Population Pyramid
Shows the proportion of males and females in
different age groups
Measured in % or no of total pop
Shape determined by BR, DR and migration
Analyse according
Proportion of male vs female
Economically non-active: 0-14 (young
dependents), >65 (elderly)
Economically active: 15-65 (Working pop)
BR, DR, Life expectancy
A Pyramidal-shaped Population
Pyramid (Progressive)
Describing and
interpreting
Broad base indicates high BR or fertility rate and an
expanding/youthful population
Large dependent population account 35% or more
of the total population
Pyramid narrows towards the top, indicating high
DR
The narrow top from the 65 – 69 age group
indicates low life expectancy
Overall sex ratio is balanced which reflects little
immigration or emigration
Such a population diagram is typical of developing
countries with increasing population
A bee-hived Pyramid
(Regressive)
Describing and
Narrow base indicates low BR and fertility rate
Interpreting
Young dependent makes up less than 30% of the
total population
Broader top indicates a long life expectancy and a
relatively low DR
Aged can account more than 15% of the
population – greying pop
There is a possibility of the population shrinking as
birth and population growth rates continue to drop
each year
Such a pyramid typifies the population structure of
Population Pyramids of
S’pore
1 (a) Describe the changes in the structure of the
pyramids between 1997 and 2025. (3)
(b) Give reasons for the changes described in (a). (6)
Reasons for high growth
rate:
Developing countries
Low DR
Better medical and health
care
•low infant mortality
•higher life expectancy
High BR
Lack of family planning
Better hygiene & sanitation
Early marriages
Access to clean drinking
water
Preference for sons
Need for farm labour
Reasons for high growth
rate: Developing countries
Consequences: Overpopulation
Strain on country’s resources (food,
housing, education)
High unemployment rate
Environmental problems
Overcrowding in squatters
pollution
Reasons for high growth
rate: Developing countries
Solutions
Education on family planning
Incentives and penalties through
policies
China’s one child policy
India’s national planning policy
Case Study: Nigeria
Nigeria is the largest country in Africa by population. As
of 2000, its population was estimated to be 117 million,
placing it first among African countries and tenth among
all countries.
Countries Ranked by Population: 2000 (in millions)
1 China
1,256
2 India
1,017
3 United States
275
4 Indonesia
219
5 Brazil
174
6 Russia
146
7 Pakistan
141
8 Bangladesh
129
9 Japan
126
10 Nigeria
117
http://www.uni.edu/gai/Nigeria/Background/Standard9.html
Case Study: Nigeria
Nigeria’s rate of natural increase for 1999 was 3.0 %. This
percentage is significantly higher than that for the world as a
whole (1.5%) and all of the continental averages, including
Africa
Nigeria’s Rate of Natural Increase in Context
Nigeria
3%
World
1.5%
Africa
2.6%
Latin America
1.8%
Asia
1.6%
Australia and Oceania
1.1%
North America
0.6%
Europe
-0.1%
http://www.uni.edu/gai/Nigeria/Background/Standard9.html
Case Study: Nigeria
AIDS is one factor that could have a dramatic impact on
Nigeria’s future demographics. While AIDS is not the severe
national health problem that it is in other sub-Saharan
African countries, it is still a problem of grave concern.
While Nigeria does not presently have such high rates of
infection, some population forecasts expect that the impact
of AIDS will indeed be severe in Nigeria in the coming
years. Life expectancy forecasts from the United States
Census Bureau predict that Nigeria’s average life
expectancy will fall from 53 years in 1998 to 46 years by the
year 2010.
If these trends continue, concerns about rapid population
growth may become irrelevant.
Case Study: Nigeria
There is a high proportion of the population under the age of
15 and a low percentage of the population over the age of
65. If you were to visit Nigeria, you would immediately
recognize that this is a country of children.
In a poor country like Nigeria, having such a young
population presents several different social and economic
challenges. Generally, it is difficult for state and individual
families to provide for the material and educational needs of
these children.
young people represent a great proportion of the population
relative to economically productive segments of society.
Unfortunately, this demographic and economic challenge is
often addressed by child labor. Children are often sent to
work by their parents as early as age 6 or 7.
Reasons for low growth rate:
Developed countries
Low DR
low BR
Better hygiene
Later marriages
Better nutrition
Fewer marriages
Better medical and
health care
Preference for smaller
families
Reasons for low growth rate:
Developed countries
Consequences:
Underpopulation
Ageing population (a trend in which there is an
increasing proportion of elderly dependents in
the population)
Hinder economic development
Labour shortages / rising labour cost
Strain on working population – pay more taxes
More healthcare services needed
Reasons for low growth rate:
Developed countries
Measures:
To overcome low BR: …incentives to
encourage marriage and child bearing
To overcome labour shortages:
Raise retirement age
Attract women back to workforce
Employ foreign workers
Mechanisation
Case Study:
Sweden
Population Pyramid at 31 Dec 2006
http://www.scb.se/templates/tableOrChart____159280.asp
See Link: Population Pyramid 1850 2050
Factors that influence natural
increase
1) Standard of living
medical facilities, health care
housing
hygiene
water supply
sanitation and nutrition
Factors that influence natural
increase
2. Cultural factors
way of living, customs and beliefs
role of children, religion
region of the world (developed vs.
under-developed)
3. Government policies
increase/slow down BRs
Overpopulation
Definition:
a situation when there are too many people
relative to the resources and level of
technology to provide a reasonable
standard of living
Overpopulation
Characteristics:
High BR
Low life expectancy
Low level of literacy
High rate of unemployment in urban areas
Rural people caught in the vicious cycle of
poverty due to poor farming techniques
Many live in poor, congested, unhygienic
conditions
Overpopulation
Causes:
High BR due to poor family planning …
Consequences:
High unemployment rate Strain on country’s
resources
Overcrowding
Solutions
Raise level of education
Improve standard of living
Control population through policies
Overpopulation
Underpopulation
Definition:
a situation when there are not enough people to
fully develop the resources in an area or country
Likely to occur in:
large areas which are not fully exploited eg
Canada
Developed countries such as Japan and Sweden
where BR and population growth rates are falling
Low replacement rate
Countries where the proportion of people over
60 are increasing
Optimum Population
Income per
person
Optimum population
underpopulation
overpopulation
Total population of a country
The theoretical state in which the number of
people, when working with all the available
resources, will produce the highest per capita
economic return (ie., the highest standard of living
Optimum Population
A dynamic situation that changes with time as
1.
2.
3.
4.
Technology improves
Population totals & structures change
Trade opportunities change
New raw materials are discovered
Ageing Population
Definition:
a trend in which there is an increasing
proportion of elderly dependents in the
population.
Ageing Population
Causes:
Low BR & low DR…High LE
Low population growth rate
Consequences:
Hinder economic development
Labour shortages / rising labour cost
Strain on working population – pay more taxes
More healthcare services needed
Ageing Population
Solutions
To overcome low BR: …incentives
To overcome labour shortages:
Raise retirement age
Attract women back to workforce
Employ foreign workers
Mechanisation
Ageing Population
Ensuring funds and care for elderly
Central Provident Fund (CPF)
Fund raising to build facilities
Encourage participation in activities
Provision of elderly-friendly features in home
References
1. Chong, M. (2000) Aspect of Human Geography,
Singapore: Pekoe Books. Chapter 1 (p.1 – 47)
2. Waugh, D. (2000) Geography An Integrated Approach,
UK: Nelson. Chapter 13 (p. 344 – 383)
3. Wikipedia