World Geography 3202: Unit 6 (Population) – Population Pyramids
Name:_______________
Terms to know for this section:
TERMS
DEFINITION
Population
Pyramid
Population pyramids are graphs that show the age structure of a population by age &
gender
Dependency Load
People under 15 and over 65 are considered dependent upon the working population. The
dependency ratio (DR) of a population indicates how many people are dependent upon
every 100 workers
DR = (pop. 0-14) + (pop. 65+) x 100
(pop. 15-64)
1. Use the data in the chart below to complete the population pyramid for Canada.
Population by Age Group and Sex, 2006
AGE GROUP
% Male
% Female
TOTAL
49.0
51
0-4
2.7
2.6
5-9
2.9
2.8
10-14
3.4
3.2
15-19
3.5
3.3
20-24
3.3
3.3
25-29
3.1
3.2
30-34
3.1
3.3
35-39
3.4
3.6
40-44
4.1
4.2
45-49
4.1
4.2
50-54
3.7
3.8
55-59
3.2
3.3
60-64
2.5
2.6
65-69
1.9
2.0
70-74
1.6
1.8
75-79
1.2
1.6
80-84
0.8
1.3
85 and older
0.5
1.1
2. A) Describe the shape of Canada’s population pyramid?
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B) What country’s population pyramid from you assignment looks most like Canada’s? What do they have in
common?
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C) Where is the biggest portion of Canada’s population (“the bump”)?
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D) What will the population pyramid look like in 20 years? What effect will that have on the younger population?
(http://jlovestone.edublogs.org/files/2012/01/pyramid-canada2050-1ibu1wm.jpg )
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DEPENDENCY RATIO: The working age of people varies. Traditionally people worked until they were 65 years old.
The common trend now is for people to retire closer to 55 years of age. However, for statistic purposes we
recognize people between 15 and 65 as the workers of a society. People under 15 and over 65 are considered
dependent upon the working population. The dependency ratio (DR) of a population indicates how many people are
dependent upon every 100 workers
The formula is
DR = (pop. 0-14) + (pop. 65+) x 100
(pop. 15-64)
3. A) Use the data in the chart Population by Age Group and Sex, 2006 to figure out the dependency ratio of
Canada.
B) Do you think that Canada has a high dependency ratio or a low one? Explain?
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4. Use the website below to answer the questions that follow.
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_dep_rat_per_100-health-dependency-ratio-per-100
A) Where does Canada rank in the world among highest dependency ratios? ______________________________
B) What 5 countries have the highest dependency ratios? Why?
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C) What 5 countries have the lowest dependency ratios? Why?
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5. How come developed (wealthy) countries have a bulge in the middle of their population pyramids, while
underdeveloped countries have a wide base and quickly taper off at the top?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/population/population_change_structure_rev5.shtml
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