A way of predicting population changes

A G E S TR U C TU R E
D IA G R A M S

POPULATION STRUCTURE
The population pyramid displays the age
and sex structure of a country or given area

Population in
Five Year
Age bands

MALES
To the left

Usually, but not always,

In % to make for easier
comparisons
between countries

FEMALES
To the right

What Population Pyramids Show Us

Economically
More
Developed
Country

Economically
Less
Developed
Country

KEY
slope of pyramid indicate the death rate
width of the base is related to birth rate/fertility rate
proportions of men and women can suggest male or female migrations
height of graph can indicate life expectancy (ignore the very thin end of the
wedge as occurs on graph B as these people are a definite minority)
"kinks" indicate dramatic reductions in birth rate or increases in
death rate in the past
area of graph indicates total population - compare areas of different
population age groups or different sex on one graph
The overall shape of the population pyramid can indicate whether it is an
Economically More Developed Country or Economically Less Developed Country

Population pyram id ofa less developed

nation (broad base population pyram id)

Population Pyramid of Nigeria (1995)

Im portance ofPopulation Pyram ids

A BROAD BASE POPULATION
PYRAMID MEANS A COUNTRY SHOULD:

increase food production

build more homes & schools
plan for more job opportunities for the young in future
implement birth control program/campaigns

Usually agricultural population with problems of overpopulation.

Population pyram id ofa developed nation

Population Pyramid of Sweden (1995)

Im portance ofPopulation Pyram ids

A NARROW BASED POPULATION
PYRAMID MEANS:
Birth rate and Death rate low so a country may need to:
Work out incentives to encourage more births
Begin hiring foreign labor
Ensure proper medical services & health care for the aged

Age Structure D iagram s

Male
Male

Female
Female

Rapid
Rapid Growth
Growth
Guatemala
Guatemala
Nigeria
Nigeria
Saudi
Saudi Arabia
Arabia
Ages
Ages 0-14
0-14

Slow
Slow Growth
Growth
United
United States
States
Australia
Australia
Canada
Canada
Ages
Ages 15-44
15-44

Zero
Zero Growth
Growth
Spain
Spain
Austria
Austria
Greece
Greece

Negative
Negative Growth
Growth
Germany
Germany
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Sweden
Sweden

Ages
Ages 45-85+
45-85+

Predict the future population change for each of the three age
structure diagrams

U.S. Population by age 1900, 2000, and 2050

projected

Population
structure by
age and sex
in developed
and
developing
countries.

Tracking the baby-boom generation

in the U.S.

TH O M A S R O B ER T
M A LTH U S

1766-1834

G row th Potentialof
Subsistence V s. Population
140

TIME
1

120

TIME
2

100

TIME
3

80

TIME
4

60

TIME
5

40

TME 7

20

TIME
6

TIME
7

SUBSISTENCE

POPULATION

supply (subsistence)
grow at diferent
rates
Population will
outgrow food supply
Results from the
point of crisis
include famine and
war

Population and food

Basic Point From M ALTH U S:

W hat are advantages and disadvantages

ofreducing births:Controversy
Can the worlds resources support an additional 2.5 billion by
2050?

Is the Earth overpopulated?

Carrying capacity

If yes, what should be done?

What is a sustainable population?