Population Structure Flashcards
What is meant by population structure?
Population structure is the way the population is divided between male and female, and different age groups.
A wide base shows …
High birth rate
A narrow base shows …
Low birth rate
A straight pyramid shows …
Low death rate
A triangular pyramid shows …
High death rate
A tall pyramid shows …
High life expectancy and good healthcare
A short pyramid shows …
Low life expectancy and poor healthcare
Missing young adults shows …
Out-migration
Extra young adults shows …
In-migration
Who are the aged dependent?
People aged 65+
Who are the youth dependent?
People aged 0-14
What does a dependency ratio show?
The percentage of the population dependent on the rest
Dependency ratio =
(Youth dependent + aged dependent) / working population x 100
MEDCs have what kind of population predominantly?
Aged-dependent population
LEDCs have what kind of population predominantly?
Youth-dependent population
What does ‘dependent’ mean in terms of aged/youth dependent?
Dependent means these people do not earn money and need to be supported by the working population.
The base of a pyramid is becoming narrower, this means …
The birth rate is falling
A wide section in the middle of the pyramid shows …
A large population currently of working age who will add to the elderly population over the next 30 years.
Why are population pyramids useful?
They tell us how the population might develop, so we can help plan for the future.
If a country has a high proportion of young people, it will need more schools and teachers.
If a country has a high proportion of old people, it will need more old people’s homes and more money for pensions.
Population pyramids can help us compare …
The populations of countries.
