POPULATION PYRAMIDS
Different Ages, Different Roles: We play different roles at each stage of our lives. Demographers identify 3 important stages: 1. Children (0-15) 2. Working Adults (16-64) 3. Older Adults (65 and older)
What is Dependency Load? Children and older adults They are proportion of the population that must be supported by the working population
Why does a high dependency load put pressure on the rest of society? Society will have to provide: Education (schools) Housing Healthcare Old age homes
What is a population pyramid? Graph that shows population distribution by age and gender
Analyzing Population Pyramids
1. Rapid Growth (Bottom Heavy) Classic pyramid shape Largest age group is children Developing Countries
2. Slow Growth (Equal): Barrel shaped Largest age group is working adults and older adults Developed countries
3. Negative Growth (Top Heavy) Population is not growing, possibly getting smaller Developed countries