Population Pyramids
Patterns in Human Geography
What are Population Pyramids?
 Population pyramids are a type of
graph that give information about the
number of people in each age group
and the balance of males and females in
a country’s population.
Which country would you rather live in?
Country B
Country A
Which country would you rather live in?
Japan
Egypt
Canada’s Population Pyramid
Pyramid Organization Rules
 The pyramid is divided down the middle and
males are shown on the left, females on the right.
 Each graph is a series of horizontal bar graphs
stacked on top of each other.
 The youngest people in a society are shown at the
bottom of the graph and the oldest people are at
the top.
 The pyramid may show the population as a
percentage or in millions.
What are they used for?
 Population pyramids are useful for studying issues
related to the age and sex distribution of
populations of different countries.
 Number of males vs. females for particular age
groups.
 Number of old vs. young people.
 The shape of the pyramid can tell us many things:
 If the country is developed or developing.
 If the country’s population is growing, stable, or
shrinking
Sample Population Pyramids
Developing Countries - Shape
 These countries have lower GDPs, higher fertility
and infant mortality rates.
Developed Countries - Shape
 These countries have higher GDPs, lower fertility and
infant mortality rates.
Growing Populations
 In these countries the birth rate is higher than the death rate.
 The wider the base is, the faster the population growth.
Stable Populations
 In these countries
the birth and death
rates are equal, so
there is no net
population growth.
Decreasing Populations
 In these countries, the birth rate is smaller than the death
rate. The smaller the base, the more rapid the decrease.
Shapes Summary
Practice
 Does the pyramid below show a country that is developed or
developing? Is it growing?
Practice
 Does the pyramids below show countries that are developed
or developing? Are they growing?
Practice
 Does the pyramid below show a country that is developed or
developing? Is it growing?
Practice
 Does the pyramid below show a country that is developed or
developing? Is it growing?
Check this out!
Population Pyramids of the
World:
http://populationpyramid.net/