Population: Lesson 4 Population

Structure, Population Pyramids

Learning outcomes
1. Learn how to interpret population characteristics
from a pyramid
2. Learn how to predict likely future changes in a
population

Starter activity
Cut out the 5 population pyramids.
Read the descriptions.
Match up the population pyramids with the
correct descriptions to familiarise yourself
with todays lesson.
Extension Task: think about the relationship
this has with the DTM.

Population Pyramids
Make a note of these points in your books:

A population structure is the make-up of a population in

terms of age, sex and life expectancy.
Population structures are shown using population pyramids.
Males are shown on the left; females on the right.
The horizontal axis is divided into either numbers or
percentages of the population. The central vertical axis shows
age categories: every 10 years, every 5 years or every single
year. The lower part of the pyramid is known as the base and
shows the younger section of the population. The upper part,
or apex, shows the elderly.
Interpreting population pyramids tells us a great deal about a
population, such as birth rates, to a lesser extent death rates,
life expectancy and the level of economic development (or
stage in the demographic transition model).

A population pyramid for an LEDC (poorer

country) where natural increase is high

Sketch this into your books with clear labels

to show the characteristics

A population pyramid for an MEDC (a richer

country) where natural increase is low
Death rates are low in
all but the oldest age
groups, so life
expectancy is high

The pyramid has

straight sides, showing
a steady low birth rate

Infant mortality and

child mortality rates are
low so bands are a
similar length
A narrow base shows
a low birth rate

Sketch this into your books with clear labels

to show the characteristics

Future population change

Page 180 in the AQA Geography A New Edition
text book, shows predicted population
pyramids for India. Computer programs can
predict future population patterns.
Annotate your copy of the pyramids for India
with characteristics of Indias population
change.

Annotations for India should include:

Although Indias birth rate has fallen, its base remains wide because
there are so many young adults in their child bearing years.
By 2025 the number of babies born each year will have stabilised,
reducing slightly by 2050.
Increasing numbers live into old age, and the 90-94, 95-99 and 100+
age groups are include on future graphs.
By 2050 most people will live into their 70s and India will have all
characteristics of a stage 4 population.
Urban areas of many countries at lesser stages of development are
predominantly male in all age groups up to 60-64. Usually more
boys than girls.
Rural-urban migration in search of work remains common in
countries at lesser stages of development. Men and older boys
leave women, younger children and elderly behind in rural areas as
cities offer greater opportunities to earn money, which can be sent
back to improve the familys standard of living.

Learning outcomes
1. Learn how to interpret population
characteristics from a pyramid
2. Learn how to predict likely future changes in
a population

Review
Study the population pyramids and answer the questions below.
Population pyramid for the UK (2000) Population pyramid for Mozambique (2000)

a) State three differences between the population structure of the

UK and that of Mozambique. (3 marks)
b) Describe and explain how the population pyramid for Mozambique
could change over the next 50 (4 marks)