1. Population Pyramid
Shows the proportion of males and females in different age groups
Measured in % or no of total pop
Shape determined by BR, DR and migration
Analyse according
Proportion of male vs female
Economically non-active: 0-14 (young dependents), >65 (elderly)
Economically active: (Working pop)
BR, DR, Life expectancy

2. A Pyramidal-shaped Population Pyramid (Progressive)

3. Describing and interpreting
Broad base indicates high BR or fertility rate and an expanding/youthful population
Large dependent population account 35% or more of the total population
Pyramid narrows towards the top, indicating high DR
The narrow top from the 65 – 69 age group indicates low life expectancy
Overall sex ratio is balanced which reflects little immigration or emigration
Such a population diagram is typical of developing countries with increasing population

4. A bee-hived Pyramid (Regressive)

5. Describing and Interpreting
Narrow base indicates low BR and fertility rate
Young dependent makes up less than 30% of the total population
Broader top indicates a long life expectancy and a relatively low DR
Aged can account more than 15% of the population – greying pop
There is a possibility of the population shrinking as birth and population growth rates continue to drop each year
Such a pyramid typifies the population structure of developed countries

6. Population Pyramids of S’pore
1 (a) Describe the changes in the structure of the pyramids between 1997 and (3)
(b) Give reasons for the changes described in (a). (6)

7. Reasons for high growth rate: Developing countries
Low DR
High BR
Better medical and health care
low infant mortality
higher life expectancy
Lack of family planning
Better hygiene & sanitation
Early marriages
Access to clean drinking water
Preference for sons
Need for farm labour

8. Reasons for high growth rate: Developing countries
Consequences: Overpopulation
Strain on country’s resources (food, housing, education)
High unemployment rate
Environmental problems
Overcrowding in squatters
pollution

9. Reasons for high growth rate: Developing countries
Solutions
Education on family planning
Incentives and penalties through policies
China’s one child policy
India’s national planning policy

10. Case Study: Nigeria
Nigeria is the largest country in Africa by population. As of 2000, its population was estimated to be 117 million, placing it first among African countries and tenth among all countries.
Countries Ranked by Population: 2000 (in millions)
1 China
1,256
2 India
1,017
3 United States
275
4 Indonesia
219
5 Brazil
174
6 Russia
146
7 Pakistan
141
8 Bangladesh
129
9 Japan
126
10 Nigeria
117

11. Case Study: Nigeria
Nigeria’s rate of natural increase for 1999 was 3.0 %. This percentage is significantly higher than that for the world as a whole (1.5%) and all of the continental averages, including Africa
Nigeria’s Rate of Natural Increase in Context
Nigeria 3%
World
1.5%
Africa
2.6%
Latin America
1.8%
Asia
1.6%
Australia and Oceania
1.1%
North America
0.6%
Europe
-0.1%

12. Case Study: Nigeria
AIDS is one factor that could have a dramatic impact on Nigeria’s future demographics. While AIDS is not the severe national health problem that it is in other sub-Saharan African countries, it is still a problem of grave concern.
While Nigeria does not presently have such high rates of infection, some population forecasts expect that the impact of AIDS will indeed be severe in Nigeria in the coming years. Life expectancy forecasts from the United States Census Bureau predict that Nigeria’s average life expectancy will fall from 53 years in 1998 to 46 years by the year 2010.
If these trends continue, concerns about rapid population growth may become irrelevant.

13. Case Study: Nigeria
There is a high proportion of the population under the age of 15 and a low percentage of the population over the age of 65. If you were to visit Nigeria, you would immediately recognize that this is a country of children.
In a poor country like Nigeria, having such a young population presents several different social and economic challenges. Generally, it is difficult for state and individual families to provide for the material and educational needs of these children.
young people represent a great proportion of the population relative to economically productive segments of society. Unfortunately, this demographic and economic challenge is often addressed by child labor. Children are often sent to work by their parents as early as age 6 or 7.

14. Reasons for low growth rate: Developed countries
Low DR
low BR
Better hygiene
Later marriages
Better nutrition
Fewer marriages
Better medical and health care
Preference for smaller families

15. Reasons for low growth rate: Developed countries
Consequences:
Underpopulation
Ageing population (a trend in which there is an increasing proportion of elderly dependents in the population)
Hinder economic development
Labour shortages / rising labour cost
Strain on working population – pay more taxes
More healthcare services needed

16. Reasons for low growth rate: Developed countries
Measures:
To overcome low BR: …incentives to encourage marriage and child bearing
To overcome labour shortages:
Raise retirement age
Attract women back to workforce
Employ foreign workers
Mechanisation

17. Case Study: Sweden Population Pyramid at 31 Dec 2006
See Link: Population Pyramid

18. Factors that influence natural increase
1) Standard of living
medical facilities, health care
housing
hygiene
water supply
sanitation and nutrition

19. Factors that influence natural increase
2. Cultural factors
way of living, customs and beliefs
role of children, religion
region of the world (developed vs. under-developed)
3. Government policies
increase/slow down BRs

20. Overpopulation Definition:
a situation when there are too many people relative to the resources and level of technology to provide a reasonable standard of living

21. Overpopulation Characteristics: High BR Low life expectancy
Low level of literacy
High rate of unemployment in urban areas
Rural people caught in the vicious cycle of poverty due to poor farming techniques
Many live in poor, congested, unhygienic conditions

22. Overpopulation Causes: High BR due to poor family planning …
Consequences:
High unemployment rate Strain on country’s resources
Overcrowding
Solutions
Raise level of education
Improve standard of living
Control population through policies

23. Overpopulation

24. Underpopulation Definition:
a situation when there are not enough people to fully develop the resources in an area or country
Likely to occur in:
large areas which are not fully exploited eg Canada
Developed countries such as Japan and Sweden where BR and population growth rates are falling
Low replacement rate
Countries where the proportion of people over 60 are increasing

25. Optimum Population
Income per person
Total population of a country
underpopulation
overpopulation
Optimum population
The theoretical state in which the number of people, when working with all the available resources, will produce the highest per capita economic return (ie., the highest standard of living and quality of life)

26. Optimum Population A dynamic situation that changes with time as
Technology improves
Population totals & structures change
Trade opportunities change
New raw materials are discovered

27. Ageing Population Definition:
a trend in which there is an increasing proportion of elderly dependents in the population.

28. Ageing Population Causes: Low BR & low DR…High LE
Low population growth rate
Consequences:
Hinder economic development
Labour shortages / rising labour cost
Strain on working population – pay more taxes
More healthcare services needed

29. Ageing Population Solutions To overcome low BR: …incentives
To overcome labour shortages:
Raise retirement age
Attract women back to workforce
Employ foreign workers
Mechanisation

30. Ageing Population Ensuring funds and care for elderly
Central Provident Fund (CPF)
Fund raising to build facilities
Encourage participation in activities
Provision of elderly-friendly features in home

31. References
1. Chong, M. (2000) Aspect of Human Geography, Singapore: Pekoe Books. Chapter 1 (p.1 – 47) 2. Waugh, D. (2000) Geography An Integrated Approach, UK: Nelson. Chapter 13 (p. 344 – 383) 3. Wikipedia