World Population Lab - Power of the Pyramids

Procedure:

1. Log onto the Internet and go to https://www.census.gov/data-

tools/demo/idb/informationGateway.php or https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/
2. Find data for the population of the world.
3. What is the estimate of the population of the world today? ................................................
4. Now select one DEVELOPING NATION (undeveloped industrial base and low human
development index)

My developing nation is .............................................. ........ and it is located

..................................................................................................................................................

5. Look for the population pyramid for each of the years 2000, 2015 and 2050 (or similar
spread of years). Sketch the pyramids below.

2000 2015 2050

6. Search around the data base and look for country data. Select your country and the
most up-to-date data. Record the following information in the chart below.

COUNTRY: ………………………………………………………………………………….

What is the crude birth rate (births per

thousand)
What is the crude death rate (deaths per
thousand)
What is the life expectancy at birth?

What is the infant mortality rate?

What is the total fertility rate?

What is the net number of migrants?

AGE-SEX HISTOGRAM

Find data for Population, by Age and Sex for the present year. Print or copy this data.
Use this data to make an age-sex histogram of your country.

For this you will need:

1. A piece of graph paper (your own or pick up a sheet in class)
2. Coloured pencils or markers
3. The data you copied from the Internet

Country:
Male - Female -
Age Group % %
M F
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85-90+
Totals:
Total Population:

To construct the country's pyramid, you must first calculate the percentage of the population
made up of each gender's age group. You do this by dividing each segment's population by the
total population - NOT EACH GENDER. For example, if a country has a total population of
263,119,000 and the population of males ages 0-4 was 10,515,000 then 10,515,000 /
263,119,000 = 0.04 (or 4%). You must first complete the calculations for each cohort or age
group. The numbers should add up to close to 100%.

Record these calculated values on the table included in this procedure.

After you have calculated the % Males and % Females, use the graph paper to make an age-
sex histogram. Then answer the questions that apply to your country.
Questions:

1. What can you tell about your country’s growth rate by looking at your histogram?

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2. If the birth and death rates remain the same, what will your pyramid look like in 25
years?

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3. What are some factors that could change the shape of your pyramid?

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4. Determine the percentage of the population that has yet to reach childbearing age.
What do these numbers say about the prospects for future growth?

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 5. If your country is not increasing in population growth rate, what are some socio-
economic problems that might occur?

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6. Does your country have a baby boom (a bulge somewhere in the middle of it)? What
could account for this?

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7. If you had a business and you wanted to capitalize on your information about the
population age distribution, what would you sell and why?

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8. Is your country increasing in size, decreasing in size or close to ZPG?

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Now repeat the entire procedure but select a DEVELOPED NATION (high industrial and
human development index).

My developed nation is ........................................................ and it is located

..................................................................................................................................................

1. Sketch the three pyramids below:

2000 2025 2050

2. Once again select your country and search for the summary of the most up-to-date
information. Record the following information in the chart below.

COUNTRY: ………………………………………………………………………………………..

What is the crude birth rate (births per

thousand)
What is the crude death rate (deaths per
thousand)
What is the life expectancy at birth?

What is the infant mortality rate?

What is the total fertility rate?

What is the net number of migrants?

 AGE-SEX HISTOGRAM

Complete the table below and make the age-sex histogram in the same way as previously.

Country:
Male - Female -
Age Group % %
M F
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85-90+
Totals:
Total Population:
Questions:

1. What can you tell about your country’s growth rate by looking at your histogram?

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

2. If the birth and death rates remain the same, what will your pyramid look like in 25
years?

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

3. What are some factors that could change the shape of your pyramid?

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

4. Determine the percentage of the population that has yet to reach childbearing age.
What do these numbers say about the prospects for future growth?

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................
 5. If your country is not increasing in population growth rate, what are some socio-
economic problems that might occur?

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

6. Does your country have a baby boom (a bulge somewhere in the middle of it)? What
could account for this?

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

7. If you had a business and you wanted to capitalize on your information about the
population age distribution, what would you sell and why?

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

8. Is your country increasing in size, decreasing in size or close to ZPG?

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.................................................................................................................................................

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Now turn this information and data about the two

countries, into a poster for display.