable Population Slow growth Low birth & death rate
High life expectancy
Birth rate > Death rate
Suggests a good medical system: availability of contraceptives and medical treatment
Incomes increasing, standard of living increasing, children are becoming more of an expense

9. Stationary / Slow Growth Population
All age groups similar
Birth & death rates low
Life Expectancy high
Less and less babies
No growth
Birth rate = death rate

10. Declining Population
No country has reached this stage yet, therefore this pyramid represents a prediction of future trends
Low birth & death rate
High Life Expectancy
Death rate > Birth rate

11. Canada’s Population Pyramid
*What can we decipher about Canada’s population from this pyramid? Which of the five classifications might we give to Canada?
How did our population pyramid reach this shape?
Germany

12. Analyzing Pyramids classification? death rate? birth rate?
Afghanistan 2009
classification?
death rate?
birth rate?
life expectancy?
predicted growth?
periphery, semi-periphery or core?

13. Analyzing Pyramids classification? birth rate? death rate?
United Kingdom 2009
classification?
birth rate?
death rate?
life expectancy?
infant mortality?
predicted growth?
periphery, semi-periphery or core?

14. Analyzing Pyramids classification? birth rate? death rate?
Brazil 2009
classification?
birth rate?
death rate?
life expectancy?
infant mortality?
predicted growth?
periphery, semi-periphery or core?