Population Pyramids by Gayle Robinson http://orru.latervista.org

Population Pyramids Provide 3 types of information: Age/gender distribution Dependency ratio Demographic Transition position

Age/Gender Distribution Males are shown on the left. Females are shown on the right. Each bar represents a 5-year increment beginning at 0.

Dependency Ratio Elderly population 65+ years of age Workforce Children 0-14 years of age

The Demographic Transition Model Low Growth High growth Moderate Growth Low Growth http://www.uwmc.uwc.edu/geography/Demotrans/demtran.htm Population Pyramid Shape

Stable Pyramid or Concave Triangular: Stage 1 Shape: Concave Triangular No country in Stage 1 today High Crude Birth Rate High Crude Death Rates and short Life Expectancy Low Growth Young population

Expansive or Triangular: Stage 2 High Birth Rate Decreased Death Rate Increased life expectancy High Growth Rate Young population Developed world entered this stage during Industrial Revolution This population pyramid is typical of countries in poorer parts of the world (LEDCs.)

Expansive or Triangular: Stage 2

Expanding pyramid Male Female There is also a high Death Rate. In this country there is a high Birth Rate Population in millions This population pyramid is typical of countries in poorer parts of the world (LEDCs.)

In some LEDCs the government is encouraging couples to have smaller families. This means the birth rate has fallen.

Stationary or Columnar: Stage 3 Birth Rate decreases through societal changes Death Rate continues to decrease Longer Life Expectancy Moderate Growth Ageing population This population pyramid is typical of countries in the richer parts of the world (MEDCs.)

Stationary: Stage 3

Stationary pyramid Male Female Population in millions The largest category of people were born about 40 years ago. In this country the number of people in each age group is about the same. In this country there is a low Birth Rate and a low Death Rate. This population pyramid is typical of countries in the richer parts of the world (MEDCs.)

Contractive or Inverted: Stage 4 Declining Birth Rate Low Death Rate Long Life Expectancy Larger number of elderly population Low Growth Ageing population.

Contractive: Stage 4

Contracting pyramid Male Female Population in millions In this country the birth rate is decreasing. In the future the elderly people will make up the largest section of the population in this country. This is happening more and more in many of the world’s richer countries.

Spearhead pyramid There are narrower parts in the middle part of the pyramid. People in their 20s in 1961 were born during the Depression, a time of economic hardship in Canada when people were having fewer children. The pyramid had a wide base. These are the “baby boomers,” a large group of people born between 1947 and 1966 when the economy was growing and prospering. This is caused by a war, a time of economic hardship, illnesses, famine...

Population in thousands Male Female Population in thousands This country has a large number of temporary workers. These are people who migrate here especially to find a job.

LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES To sum up… Expanding pyramid Stationary pyramid Contracting pyramid DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPED COUNTRIES LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES