1.3 Population structure

What is a dependent?

- A dependent is someone who is reliant on another person for survival, especially economically. - The young people and elderly are both known as dependents

Describe a population pyramid of a

- It is a It typically shows slow population growth also referred to as a aging population It has a high proportion of elderly dependents It is for a countries in stage 4 of the demographic transition Model DESCRIPTION : INTEPREATATION OF THE POPULATION 1) Narrow base : Low birth rates 2) Wider peak/broad top : Long life expectancy 3) Little change in length of each age group : Low death rates 4) Bulges more in the middle : Large group of economically active population

Describe a population pyramid of a developing country

- It is a triangular-shaped pyramid It typically shows a fast population growth also referred to as a youthful population It has a high proportion of young dependents It is for countries in stage 1 of the Demographic Transition Model DESRIPTION OF PYRAMID : INTEPRETATION OF THE POPPULATION 1) Broad base : High birth rate and high young dependency ratio 2) Narrow top : Low life expectancy 3) Rapid change in length of each age group : High death rate 4) Triangular shaped pyramid : As you go up the ages there is less and less people

What is the importance of population pyramids?

- It is important to know information about the population because the information about that population helps with policy planning for that population for the future, for example the country will be able to know if they'll need more schools, housing estates and jobs etc depending on the population structure of their country - If we know information about the population, the country will then therefore be able to provide the necessary services that are needed for that type of population

Describe the triangular-shaped pyramids (LEDCs)

- Its shape looks like a triangle - It has a broad base - As you go up with the ages there is less and less people therefore resulting in a narrow top * The more triangular the pyramid with a broad base the shorter the life expectancy for the population. This means there is a greater risk of death at younger age.

Describe Beehive-shaped pyramid ( for NICs)

- Its shaped like a Beehive - It is broad at the center and its base is narrower and the top( the peak) is even narrower than the base

What is the economically active/independent population?

- Population of working age which is between 15 to 64 who pay taxes and can financially provide for themselves

What is population structure?

- Population structure is the make up or composition of the people or population in a country or area in terms of gender/sex in different age groups - The population structure is often shown as a pyramid with males and females on each side

What are the types of population pyramids?

- Triangular-shaped Pyramid ( for LEDCs) - Beehive-shaped pyramid ( for NICs) - Rectangular- shaped pyramid ( MEDCs)

Describe Rectangular-shaped pyramid ( for MEDCs)

- it is shaped like a rectangle, trying to show that across all ages there is basically the same number of people for both males and females * As the pyramid becomes more rectangular with a a narrow base, most people can expect to survive into old age * This means there is proportionally fewer younger people in the workforce to help maintain older people who may have more diseases and disability due to their age.

What are the impacts of a high elderly dependency ratio

1) Lower tax revenues - Retired people pay lower income tax, therefore the working population has a greater responsibility to pay tax 2) High government spending - There is greater deamnds placed on government spending by a rise in the dependency ratio, for example the government will be committed to paying a state pension and related benefits such as a mininmum income guaantee 3) Higher tax rates - Because of reduced government finance, the working population will have to pay more taxes. This could actually lead to people working less and reducing disposable income ( savings) 4) Lower pension funds - Because of rising percentage of retired people, pension funds would have to be stretched further to accomodate the high dependency ratio 5) Pressure to raise retirement age - Because of the increased cost of pensions there is pressure to raise the retirement age in both the private sector and public sector. 6) Inequality - If the state pension age is increased it will have different effects. Some people with a substantial private pension will not really be affected and will choose to retire whenever they want but others with no or just a minimal state pension will have to work longer.

What is a population pyramid?

1) Population pyramids are dramatics ways to visualize the age structure of a population according to their genders. They show : - the proportion of young people( 0-15) - proportion of working class ( 16-64) - proportion of elderly people( 65+) They also give information about the proportion of males and females in each age group 2) It can also be defined as a geographical illustration that shows the distribution of various age groups in a population according to gender

How do you read a population pyramid

1) Read the title e.g country or city or racial group 2) Study and comment on the general shape of the pyramid Shape of pyramid is controlled/influenced by: - Birth rates - Death rates - Immigration 3) Note the proportion of people in various age groups 4) Note the sex ratio

How to interpret a population pyramid

DESCRIPTION : INTEPRETATION 1) Broad base : Many children(high birth rates) and high dependency ratio 2) Narrow base : Low birth rate, slow population growth 3) Narrow top : Small elderly population ( short life expectancy) 4) Broad top : Long life expectancy e.g 80+ ( Low death rates ) and also means a high elderly dependency ratio 5) Large proportion of young people : High young dependency ratio 6) Bulgy in the middle : Large group of economically active population? Large proportion of working population 7) Sex-ratio-balance pyramid ( bars of equal length) : Balance sex ratio between males and females 8) Sex-ratio-unbalanced pyramid ( bars of different lengths) : Either more females or more males 9) Little change in length of each age group : Low death death rates ( if it was a rapid change in length of each age group it would mean a high death rate)

Is unemployment, disability etc taken into consideration when making population pyramids?

No

What is dependency?

Reliance for survival on support provided by another person or other people

What is the non-economically dependent population?

The children ( below 15) and adults ( over 65) who depend on the economically active adults

What are elderly dependents?

The elderly dependents are elderly people aged over 65 and rely on on support from the economically active part of the population

What is the dependency ratio?

The ratio between the economically independent part of the population and the economically dependent

What is the working population?

The working population is the part of the population which is economically active aged from 15 to 64 who pay taxes and can financially provide for themselves * These people are the working class

What are young dependents?

The young dependents are the children aged below 15 who rely on support from the economically active part of the population