Population Pyramids A Scaffolded Analysis

What is a population pyramid? A diagrammatic representation of the age and sex composition of a population. Allows you to analyze trends in birth and death rates, fertility rates, infant mortality rates, as well as in similarities and differences in gender. Helps to make predictions about future growth or decline. Can give insight to the status of a particular country (core, periphery, semi- periphery). Is really two bar graphs, one male and one female, back to back.

What is a population pyramid?...

Analyzing population pyramids By only the shape of the population pyramid, you can make predictions about a country’s future growth There are five general shapes to look for: I.Unstable II.Expanding III.Stable IV.Stationary V.Declining

Unstable Population High birth rates High death rates Brings a countries medical system or political system into question lack of contraceptives lack of medical treatment Consider: Infant Mortality Rate War?

Expanding Population High birth rates Death rates a bit lower Suggests a decent medical system Expect the country’s population to increase rapidly Lots of young people, not many elderly people Medical improving, nutrition improving, standard of life improving

Stable Population Slow growth Low birth rate Low death rate Birth rate > Death rate Suggests a good medical system: availability of contraceptives and medical treatment Incomes increasing, standard of living increasing, children are becoming more of an expense

Stationary / Diminishing Population All age groups similar Birth rates low Death rates low Less and less babies No growth Birth rate = death rate

Declining Population No country has reached this stage yet, therefore this pyramid represents a prediction of future trends Low birth rate Low death rate Death rate > Birth rate

Canada’s Population Pyramid *What can we decipher about Canada’s population from this pyramid? Which of the five classifications might we give to Canada? How did our population pyramid reach this shape?

Analyzing Pyramids classification? death rate? birth rate? life expectancy? predicted growth? periphery, semi-periphery or core? Afghanistan 2009

Analyzing Pyramids classification? birth rate? death rate? life expectancy? infant mortality? predicted growth? periphery, semi-periphery or core? United Kingdom 2009

Analyzing Pyramids classification? birth rate? death rate? life expectancy? infant mortality? predicted growth? periphery, semi-periphery or core? Brazil 2009

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