Population pyramid
UCM
Definition
A pyramid shaped diagram
illustrating the age and sex
distribution of a population of an
area or country at a point in
time.
The shape of pyramid reflects
the major influences of
Births
Deaths
Migration
• Itis a diagramthatgives information about the proportion
of males and females in each age group.
• Also shows:
- proportion of young people (0 -14 )
- proportion of working people (15 – 59)
- proportion of elderly people (60+)
horizontalaxis: gendermale: left-hand
female: right-handabsolute
numberof people or% verticalaxis:
age 5-yearor10-yearage groups
Structure of population pyramid:
A pairof histograms one foreach
sex showing its age.
Sex Distribution
• Males are shown onleft side.
• Females are shown on the right
side.
Age Distribution
• Usually presented in 5 year age
groups.
• Young persons at the bottom
and the elderly at the top.
Structure of population pyramid:
• Pyramid consists of a series of
bars, each drawn proportionately
to represent the percentage
contribution of each age – sex
group.
• The total area of the bars
represents 100 % of the
population
Making a population pyramid
Interpreting population pyramids
Sex ratio
Ratio of males and females.
• Overall.
• Each age group.
Age distribution
Shape of the pyramid.
• Base (young), middle (middle age) and Apex (Elderly).
• Birth and fertility pattern.
• Mortality pattern.
• Major demographic historical events.
Types of population pyramid
• There are generally three types of population pyramids
created from age-sex distributions
expansive,
constrictive and
stationary.
Expansive population pyramids
• Show larger numbers or percentage of
the population in the younger age
groups usually with each age group
larger in size or proportion than the
one born before it.
• Population growth is rapid.
Niger 2010
Stationary or near-stationary population pyramids
• Shows equal numbers or percentages for
almost all age groups.
• Smaller figures are still to be expected
at the oldest age groups.
• Population growth is stable
France 2011
Constrictive population pyramids
• Show lower numbers or
percentages of younger people.
• Population growth is negative.
Germany 2011
Interpreting population pyramids
Immigration and emigration
• Shape of side (sloping or steep)
Life expectancy:
• Average number of years that a newborn is expected to live if
current mortality rates continue to apply.
• Height of the pyramid and shape of the apex.
Predicting future population pattern.
Interpreting population pyramids
• Median age: (lower or higher)
• The point in the vertical axis of age through which passes the
horizontal line that divides the surface area of the pyramid into
two equal parts (50% younger) and (50% older)
• The position of this defined point is inversely related to the
width of the base.
• The wider the base (i.e. the higher the birth rate), the lower
the median age and vice versa.
Interpreting population pyramids
. Dependency ratio
Describes the relation between
• Typically self supporting portion of the population (the
productive part i.e. 15 to 64 years of age) and
• Portion of population typically not in labour force (the
dependent part) i.e. population below 15 and 65+ years of
age.
Summary
exampleS
comparing countrieS
SAUDI ARABIA OVER TIME
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