Age and sex structure of population

Table of Contents
1.

Population structure:......................................................................................................2

2.

Age structure of population:..........................................................................................2

2.1

Importance of age structure:..................................................................................3

2.2

Determinants of age structure:..............................................................................3

2.3

Age pyramids:...........................................................................................................4

2.4

Age groups:...............................................................................................................6

2.5

Age indices:...............................................................................................................6

2.6

Dependency ratio:....................................................................................................7

2.7

Pakistan pattern of age structure:........................................................................8

Sex structure of population:..........................................................................................8

3.1

Definition of sex ratio:.............................................................................................8

3.2

Importance of sex ratio:..........................................................................................9

3.3

Determinants of sex ratio:......................................................................................9

3.4

Pakistan pattern of sex ratio:.................................................................................9

Conclusion:............................................................................................................................11

Table of figure

Figure 1: Age structure of Pakistan.....................................................................................2

Figure 2: fertility rate of Pakistan.......................................................................................3
Figure 3: Mortality rate of Pakistan....................................................................................4
Figure 4: Net migration of Pakistan....................................................................................4
Figure 5: Types of age pyramids..........................................................................................5
Figure 6:Age groups...............................................................................................................6
Figure 7: Dependency ratio of Pakistan with poverty score............................................7
Figure 8; Sex ratio of Pakistan.............................................................................................8
Figure 9;sex ratio of Pakistan by provinces.....................................................................10
Figure 10;sex ratio of Pakistan by territories..................................................................10

Tables
Table 1: Age indices of pakistan...........................................................................................7

Table 2; Population distribution by province....................................................................8

Age and sex structure of population

1. Population structure:

Population structure is the composition of a given population, which is broken down into
categories such as age and gender.
Population structure can be used to categorize populations into many subsections and
demonstrate population demographics on a local, regional or national scale.
There are five main characteristics of a population and these include population size,
population density, population distribution, age structure and reproductive base.

2. Age structure of population:

The age structure of a population is the distribution of people among various ages.
Age structure Within a population, the number or proportion of individuals in each
age group (e.g., in a human population, the
number of individuals aged 04, 514, 15
29, 3044, 4559, 6069, over 70).
Knowledge of the age structure of a
population is used (with other factors) to
calculate future changes in age structure and
total population size.

Figure 1: Age structure of Pakistan

2.1 Importance of age structure:

Population structure can be used to categorize populations into many subsections and
demonstrate population demographics on a local, regional or national scale. The age
composition of a population is one of the most basic characteristics of a population.
One cannot proceed very far in the study of population growth or migration without
an examination of age composition. All aspects of an individuals or communitys
life-social attitudes, economic activities, political propensities and so on, are affected
by age. Age influences the needs, thinking, attitude and behaviour of people. The age
structure very much influences the socio-economic life of a nation. Age data are
functional to those responsible for planning different types of activities. Age data are
also required for employment, marriage, retirement and a number of other social and
economic activities of life. It is helpful in finding out the dependency load.
Consumption and production also depends to significant extent on the age structure.
For understanding the future growth of population, it is necessary to know the age
structure.

2.2 Determinants of age structure:

The age structure of the population is determined basically by three factors i.e
fertility rate, mortality rate and migration.
Fertility rate is the ratio of live births in an area to the population of that area;
expressed per 1000 population per year.

Figure 2: fertility rate of Pakistan

Mortality rate, or death rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a particular

population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit of time, expressed in units of
deaths per 1,000 individuals per year.

Figure 3: Mortality rate of Pakistan

Migration rate is the difference of immigrants and emigrants of an area in a period of

time, divided per 1,000 inhabitants. A positive value represents more people entering the
country than leaving it, while a negative value means more people leaving than entering
it.

Figure 4: Net migration of Pakistan

2.3 Age pyramids:

A population pyramid, also called an age pyramid or age picture is a graphical
illustration that shows the distribution of various age groups in
a population (typically that of a country or region of the world), which forms the
shape of a pyramid. when the population is growing. It is also used in ecology to
determine the overall age distribution of a population; an indication of the
reproductive capabilities and likelihood of the continuation of a species. Population

pyramids are often viewed as the most effective way to graphically depict the age and
sex distribution of a population, partly because of the very clear image these
pyramids represent.
2.3.1 Types of population pyramid:

