Population
structure and
control
Presentation
Population pyramids
Diagram Definition
It is called a population pyramid
because when a population is
growing(there are mor babies than
there are people dying), the
graphic forms the shape of a
triangle. A population pyramid can
be used to compare differences
between male and female
populations of an area
There are five stages of population
pyramids: high fluctuating, early
expanding, late expanding, low
fluctuating and natural decrease
Continuation of what is a population
pyramid
Fertility and mortality of the population are also reflected in the
shape of the population pyramid. A broad base and sharply tapering
sides( a true pyramid shape) reflects high fertility rates and high
mortality rates in younger age groups
Examples of population pyramids
Bangladesh Niger 2013 population pyramid
Continuation of population pyramids
Japan 2018 United Kingdom 2018
Population structure
Population pyramids change significantly in shape as a country
progress through demographic transition –
Explanation of population pyramids
the wide base on Niger's pyramid shows that there is high fertility which means that
there is a high birth rate. So far Niger has the highest birth rate in the world with a
birth rate of 48/1000
The base of the Bangladesh pyramids id narrow which reflects that there has been a
fall of fertility after decades of the government practising birth control programmes
The proof that there has been recent falls of fertility because the 0-4 bars and the 5-9
bars a narrower than the bars immediately above
To prove there is low fertility in the population pyramid of UK it is because there is the
narrowing of the base. The birth rate in UK is 9/1000
To show Japan has the lowest fertility of all countries is that it has a distinctive
inverted base
Division of population pyramid
In the pyramid there is the:
1. Young dependent population aging from 0-14 years
2. The economically active population aging from 15-64 years
3. The elderly dependent population aging 65 years and above
The dependency ratio
the dependency ratio =%pop aged 0-14+%pop aged 65+ or dependents/working pop
____________________________.
%pop 15-64
The youth dependency ratio is the ratio of the number of people under 15 to those 15-64 years of
age. The elderly dependency ratio is the ratio of the number of people over 64 years to those 15-
64 years of age
The shape of the population
pyramid
1. Broad base: broad base shows a large
number of children – high birth rate
2. Broad shape at the top: shows a high
proportion of people living longer (higher life
expectancy)
Case study: Niger: a country with a
high dependency ratio
The Republic of Niger is a land-locked country in West Africa named after
the Niger River. Its climate is mainly very hot and dry with many desert
areas. It is an LEDC, and is one of the poorest countries in the world.
Niger is claimed to have the highest fertility rate in the world of 7.1 births
per women. Literacy rate is only 28.7% and the population below the
poverty line is 63%. About 90% of the total workforce is engaged in
agriculture; industry 6% and services 4%. The birth rate is 49.6 and the
death rate is 20.3.
The Niger population under 15 years is 48 percent with 3 percent of 65
years or more, which shows that 51% of the total population is
dependents. Bangladesh has 37% dependents; Japan 37% and UK has
34% dependents
Problems of high young population in Niger
Niger has a large young population of 48%, which needs to allocate a
substantial proportion of resources to look after them.
The young people require resources for health; need proper education, food,
safe drinking water and housing.
The money required to cover such needs may mean there is little left to
invest in agriculture, industry and other aspects of the economy.
It is difficult to meet the large demand of country’s resources, and may need
to introduce family planning to reduce the birth rate. However, the parents
have different views and consider their children as wealth.
They also have to rely on their children in old age because of the lack of
state welfare benefits
Problem of ageing population in
Niger:
An increasing amount of money is needed for residential
homes for the elderly people.
More money is required for pensions to the retired people.
Need more hospital and health care for the elderly people
Increasing amount of the family doctor’s financial budget
and time is taken up by the elderly.
Less money is available for younger age group for their
education and other necessities
Compiled By:
Tanaka
Onyx
Mellissa
Mazvita
Rumbidzai
Special thanks to Micklem. T. Muzorodzi
