Introduction to

Components of
Population
Lecture Unit 3: Population Structures – Population Pyramids
Department of Social Science
Unit Head: Population Studies
Faculty of Law, Humanities, and Social Sciences

LB
L Banda, PhD Fellow
Objectives
Importance of Age-Sex Distribution Interpreting Pyramids

Understand the importance of age-sex distribution Learn how to interpret population pyramids.
in studying populations.
Age-Sex Composition
Basic Characteristic Impact on Socio-Economic Conditions

Every population has a different sex and age The age and sex structure of a population – can
structure or composition, i.e.: the number and have considerable impact on the population’s
proportion of males and females in each age social and economic situation – now and later!
group.
Age-Sex Composition and Development
Developing Countries Developed Countries

High fertility rates result in a youthful population, Low fertility and aging populations lead to a
with a wide base of young dependents. narrower base and larger proportion of elderly
This results in different proportions of age groups dependents.
needing schools and jobs. This results in increased medical needs for the
elderly.
Age Structure Statistics
1 Developing Countries 2 Developed Countries 3 South Africa
Around 40% of the Less than 25% are under 28% under 15, 6% over 65,
population is under 15 15, and about 10% or more contrasting with developed
years old. are over 65. nations.
Key Demographic
Indicators
Median Age
In South Africa, the median age, age at which half the
population is older, is approximately 27 years, indicating
a relatively young population.

Sex Ratio
Most countries: The sex ratio at birth is around 106
males per 100 females; but after birth it begins to vary
according to mortality and migration patterns
South Africa has a sex ratio of around 99 males per 100
females, reflecting higher male mortality rates.
Age Dependency Ratios
Defined
Age-Dependency Ratio: ratio of persons in the
“dependent ages” (below 15 years and above
65 years) to those in the economically active
ages (normally, 15 to 64 years) in a population.

Fertility rates
High fertility = population growth
Low Fertility = stable or decreasing population
Thus, determining the age dependency ratio.
Age Dependency Ratios continued
Youth Dependency
High due to a significant number of young
people.

Elderly Dependency
Currently low but expected to rise as life
expectancy increases.
Youth Population Growth

Global Youth
there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years,
accounting for 16 per cent of the global population.
By 2030, it is estimated they will be about 1.3 billion.

South Africa
Youth aged 18-34 make up almost a third of the population,
around 17.84 million.
Population Pyramid Patterns
Expansive Pyramid Constrictive Pyramid Stationary Pyramid

Countries like Angola and Countries such as Japan and France and Canada show a
Nigeria exhibit a wide base with Germany display a narrow base balanced pyramid where birth
large proportions of youth and due to lower birth rates and an rates are low and quality of life
high fertility rates. aging population. is high.
Population Pyramid Patterns
Impact Dividend and Challenge Decreasing birth rates

Population age structure Very young and youthful age A decrease in the annual
impacts countries’ stability, structures present a number of births results in a
governance, economic demographic dividend. decrease in the proportion of
development However, it may also pose the the young population
. greatest challenges to the The large base shifts upwards.
development if the policy does .
not cater to this working age
group's educational and
employment needs.
.
Population Pyramids
Age-sex composition Sum of All age groups Bottom bars

Graphically displays a Sum of all age-sex groups in a Youngest ages – each year , a
population’s sex and age population = 100% of the new cohort born is shown as
composition. population. May be shown in the first bar and appears at the
single years or in age groups. bottom of the pyramid.
.
Demographic Processes Displayed
Births,, deaths and migration AGES

The effects of these three factors that influence

population births, deaths and migrations can be
shown pictorially by the figure known as a MALES FEMALES
population pyramid

Age sex representation

High fertility = population growth
Low Fertility = stable of decreasing population
Thus, determining the age dependency ratio.
Population Pyramid Simplified

AGES

MALES FEMALES
 Population Pyramid Simplified
EXPANSIVE
POPULATION
PYRAMID

AGES

FEMALES
STATIONARY
CONSTRICTIVE MALES
POPULATION
POPULATION
PYRAMID

High fertility = population growth

Low Fertility = stable of decreasing population
Thus, determining the age dependency ratio.
 Population Pyramid Simplified
Expansive population pyramids show
large numbers or percentages of the
population in the younger age groups,
AGES
usually with each age group larger in size
or proportion than the one born before it.
It usually have high fertility rates with
MALES
lower life expectancies FEMALES

These types of pyramids are

typically representative of
developing nations

Impact

Population Growth is rapid.

 Population Pyramid Simplified
Constrictive population pyramids
display lower numbers or percentages of
younger people at the bottom
AGES
It shows declining birth rates

MALES FEMALES
These pyramids are typically
characteristic of countries with
higher levels of social and economic
development, where access to
quality education and health care is
available to a large portion of the
Impact
population

Population Growth is negative.

 Population Pyramid Simplified
Stationary population pyramids
display a somewhat equal proportion of
the population in each age group. Of
AGES
course, smaller figures are still to
expected at the oldest age groups

MALES FEMALES
These pyramids are often
characteristic of developed nations,
where birth rates are low and overall
quality of life is high

Impact

Population growth is neutral or stable.

Types of Growth
Rapid growth AGES

Large percentage of people at younger ages,

seen in expansive pyramids.
MALES FEMALES

Slow Growth and ZERO Growth

Smaller proportion of the population in the
younger ages
ZERO / DECREASING GROWTH – roughly equal
numbers of people in all ages, and then tapers
off or reduces at the oldest ages
 Interpreting Pop. Pyramids
1 Stationary/Slow Growth
The birth rate is low and a decreasing infant mortality

2 Increasing life expectancy

There is increased life expectancy, signifying a
decreasing death rate.

3 Internal migration and youthful population

There is high internal migration and a youthful
population. High dependency rate caused by high
levels of unemployment
Words to use: old/young dependents, active
population, male/female, birth rate, death rate (infant
 Interpreting This!
1

Words to use: old/young dependents, active

population, male/female, birth rate, death rate (infant
 How to build a population pyramid
AGES
Build your own population pyramid by using the
data for any country’s population. Then,
interpret the results in Excel. Save your work in
Excel and submit it. MALES FEMALES

[Link]