1. To know what a population pyramid is

2. To understand what challenges and opportunities there is in relation to population growth

3. To be able to suggest how a country may suffer or benefit from certain types of population growth.

Population pyramids: Are a way of displaying the age/ sex structure of a population. We can analyse it to predict the future and plan accordingly

Pyramid 1: Here the base is very wide indicating a very high birth rate. The width drops off very quickly. This means people must be dying. Very few reach old age. Few countries are still in this stage today but some rainforest populations would display this pattern. Implications: Clear need for investment into water supplies, health care, food supplies and housing to reduce death rates.

Pyramid 2: Still a large base so high birth rate but also a wider and taller pyramid as more people are living to older ages. This is stage two of the demographic transition model and includes many countries in Africa such as Kenya.Implication: Probable need to invest in education about family planning to reduce birth rate. Possibly indicates that women are undervalued in society so this could be tackled.

 

• Pyramid 3:. Note the more ‘domed’ shape. It means many people are living to older ages as quality of life improves. There are also proportionately fewer births. This is stage three of the demographic transition model. Chile would be a good example

• Implication: As the population becomes increasingly older there may be a need to invest in facilities and services for them. Still a need for continued investment in family planning.

 

• Pyramid 4: Very small base due to the very low birth rates and death rates displayed in the wide top. This would be representative of Australia that has recently come through stage three of the demographic transition model.

• Implication: Should the situation continue there are serious implications about providing for the elderly population (increasing cost of health care, state pensions) especially as the working population becomes proportionally smaller. This is a major concern in much of the developed world.

Stage1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

                                                                     EXPANSIVE                     EXPANSIVE                             STATIONARY CONTRACTIVE

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GlobalUN Population Information Network (POPIN). http://

www.un.org/popin/State of the World's Population 2001. http://

www.unfpa.org/swp/swpmain.htmUS Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/

AmeriStat projections. http://www.census.gov/population/projections/state/stpjpop.txt

Population growth in cities. US migration patterns. PopNet is. http://www.popnet.org

Population Concern. http://www.populationconcern.org.ukAfrica 2000. http://www.africa2000.com/

Africa Online http://www.africaonline.comIndia http://www.censusindia.net/. http://www.observerindia.com/

World Factbook (US Central Intelligence Agency). http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/indexgeo.html If you have

problems accessing the geographical factbook list, go to main homepage, look for publications and click on factbook. http://

www.odci.gov/