3.1.3 AGE SEX PYRAMIDS

Show the proportion of the population
(or of each sex) at each age level.

Demographer usually plot % or # of male and females in the total population in each of three categories:
1.
2.
3.
Pre-reproductive (0-14)
Reproductive (15-44)
Post-reproductive (45 and up)
Male Female
Ages 0-14 Ages 15-44 Ages 45-85+

HOW DOES AGE STRUCTURE AFFECT
POPULATION GROWTH?
 Age/Sex Pyramids help demographers determine the potential for future growth of a specific age group as well as that of the total population .
 The overall shape of the pyramid indicates potential growth.
 Age structure diagrams not only reveal a population’s growth trends, but can point to future social conditions.

Male Female Male Female
Male Female
U.S.
Congo Germany


Why would a country’s leaders want to know the proportion of the population in different age groups?
 What difference does the age of the people in a country make?
 What kinds of products do young people use?
 Older people?
 Is it important for a government leader or planner to know the age of population they are serving?

Male Female
Male Female
Rapid Growth
Guatemala
Nigeria
Saudi Arabia
Ages 0-14 Ages 15-44
Slow Growth
United States
Australia
Canada
Ages 45-85+

Male Female Male Female
Zero Growth
Spain
Austria
Greece
Ages 0-14 Ages 15-44
Negative Growth
Germany
Bulgaria
Sweden
Ages 45-85+

Developing Countries
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
85+
80-85
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
300 200
Male Female
100 0 100
Population (millions)
200 300

45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
85+
80-85
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
300
Developed Countries
200
Male Female
100 0 100
Population (millions)
200 300

CANADA
INDIA
MEXICO
UNITED STATES
AUSTRALIA
CHINA
Fig. 46.15, p. 827