Grade 9 Geography – Human Diversity
Population Pyramids
Expansive — A broad base, indicating a high proportion of children, a rapid rate
of population growth, and a low proportion of older people. Nunavut is an
example of an expansive type population pyramid.
Stable growth — A structure with indentations that even out and reflect slow
growth over a period. Northwest Territories is an example of a stable type
population pyramid.
Stationary — A narrow base and roughly equal numbers in each age group,
tapering off at the older ages. Manitoba is an example of a stationary type
population pyramid.
Declining — A high proportion of aged persons and declining numbers.
Newfoundland and Labrador is an example of a declining type population
pyramid.
The Population Pyramid and “How it works”
Bar graphs are a handy way to illustrate numbers. For example, graphing the
number of males and females in Canada for various age groups according to the
1961 Census, the result would be Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Figure 1. Percentage of Males in Canada as Percentage of the Entire Population
in 1961
Figure 2. Percentage of Females in Canada as Percentage of the Entire
Population in 1961.
Displaying these two graphs together, horizontally and as a mirror image, we
make a Population Pyramid (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. Population Pyramid for Canada, 1961
Figure 3 shows, at a glance, the distribution of the Canadian population in 1961.
Features and interpretation of this pyramid.
 The pyramid narrows toward the top. This is because the death rate is higher
among older people than among younger people.
 There are also a few bulges and narrower parts in the middle part of the
pyramid. For example, there are not as many people in their 20s as in their
30s in Canada in 1961. The people in their 20s in 1961 were born at the end
of the Depression and the start of WWII. This was a time of economic
hardship and uncertainty. People were having fewer children in this period.
 In 1961, the pyramid had a wide base. Adding the percentages for the three
lowest age groups, we find that 35% of the population was under 15. These
are the “baby boomers,” a large group of people born between 1947 and 1966
when the economy was growing and prospering.
By analyzing population pyramids and identifying trends, we can learn a lot about
our present society and future trends.
There are three key types of population pyramids.
Rapid Growth – The triangle shape
suggest rapid population growth.
Slow Growth - The square-like structure is
slow growth. The lump in the pyramid
between the ages of about 35 to 50 is the
post-World War II "baby boom." As this
population ages and climbs up the
pyramid, there will be a much greater
demand for medical and other geriatric
services.
Negative Growth - The population is
shrinking due to a low birth rate and a
stable death rate. Increased emigration
may also be a contributor to a declining
population.
Task
2001 Population Pyramid for Canada
Data are provided from the 2001 Canadian Census of Population giving
the population by five-year age groups and sex. Using the data, make a 2001
Population Pyramid.
Canada’s Population by Age Group and Sex 2001
Census of Population
Age Group
% Men
% Women
0-4
2.9
2.8
5-9
3.4
3.2
10-14
3.5
3.3
15-19
3.5
3.3
20-24
3.3
3.2
25-29
3.1
3.2
30-34
3.4
3.6
35-39
4.1
4.3
40-44
4.2
4.4
45-49
3.8
3.9
50-54
3.4
3.5
55-50
2.6
2.7
60-64
2.1
2.2
65-69
1.8
2.0
70-74
1.5
1.8
75-59
1.1
1.6
80-84
0.6
1.1
85-89
0.3
0.6
90+
0.1
0.3
Males on the left, age groups down the middle and females on the right. The xaxis is the Percentage of Total Population.
Questions
Use your 2001 Population Pyramid to answer the following questions.
1. Write the details of your age group and sex within the
Canadian population
Age group ___________ Sex ___________ Percentage ___________
2. What single age group and sex represents the largest percentage
of Canada’s population?
Age group ___________ Sex ___________ Percentage ___________
3. Circle the 10-year age group that contains the largest percentage of the
population.
0-9 10-19 20-29 30-39
40-49
4. What percentage of Canada’s population is male and what percentage is
female? (Add the percentages for each sex.)
Males___________ Females___________
5. Write in the percentage for males and females age 65 and over.
Males___________ Females___________
Comments
6. Explain why the 2001 population pyramid has a narrower base
than that of the 1961 pyramid (Figure 3).
7. Populations are frequently divided into two categories: (1) people who are
of working-age (15-64) and (2) people who are not of working age (under
15; 65 and over). Give the percentage for each category in 2001:
Working age __________
Not of working age _______________
How could the working-age population contribute to Canada’s economic
growth? List five examples.
Why is it important to understand or examine the changing trends in
working-age populations (i.e., compare 1961 to 2001)?
8. Why would leaders of a country want to know the proportion of the
population in different age groups? What difference does the age of the
people in a country make? Provide three examples.
We know the TFR for the developing countries is slightly above replacement.
Now, let us look closer at various regions and incomes
Table 3. TFRs for Various Regions and Incomes of the World
Factors
1970 TFR
2000 TFR
Least Developed
6.6
5.1
Arab States
6.7
3.8
East Asia and Pacific
5.0
2.0
Latin America and Caribbean
5.1
2.5
South Asia
5.6
3.3
Sub-Saharan Africa
6.8
5.4
Central and Eastern Europe
2.5
1.4
High Human Development
2.5
1.8
Medium Human Development
4.9
2.4
Low Human Development
5.8
5.6
High Income
2.2
1.7
Middle Income
4.6
2.1
Low Income
5.7
3.7
Question
9. Provide an interpretation of Table 1 and Table 3. Include three ideas for
each table.