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1.3 Population Structure

Population Pyramids

Terms to describe population pyramids

  • Narrow/ wide base

  • Narrow/ wide top

  • Bulges in the middle

  • Pyramid shaped/ rounded/ straight sides

  • Number/percentage of economically active

  • Number/percentage of old dependents

  • Number/percentage of young dependents

 

Information from a population pyramid

  • Birth rate

    • High if base of pyramid is wide

    • High if there are large numbers of young dependents

    • Rural depopulation 

    • Has taken place if there is a big drop/not as wide in population of economically active/more young dependents than economically active 

  • Gender imbalance

    • Is present if are more males/ more females

    • Life expectancy

      • Is greater if there is a larger percentage of 65+ (old dependents)

      • Is greater if apex/top is wide

 

Population structure of MEDCs

  • Lower percentage of young dependents/ Smaller numbers of babies

  • Higher percentage of economically active/ More people at age e.g. 45 – 49

  • Higher percentage of old dependents/ More people at 80+

  • Higher average age 

 

Why MEDCs have a large old dependent population

  • Low death rates/long life expectancy

  • Investment in health care/hospitals/clinics

  • Vaccination/cures for disease/medicines

  • Lots of doctors/nurses

  • Education about diet/healthy lifestyle

  • Healthy lifestyle/exercise

  • Good water supply

  • Sanitation/more hygienic

  • Improved food supplies/nutrition/better diet

  • Provision of pensions

  • Care provision for elderly/old peoples’ homes/specified care for elderly

  • Early retirement 

 

Population structure of LEDCs

  • Higher percentage of young dependents

  • Lower percentage of economically active

  • Lower percentage of old dependents

  • Lower average age

 

Changes in population structure 

Reasons for the change in percentage of young and old dependents in a country

Young dependents -decrease:

  • Birth rates will be reduced/ people want smaller families

  • Education about/access to/can afford contraception/family planning

  • More women working/being educated/female equality

  • Reduced infant mortality rate

  • Less need for child labour

  • Later marriage

  • Anti-natal policies

Old dependents -increase:

  • Reduction in death rates/longer life expectancy

  • Better health care/more doctors/nurses/medicines/vaccinations

  • Better water supply/sanitation/hygiene

  • Improved care for the elderly/old age homes/pensions

  • Better food supply/balanced diet

  • Healthier lifestyle etc. 

 

How large old dependent population causes problems

  • Increased dependency ratio

  • Lower earnings through taxation/need to increase taxes

  • Strain on economically active

  • Difficulty of finding workers/smaller working population/less workers in future

  • Less innovative workforce

  • Economic decline/GDP falls/country goes into debt

  • Difficulty of recruitment for armed forces/difficult to defend country

  • Increased pressure on hospitals/health services

  • Need to invest more in health/welfare services

  • Difficulty in providing pensions

  • Increase retirement age

  • Increased need for old peoples’ homes

  • Closure of schools

  • Have to increase immigration

 

How large young dependent population causes problems

  • Children do not work//economic burden on country/dependency rate increases

  • Tax increases likely/don’t pay taxes

  • People cannot work as they are caring for children

  • More food needed/has to be provided

  • More schools/childcare needed/expense of schools

  • More healthcare needed/expense of health care

 

Population structure that would attract migrants

  • Imbalance sex distribution/ more males than females

  • Few old dependents

  • Few young dependents

  • Mostly economically active

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