POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS
Population Pyramids
 Show the make up of a population by age and by gender
 Population is divided by four to five year intervals (birth to 100 yrs)
 Makes it easier for us to understand data about a country’s population & changes in
the structure of the population.
Uses:
City and town planners use them to plan what services are needed
 Health care services, Schools, Roads
 Where to locate new businesses, subdivisions, manufacturing etc.
Age Structure of the Populations
1. Children (up to age 15)
2. Working adults (16-64)
3. Older Adults (65+)
Dependency Load
Support
Dependency Load
Dependency Load: the proportion of a country’s population that needs to be supported
(33% in Canada)