Population
Pyramids
What is a population pyramid?
A visual representation of the population of a
country.
Shows:
• population's age
• gender composition (males to females)
• gains of members (immigration and birth), and
losses of members (emigration and death)
• reflect population growth or decline
Interpreting a
Population Pyramid
•Each line is showing you what
percentage of the population is a
certain age.
•One side represents males and
one side females
Interpreting population pyramids
There main types of
pyramids
– Rapid growth
– Slow/Stable growth
– Negative growth
Shape of rapid
growth
Shape of
Slow/Stable growth
Shape of negative
growth
Rapid growth
Rapid growth pyramids
• Have a large base to show high birth rates
• Amount of people decreases as the ages
goes up indicating higher death rates and
a lower standard of living
• Associated with developing countries like
Afghanistan, Ethiopia
Slow Growth
Slow growth pyramids
• Take on a more rectangular shape
• Indicates population is remaining fairly
steady or slowly growing
• Birth rates and death rates are similar
• Associated with developed countries like
the UK, United States, Argentina
Negative growth
Negative growth pyramids
• Looks like a reverse pyramid
• Indicates the population of the country is
decreasing
• Death rates are higher than birth rates
• Associated with developed countries like
Austria, Japan, Italy
Using Population in Politics and
Future Planning
• Distinguish between developed and
developing nations
• Use data to predict
– Future population changes
– Environmental resource requirements
– Economic resource requirements
Things to look for
• Are there noticeable differences between
men and women?
• Are there “missing generations”
• Relationships every 20-30 years are
common…
child bearing years!
Soviet Union
http://worldatlas.com/webimag
e/countrys/europe/eur.htm
http://www.gendercide.org/case_stalin.html
Enemies of the State
WWI- 1914-1918
1,700,000 military dead
December 1934
Stalin began a period of
purging and terror that
lasted until 1939 and was
marked by the execution
of virtually the entire
political and military elite.
http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/riley/787/Soviet/Stalin/Stalin.html
Soviet Union
• How would you
determine how World
War I impacted the
male population?
• What age group was
impacted by Stalin’s
purges?
China
The “One Child Policy”
To try and slow growth,
China began a policy
restricting many families
to having only one child.
Can you estimate when this
policy began?
China and the Growth
• How did the “one child” rule impact China’s
population?
• What growth is visible in China’s population
pyramid?
Cambodia
• April 17th, 1975 the Khmer
Rouge, a communist guerrilla
group led by Pol Pot, took
power in Phnom Penh, the
capital of Cambodia.
During their rule, it is
estimated that 2 million
Cambodians died by
starvation, torture or
execution.
Cambodia
How did the rule of
the Khmer Rouge
impact
Cambodia’s
population?
When did this
occur?
South Africa
South Africa
• What is happening to the population of
South Africa?
• Why might this be happening?
Useful Website for Population
Pyramids
http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbpyr.html