What does a population pyramid show? Population pyramids show the population structure of a country… the number of different age groups. the percentage of males and females in each age group. the changes in birth rate, death rate, life expectancy and infant mortality. the proportion of young and elderly people.

Population in millions Male Female Number of males Number of females Number of people of each age Number of people being born Number of people dying

So there are enough hospital beds So planners can build new houses So there are enough offices So there are enough schools So there are enough bus services So enough shops are provided

Population pyramids are used to show information about the age and gender of people in a specific country. MaleFemale Population in millions In this country there is a high Birth Rate There is also a high Death Rate. This population pyramid is typical of countries in poorer parts of the world (LICs.)

Population in millions MaleFemale 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.

MaleFemale Population in millions In this country the number of people in each age group is about the same. The largest category of people were born about 40 years ago. 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 (HICs.)

= Brazil a typical MIC 2= Philippines a typical LIC 3= Germany a typical HIC