Figure 5: Types of age pyramids

Population pyramids for 4 stages

While all countries' population pyramids differ, four general types have been
identified by the fertility and mortality rates of a country.
Stable pyramid
A population pyramid showing an unchanging pattern of fertility and mortality.
Stationary pyramid
A population pyramid typical of countries with low fertility and low mortality, very
similar to a constrictive pyramid.
Expansive pyramid
A population pyramid that is very wide at the base, indicating high birth and death
rates.
Constrictive pyramid
A population pyramid that comes in at the bottom. The population is generally older
on average, as the country has long life expectancy, a low death rate, but also a low
birth rate. This pyramid is becoming more common, especially when immigrants are
factored out, and is a typical pattern for a very developed country, a high level of
education, easy access to and incentive to use birth control, good health care, and few
negative environmental factors.
In some countries the above "pyramids" are referred to by a description of their
shape. The classic example is the pyramid. The stationary pyramid is referred to as a
"clock-model" (like the bell in a clock tower). The contracting pyramid is referred to
as "onion" shaped, or occasionally as urn shaped.
2.3.2 Uses of population pyramids:
Population pyramids can be used to find the number of economic dependents being
supported in a particular population. Economic dependents are defined as those under
15 (children who are in full-time education and therefore unable to work) and those
over 65 (those who have the option of being retired). In some less developed
countries children start work well younger than the age of 15, and in some developed
countries it is common to not begin work until age 30 (just like in the North
European countries),and people may work older than the age of 65, or retire early.
Therefore, the definition provides an approximation. In many countries, the
government plans the economy in such a way that the working population can
support these dependents. This number can be further used to calculate the
dependency ratio in that population.

Population pyramids can be used to observe the "natural" increase/decrease, birth,

and death rate.

2.4 Age groups:

Regional comparison of population can be made possible by dividing the population
into various age groups. The age groups are of three types i.e young, adult, aged. Age
grouping makes possible the spatial comparison of population by means of
choropleth maps. The three-fold classification is not completely standardized, but it
is widely used in practice.

Figure 6:Age groups

2.5 Age indices:

The ageing index is calculated as the number of persons 60 years old or over per
hundred persons under age 15.
Some important age indices of population.
young
young
aged
young
1- adults
2- adultsaged
3- adults
4- aged
5young +aged
adults

Table 1: Age indices of pakistan

2.6 Dependency ratio:

The total dependency ratio is the number of persons under age 15 plus persons aged
65 or older per one hundred persons 15 to 64. It is the sum of the youth dependency
ratio and the old-age dependency ratio.
1. The youth dependency ratio is the number of persons 0 to 14 years per one
hundred persons 15 to 64 years.
2. The old-age dependency ratio is the number of persons 65 years and over per one
hundred persons 15 to 64 years.

Figure 7: Dependency ratio of Pakistan with poverty score

2.7 Pakistan pattern of age structure:

Pakistans population has grown rapidly. Besides the sheer numbers that are hard to
manage on their own, the evolving demographic scenario in the country with
changing composition of young and old, and differential regional trends of fertility,
mortality, morbidity, growth and migration ask for clear understanding of the
population dynamics
.
Table 2; Population distribution by province

Comparing the distribution of population across the four provinces and the four
territories, namely Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), FATA (Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA), Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and GB (Gilgit Baltistan), in
the BISP-PSS to that found in the Census 1998 we see that except for the downward
shift in Punjab (from 55.6 per cent to 51.6 per cent) population proportion of all other
areas remain close to what it was sixteen years back (see Table 1). Sindh, however,
does show an increase of 1.3 per cent in its population share from where it was in
Census 1998. On the contrary, FATA and Balochistan both show a slight lowering in
their population shares. There are obvious geo-political and social reasons for it but
presence of GB and AJK in the BISP-PSS figures are also affecting the overall
distribution of the population.

3 Sex structure of population:

Communities differ in sex composition i.e composition of male and female. After the age
structure the second most important structural aspect of populations is the relative numbers
of males and females who compose it.
3.1 Definition of sex ratio:
The sex ratio is calculated as the
number of males per one hundred
females in a population. The sex ratio
may be calculated for a total
population or for a specific age

group. Sex ratio is an index of socio-economic conditions of an area.it functions of

three basic factors; sex ratio at birth, at death, and sex selectivity among migrants.
Types of sex ratio
Primary sex ratio is the sex ratio at the time of conception.
Secondary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of birth.
Tertiary sex ratio is the ratio found at the
time of enumeration.

Figure 8; Sex ratio of Pakistan

3.2 Importance of sex ratio:

Sex ratios are a convenient way of comparing the numbers of males and females in a
population. . Most vertebrates have a sex-ratio close to parity (i.e 1:1). But the adult sexratio will depend very much on the mating system of the species concerned . Sex ratio
generally influences the form and tempo of life in any country. It is important for following
reasons.
1. It affects the labor supply through marriage and fecundity. If the proportion of
males is higher than that of females, more workers will be available.
2. Early marriage of females may also leads to increased fertility and population of
growth.
3. It is important in determining birth and death rates of a community.
4. Sex ratio of population are related to the extent of employment of women outside
home, status of women, and so on.
3.3 Determinants of sex ratio:
Sex ratio is influenced by birth, death and migration. Apart from these factors,
natural calamities like war, famine, earthquake and so on will have their effects on
sex ratio. It also depends upon the status of women, nature of enumeration of sexes in
a particular population of an area and the like.

3.4 Pakistan pattern of sex ratio:

Figure 9;sex ratio of Pakistan by provinces

Figure 10;sex ratio of Pakistan by territories

Conclusion:
The age and the sex structure of the population are the most important demographic
characteristics that are captured by a census of a population. Age and sex are two
attributes that largely influence an individuals role in society