1. The Dependency Load and Population Pyramids
Dependency Load: the percentage of the population that is non-working. It is conventionally defined as including people younger than age 15 and older than age 65.
-People not in the dependency load are in the work force - tax payers
-Knowing what percentage of our population is in the dependency load helps us determine the needs of our society.
-Canada’s dependency load is 33% (21% children, 12% older adults)‏
Population Pyramid: a graph that depicts population distribution by age and sex.
-Population pyramids help us to see the dependency load, separated into males and females, and it also allows us to predict how the dependency load has changed, and will change, over time.

2. Example: Canada, 1961
What age group has the largest percentage of people?
What group has the smallest percentage of people?
What factors may have contributed to the population to have the pyramid look like this?

4. Types of Population Pyramids
There are three types of population pyramids. Each type displays the characteristics of a country’s population.
Expansive
Pyramid displays :
High proportion of children
Low proportion of older people
High birth rate, high death rate, low life expectancy
Typical of a developing country
EX: Most countries in Africa and Asia - Canada: Nunavut
What factors contribute to this scenario?
Poor access to birth control
Lack of education
Need for family members to work

6. - equal, or close to equal percentages of all age groups.
2. Stable
Pyramid displays:
- equal, or close to equal percentages of all age groups.
low birth rate and a low death rate
country has an unchanging pattern of births and deaths
Typical of a developed country
EX: Sweden, Norway, - Canada: Manitoba
What factors would contribute to this scenario?
high standard of living
change in social norms and values
easy access to birth control
improved health care

8. 3. Constrictive Pyramid displays : Lower percentages of younger people
Low birth rates and low death rates
Country has a ‘graying’ population
Typical of a developed country
EX: United States, Germany – Canada: Newfoundland
What factors would contribute to this scenario?
change in social norms and values
improved health care
drastic change in economy or employment

10. Changes in Population Structure
A significant factor that has affect Canada’s population was the Baby Boom – a period between 1946 and 1961 where the birth rate increased sharply.
How would the baby boom affect the dependency load in the late 1940’s?
How did society and the economy change when ‘baby boomers’ were in the workforce?
How will the dependency load change when ‘baby boomers’ retire?
What will that affect you when you are in the workforce?