Population
Pyramids
Population
pyramids
are graphs that
can tell us a
wealth of
information about
a place's people.
These special graphs are called
“pyramids” because most
nation’s statistics take the shape
of a upward-sloping pyramid.
The statistics on a
population pyramid
give governments and others
the tools they need to make
informed decisions and
plans for the future.
Population pyramids are easier
to interpret that most
people think!
Pyramids are types of graphs that depict
the basic shape of a country's age and
gender structure in a way different from
charts like this:
They are created by making horizontal
bars to show how many males and
females fall into specific age categories.
A population pyramid begins with a
bar graph that shows the number of
people in a country, at each age group.
Millions
Of
People
Age groups
The bar graph is turned on its side, next to
another bar graph, turned on its side.
Population in millions,
Males under 4 years old.
Population in millions,
Females 10-14 years old.
Pyramids are created with the
youngest group at the bottom
and the oldest on top.
There are three general shapes
of population pyramids;
1. Rapid Growth
2. Slow Growth
3. Near Zero Growth
Rapid Growth:
A rapid growth's pyramid really has
the triangular shape of a pyramid
because each group is larger than
the one born before it.
These shapes of pyramids are
common in nations with young
populations with high birth rates.
Many developing nations’ pyramids
reflect this shape.
Slow Growth:
A slow-growth population's pyramid
is more of a straight, column-shape.
It seems to be a nearly equal
distribution of the population at most
age group categories.
This shape is common in developed
countries, like the United States.
Near-Zero,
or Negative Growth:
A population that is not growing,
or actually decreasing produces a
different shaped pyramid.
The bottom of its pyramid narrows.
Many highly industrialized societies
are actually experiencing negative
population growth.
Their pyramids reflect the fact that
fewer children are being born and
more elderly are living longer.
How do Pyramids Predict the Future?
Explain the
changing
needs of
government
services,
If a country's population is growing
tremendously, the need will be immediate
for more schools and teachers,
then eventually, the need for more
health services for the elderly!
Burkina Faso, 2000
Burkina Faso, 2025
Possible usage of
natural resources,
INDIA, 2000
INDIA, 2025
INDIA, 2050
Let’s look at population pyramids
for Indonesia for the next
few decades…
Can you predict what decisions
and plans will need to be made
for the future?
INDONESIA,
2000
INDONESIA
2025
INDONESIA
2050
Population
pyramids
are useful
predictors of the
growing needs of
our planet!
Population
Pyramids
Source: U.S. Census Bureau