1. Population Pyramids

2. What is a population pyramid?
A visual representation of the population of a country.
Shows:
population's age
gender composition (males to females)
gains of members (immigration and birth), and losses of members (emigration and death)
reflect population growth or decline

3. Interpreting a Population Pyramid
Each line is showing you what percentage of the population is a certain age.
One side represents males and one side females

4. Interpreting population pyramids
There main types of pyramids
Rapid growth
Slow/Stable growth
Negative growth
Shape of rapid
growth
Shape of
Slow/Stable growth
Shape of negative
growth

5. Rapid growth

6. Rapid growth pyramids Have a large base to show high birth rates
Amount of people decreases as the ages goes up indicating higher death rates and a lower standard of living
Associated with developing countries like
Afghanistan, Ethiopia

7. Slow Growth

8. Slow growth pyramids Take on a more rectangular shape
Indicates population is remaining fairly steady or slowly growing
Birth rates and death rates are similar
Associated with developed countries like the UK, United States, Argentina

9. Negative growth

10. Negative growth pyramids
Looks like a reverse pyramid
Indicates the population of the country is decreasing
Death rates are higher than birth rates
Associated with developed countries like
Austria, Japan, Italy

11. Using Population in Politics and Future Planning
Distinguish between developed and developing nations
Use data to predict
Future population changes
Environmental resource requirements
Economic resource requirements

12. Things to look for
Are there noticeable differences between men and women?
Are there “missing generations”
Relationships every years are common… child bearing years!

13. Soviet Union WWI- 1914-1918 December 1934
WWI
1,700,000 military dead
December 1934
Stalin began a period of purging and terror that lasted until 1939 and was marked by the execution of virtually the entire political and military elite.
Enemies of the State

14. Soviet Union
How would you determine how World War I impacted the male population?
What age group was impacted by Stalin’s purges?

15. China The “One Child Policy”
To try and slow growth, China began a policy restricting many families to having only one child.
Can you estimate when this policy began?
Began in 1978

16. China and the Growth
How did the “one child” rule impact China’s population?
What growth is visible in China’s population pyramid?
Started in 1979

17. Cambodia
April 17th, 1975 the Khmer Rouge, a communist guerrilla group led by Pol Pot, took power in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. During their rule, it is estimated that 2 million Cambodians died by starvation, torture or execution.

18. Cambodia
How did the rule of the Khmer Rouge impact Cambodia’s population?
When did this occur?

19. South Africa
Lower fertility rates (possible due to improved economy, women’s rights)
AIDS epidemic

20. South Africa What is happening to the population of South Africa?
Why might this be happening?

21. Useful Website for Population Pyramids