POPULATION PYRAMIDS

Population Pyramids• Graphic device: bar graph• shows the age and gender composition of a

region• horizontal axis: gender

– male: left-hand female: right-hand– absolute number of people or %

• vertical axis: age– 5-year or 10-year age groups

What is a population What is a population pyramid?pyramid?

Vertical Axis - Age Groups

Horizontal Axis – Percentage / number

Young dependents

Working population

Elderly dependents

How to read a population How to read a population pyramid?pyramid?

• Read the title e.g. country or city or racial group

• Comment on general shape of the pyramid

• Note the proportion of people in various age groups

• Note the sex ratio• Interpret the data

Types of Population Types of Population PyramidPyramid

1. Triangular-shaped2. Beehive-shaped Pyramid3. Rectangular-shaped Pyramid Shape of pyramids is controlled by

–births,–deaths, &–migrations.

Triangular-shaped Pyramid

(Broad-based Pyramid)

Broad-based PyramidTitle: India, 2000Shape: Broad Base - high birth rates Narrow Top - small elderly pop

- high death rateProportion: - Large proportion of young

- high young dependency ratio

Sex Ratio: Balance pyramid - Balance sex ratio

Indonesia2000

Malaysia2000

Beehive-shaped Beehive-shaped PyramidPyramid

Beehive-shaped Beehive-shaped PyramidPyramidTitle: Singapore, 2000

Shape: Rocket-shaped / Narrow Base – Low Birth Rates, Slow pop growth

Proportion: Large proportion of working population, 15-59 yr old - large group of economically active pop

Sex Ratio: Balanced pyramid

Hong Kong2000

Taiwan2000

Rectangular-shaped Rectangular-shaped PyramidPyramid

Rectangular PyramidRectangular PyramidTitle: Netherlands, 2000Shape: Rectangular-shaped - Zero Pop Growth Narrow Base - Low Birth Rates

- Life-expectancy is high e.g. 80+ - Low death rates

Proportion: Bars of equal length - Balance ProportionSex Ratio: Balance pyramid - Balance Sex Ratio

UK 2000

Netherlands2000

Population Pyramids in Transition

The Demographic Transition

Five Stages of the Demographic Transition and Population

Pyramids• A common government exam question is to

compare population pyramids to one of the five stages of the DTM. Recall this from last day.

Population Pyramid and Demographic Transition

• Stage 2: wide base

Population Pyramid and Demographic Transition

• stage 3: wide middle

Population Pyramid and Demographic Transition

• stage 4: slender

Population Pyramid and Demographic Transition

• stage 5: narrow base

Demographic Transitions in China

China Population Pyramid 2005

Why does this matter?

Why does this matter?

•In 1900, Europe accounted for 20 percent of the world's population. Today, this figure is down to 12 percent. By 2050 it will drop to 7, by the end of the 21st century to 4 percent.

• Today, India and China together account for 37 % of the world’s population.

Population and Energy• China: 2000-2005: 8 % of Global oil

consumption but 27 % of growth in global consumption.

• World’s second largest consumer and third largest producer of primary energy. Meets 90% of needs with domestic supplies, mostly coal.

• India: World’s 5th largest consumer. By 2030 expected to become 3rd largest, overtaking Japan and Russia.

• India has only 0.4 % of the world’s proven oil reserves and is expected to run out of coal