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IGCSE GEOGRAPHY
Population Dynamics: POPULATION PYRAMIDS

POPULATION & SETTLEMENT Candidates should be able to:
Population Dynamics Identify and suggest reasons for different types of population structure as
shown by age/sex pyramids.

Population pyramids are a type of graph which show:

the ______________________ of a country (the composition of the population)
they show the __________________________________________________ subdivided into 5 year age
ranges - the number aged 0-4 yrs, 5-9 yrs, 10-14 yrs and so on

Therefore, population pyramids are used to represent population structure the proportion of males and females in
an area in the form of age distributions.

POPULATION PYRAMID FOR THE UK (2000)


Why are they useful?
They tell us ____________________________, and this can help ________________________________.
o If the country has a very young population, it will need more schools and more teachers.
o If a country has an ageing population, it will need more old peoples home and more money for
more pensions.
Population pyramids also help us to _____________________________________________
Population pyramids can show:
the ___________________________
the effects of events such as ______________________________
an indication of the overall _______________________ of a country
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Analysing population pyramids

Key things to know about population pyramids:
The shape of a population pyramid can tell us a lot about an area's population.
It gives us information about birth and death rates as well as life expectancy.

A population pyramid tells us how many dependents there are.

There are two groups of dependents;
- __________dependents (aged below 15) and
- __________ dependents (aged over 65).

Dependents rely upon the _____________________________ for economic support.

Many LEDCs have a high number of young dependents, whilst many MEDCs have a growing number of elderly
dependents.

THE DEPENDENCY RATIO

The dependency ratio is the relationship between the working population (those aged 15 to 65) and the non working
population (those under 15, and those over 65).


Worked Example
SWEDEN 18% of the population are under 15
20% of the population are over 65
62% of the population are between 15 and 65.
Dependency ratio =


Countries that have a high dependency ratio have more people who are not of working age, and fewer who are
working and paying taxes. The _______________________, ______________________________

The DR for MEDCs usually lies between 50 and 75
The DR for LEDCs is generally higher, usually over 100 eg Mexicos DR = 104















Dependency ratio =

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POPULATION PYRAMIDS AND DEVELOPMENT

Interpreting Population Pyramids
The trick is to know how to read the pyramid
1. Look at the overall shape, to see what it tells you.
e.g. If the pyramid has a wide bottom, it means that there are lots of young people in the country and
we can then say the country has a young population

2. Then look for details like bars that are longer or shorter than those above and below them.
e.g. shorter bars could indicate high death rates in those age groups, perhaps through war or famine


INTERPRETING
PYRAMIDS
More females than males = longer
female life expectancy.
Tall & rela vely wide pyramid =
long life expectancy.
Large number of elderly
dependents
Narrow base shows a low and
falling birth rate.
Pyramid does not narrow =
low infant mortality
Large numbers of
economically ac ve
Rectangular shaped pyramid
indicates an MEDC
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TASK: Annotate the population pyramid of an LEDC























INTERPRETING PYRAMIDS
Wide base = high birth rate
Large number of young dependents
Steep sided pyramid
shape indicates LEDC
Immediate decline indicates
high infant mortality rate.
Short pyramid indicates low
life expectancy.
Steep sides indicates high
death rate
Some mes gaps on male side
indica ng wars or emigra on
Small numbers of
economically ac ve
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TASK: Annotate the population pyramid of an NIC (China)




























TASK: Annotate the population pyramid of an MEDC


























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How do pyramids change over time?
A population pyramid that is very triangular (eg Mozambique in 2000) shows a population with a high number of
young dependants and a low life expectancy.
A population pyramid that has fairly straight sides (more like a barrel) shows a population with a falling birth rate
and a rising life expectancy.

Over time, as a country develops, the shape changes from triangular to barrel-like.

Places with an ageing population and a very low birth rate would have a structure that looks like an upside-down
pyramid.


MOZAMBIQUE (2000) MOZAMBIQUE (2050)



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THE POPULATION STRUCTURE OF THE UK

UK (2000) UK (2050)


The bulge of people in their 30s demonstrates that the birth rate was higher in the 1960s
WHY?
The 1960s was a period of rising national prosperity & increasing personal income.
swinging sixties there was a lessening of sexual taboos and an increase in freedom for women
people who were born in the baby boom following the second World War were entering their fertile years.
As there were more fertile individuals, more babies were born

Relatively large number of people over the age of 80.
WHY?


Fewer children? (falling birth rate)
WHY?



TASK: looking at the UK population pyramid for 2050, describe and explain the predicted changes to the UKs
population structure















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Birth and death rate patterns in MEDCs
Case studies: Western Europe (Italy and the UK)

Using the sources listed below, create a set of case study revision notes to
summarise MEDC population trends:
Why birth rates are much lower than in LEDCs and falling further
Why death rates are much lower than in LEDCs
(i.e. DTM stages 4 and 5 for both points above)

Your notes are for revision so should be completed as either:
Well organised bullet points (in tables / split pages?)
Mind maps / spider diagrams (one for each bullet point above)

Your notes must include some (but not too many) case study details such as:
General location
Reasons specific to the case study country
Statistics such as birth / death rates

Sources of information
Your notes from the World 2000 programme
The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) on page 7 NWW3
Geoactive 276 (page 2 only, especially Figure 5)
The bullet points at the top of page 14 NWW3














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Birth and death rate patterns in LEDCs
Case studies: East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania)

Using the sources listed below, create a set of case study revision notes to summarise LEDC population trends:
Why birth rates were high (i.e. DTM stage 2)
Why birth rates are now falling (i.e. DTM stage 3)
Why death rates were high (i.e. DTM early stage 2)
Why death rates are now falling (i.e. DTM stage 2 / 3)

Your notes are for revision so should be completed as either:
Well organised bullet points (in tables / split pages?)
Mind maps / spider diagrams (one for each bullet point above)

Your notes must include some (but not too many) case study details such as:
General location
Reasons specific to the case study country
Statistics such as birth / death rates

One set of the notes have been done for you (on the next page) as a guide for quality and style.

Sources of information

Your notes from the World 2000 programme
The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) on page 7 NWW3
Geoactive 276 (pages 1 and 3 only, mainly page 3)
Too many under 15s on page 12 NWW3












Why death rates were high (i.e. DTM early stage 2)

Case study: Kenya (East Africa)
1930: 30 deaths per 1000 (Note: easy to remember! 30/30)
Outbreaks of diseases e.g. Cholera
Limited medical care (doctors, clinics)
Erratic food supply / famines e.g. droughts, locusts
Lack of sanitation (clean water and sewage systems)
Lack of education about hygiene





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INTERPRETING UNUSUAL POPULATION PYRAMIDS
IMPACT POPULATION PYRAMID REASONS FOR YOUR CHOICE
Impact of a
natural disaster
(a volcanic
eruption) on a
small island
population



















Impact of
extreme civil
conflict









Impact of
migration


Ageing
Populations


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One Child Policy:
China


Impact of AIDS


Impact of a
profound social
and economic
change, including
economic decline



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