Human geographyLesson 2 of 2 in the course Population geography

Reading Population Pyramids: Age Structure, Demographic Change, and Youth Bulges

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

A population pyramid is a visual tool for understanding the age and sex composition of a population. Learning to read its axes, bars, and overall shape helps you compare populations and identify patterns that can affect a region’s needs and future.

A population pyramid, also called an age structure diagram or age-sex pyramid, displays the population of a country or region by age group and sex. It is usually made of horizontal bars arranged in pairs. The bars form a stacked-histogram display, with each age group represented by a bar on each side of a central vertical axis.

All flashcards

Population pyramid
A graph showing how a population is distributed across age groups and between sexes.
Population momentum
Continued population growth after fertility reaches replacement level because many young people are entering childbearing ages.
Age-dependency ratio
A measure comparing age groups commonly considered dependent with the working-age population.
Youth bulge
An unusually large proportion or number of young people in a population.
Demographic dividend
Potential economic growth associated with more working-age people relative to dependents, when opportunities and productive work are available.

Quiz questions

  1. What pattern is characteristic of an expansive population pyramid?Answer: A broad base representing many children, often associated with a high birth rate.
  2. What does a stationary population pyramid indicate?Answer: Age and sex proportions remain approximately constant over time.
  3. Which feature defines a constrictive population pyramid?Answer: Its base is narrower than its middle age groups.
  4. Why can population growth continue after fertility reaches replacement level?Answer: A large young cohort is entering childbearing ages.
  5. What can help turn a large working-age population into a demographic dividend?Answer: Access to education and productive employment.

Based on the Wikipedia article Population pyramid, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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