Rectangular pyramid
Triangular pyramid
Pentagonal pyramid
Compare the data of the three
countries. How are they similar?
How are they different?
The only thing similar in the three countries’
data is that the populations are comprised of
men and women. Each country follows a
different growth pattern. France is in the shape
of a rectangle, which means slow growth,
Kenya is triangular in shape, which means
rapid growth, and Poland is pentagonal in
shape, meaning a declining population.
What conclusions can you draw
about the characteristics of rapidly
growing countries, countries with
moderate growth, and shrinking
countries?
Population pyramids in the shape of widebottomed
triangles indicate
a high
birth
Triangular population
pyramids,
such
as
rate andindicate
a lower
death
rate
slightly
Kenya’s,
a highpyramids,
birthand
andsuch
death
Pentagonal
population
as
higher
expectancy
rate,
andlife
aindicate
short
lifeaexpectancy.
can
Poland’s,
low than
birth triangular
andWe
death
pyramids.
We
canlife
conclude
that
countries
conclude
that
countries
with
a rapidly
rate
and a
long
expectancy.
We can
with
a moderately
growing
population
are
growing
population
arewith
economically
conclude
that countries
a shrinking
economically
developing.
Mexico,
for
under-developed
and that the
high birth
population
are economically
developed
instance,
israte
not
fully rate,
developed
and the
and
death
and
short
life expectancy
with
a high
literacy
easy
access
to
quality
life spreads
unevenly
throughout
are of
probably
due
to little
access
toand
contraceptives
and
good
healthcare,
the
nation.
So while
the population
contraceptives
andmost
good
and
have favorable
livingofhealthcare
conditions.
has
access
contraceptives
good
poor
living to
conditions
such asand
a lack
of
healthcare,
there’s
stillfertile
a portion
Mexico
clean water,
little
land,ofetc.
who do not have this access and are living
in poor conditions.
Based on the data in your pyramid,
what might you expect the
pyramid to look like in five years? In
10 years? In 50 years?
In counties like Kenya, programs offering
health services, contraception, and
education usually take a couple years just to
Poland,
France
islike
an
France,
economically
is an
developed
take
off the
ground.
So
in 5economically
years,
Kenya’s
country,
developed
country
israte
currently
butlife
in the
slow
declining
growth
birth
andwhich
death
and
expectancy
will
probably
stage.
growthFor
stage.
be
thearound
next
For the
5 the
and
next
same,
105years,
and
resulting
10
France’s
years,
in a
similar
shape
as
it isthe
now.
In 10 years,
the
we
population
can predict
pyramid
that
will
population
probably
look
pyramid
the
birth
and
death
rate
go
down
and
life
same.
will
Within
look
similar,
50 years,
butwill
we
showing
can
assume
signs
ofthere
expectancy
lengthen
but not
changing
will
be improvements
due to might
advances
in medicine
in medicine
andand
significantly.
the
only
thing
technology,
the
modernization
soSothe
of
pyramid
its healthcare
willnoticeably
continue
system.
to
different might be that the little bulge has
Inbe
50inyears,
the shape
the
pyramid
of
a rectangle,
willprobable
mostbut
likely
with
beain
flattened.
In 50
years,
it’s
that
larger
the shape
population
of start
a rectangle,
of
indicating
indicating
asimilar
slow
Kenya
might
toolder
havecitizens,
an
outlook
the lengthened
life expectancy
to Mexico’s
with agrowth.
wide-bottomed
triangle
improvements
in medicine
support.
population
pyramid
indicating
a lower
death rate, higher life expectancy,
moderate population growth, and a
developing economy.
Use the population pyramids to
make predictions about each
country’s future. What problems
might each country face if its
population trends continue?
France’s future includes a never-ending
growth
in its
population.
France
and
Poland
could Kenya’s
possibly future
run into
looks bumpy. Though it’s possible for them
trouble
trying
such
a large and
to begin
onsupport
the road
to economic
ever-growing population
with take
healthcare,
development,
it will probably
several
food,
natural
etc. Kenya’s
decades
andresources,
radical changes
to its
problems
include
a lack ofPoland’s
resources
and
culture and
government.
future
medical
looks bright.
careInstead
to decrease
of declining,
the death
Poland
rate
will probably
evolvelife
into
a slowly growing
and lengthen
expectancy.
population.
What are the implications of each
type of pyramid structure?
France’s pyramid structure implies that the
country is economically developed and most, if
not all, of the population lives in favorable living
conditions with easy access to good healthcare,
the ability to read and write, and a high life
expectancy. Kenya’s pyramid structure implies
that the country is young and economically
under-developed with the percent of the
dependent population being significantly larger
than the percent of the workers supporting them.
This also leads to the conclusion that the birth and
death rate is high and the life expectancy is short.
Poland’s pyramid structure also implies that the
country economically developed and very similar
to France's population.
Think about the demographics of
your town or state. What shape do
you think a population pyramid of
your town or state would have and
why?
I think Florida would have a rectangular
population pyramid with a high
percentage of dependents. This is
because Florida is mainly a tourist and
retirement state attracting families with
children and elderly people ready to
retire.