Patterns in Human Geography Population Pyramids Patterns in Human Geography

What are Population Pyramids? Population pyramids are a type of graph that give information about the number of people in each age group and the balance of males and females in a country’s population.

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Canada’s Population Pyramid

Pyramid Organization Rules The pyramid is divided down the middle and males are shown on the left, females on the right. Each graph is a series of horizontal bar graphs stacked on top of each other. The youngest people in a society are shown at the bottom of the graph and the oldest people are at the top. The pyramid may show the population as a percentage or in millions.

What are they used for? Population pyramids are useful for studying issues related to the age and sex distribution of populations of different countries. Number of males vs. females for particular age groups. Number of old vs. young people. The shape of the pyramid can tell us many things: If the country is developed or developing. If the country’s population is growing, stable, or shrinking

Sample Population Pyramids

Developing Countries - Shape These countries have lower GDPs, higher fertility and infant mortality rates.

Developed Countries - Shape These countries have higher GDPs, lower fertility and infant mortality rates.

Growing Populations In these countries the birth rate is higher than the death rate. The wider the base is, the faster the population growth.

Stable Populations In these countries the birth and death rates are equal, so there is no net population growth.

Decreasing Populations In these countries, the birth rate is smaller than the death rate. The smaller the base, the more rapid the decrease.

Shapes Summary

Practice Does the pyramid below show a country that is developed or developing? Is it growing?

Practice Does the pyramids below show countries that are developed or developing? Are they growing?

Practice Does the pyramid below show a country that is developed or developing? Is it growing?

Practice Does the pyramid below show a country that is developed or developing? Is it growing?

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