Population Structure and Population Pyramids
Population structure means the 'make up' or composition of a
population. Looking at the population structure of a place
shows how the population is divided up between males and
females of different age groups.
Population structure is usually shown using a population
pyramid. A population pyramid can be drawn up for any area,
from a whole continent or country to an individual town, city or
village. The left side of each pyramid shows the number of men
in each age group, the right side shows the number of women
in each age group. The following graphs show the population
structures of the United States and Mexico.
Now use these pyramids to answer the following questions.
1. What percentage of the population of the United States is
aged between 0-14?
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2. What percentage of the population of Mexico is aged
between 0-14?
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Suggest at least two reasons for this difference (refer to both
countries in your answer)…………………………………………………………
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3. What percentage of the population of the United States
are aged 65 and over?
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4. What percentage of the population of Mexico are aged 65
and over?
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5. Suggest at least two reasons for this difference (refer to
both countries in your answer).
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6. Mexico has a higher rate of infant mortality than the
United States of America.
a) What does the term ‘infant mortality’ mean?
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b) Suggest a reason why Mexico’s infant mortality rate is
higher than the United States’.
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Extension: Find another population pyramid for a third
country. (Try and find one that has its figures expressed
as a percentage along the bottom rather than in millions).
Write a paragraph to compare your population pyramid
with the two on this sheet. Refer to the under 14 age
group, the 65 and over age group, and the overall shapes
of the pyramids. Can you suggest any reasons for these
differences or similarities? Complete this task on a
separate sheet of paper, and include an image of your
third population pyramid.