Tools for Demographers:

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Tools for Demographers

• Population Pyramids

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What are Population Pyramids?

• Definition It is a graph that shows population
  distribution by age (from 0 100 years) and by
  gender (female and male).
• Also known as an Age- sex pyramid
• It is an easy way to show the characteristics of
  a population
• The data is graphed (visual representation)
• Facts are based on data collected from a census.

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Age Distribution

• How many people in Canada are in different age
  groups?
• Demographers have identified three categories
  when looking at population pyramids
• Children (ages 0 15 years)
• Working Adults (16 64 years)
• Seniors (64 years and over)

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Shape of a Population Pyramid

• Shape should be shaped like the great pyramids
  in Egypt, wide at the bottom and narrow at the
  top
• Greater number of young people at the bottom and
  the pyramid should narrow at the top as the
  population ages and dies off
• Purpose it shows population, age and gender for
  a given year and for a given country

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POPULATION STRUCTURE The population pyramid
displays the age and sex structure of a country
OLD DEPENDANTS ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE (working
people) YOUNG DEPENDANTS
Population in Five Year Age bands
Usually, but not always, It is in to make for
easier comparisons between different countries
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Dependency Load

• Definition refers to the group of people in
  Canada who are NOT in the workforce
• Working age (15 65 years) support those under
  the age of 14 and those above the age of 65
• These people within Canada are dependent on
  those who work
• They are located at the bottom and top of the
  population pyramids
• A young population such as in 1951 meant that
  Canada needed more schools, houses, health care
  and recreational programs.
• Now the population is aging and we need more
  retirement homes, nurses, health care facilities,
  medicine and care givers.

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What do Population Pyramids show us?
They allow us to analyze Population
Percentages and life expectancies of males and
females The percentage of the population under
the age of 15 and over the age of 65, know as the
dependency load Why are these people deemed
dependent? The number of childbearing women in
the population (15 to 49) Population growth
history Impact of population policies such as on
the fertility rate, immigration rate, etc.
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Economically More Developed Country
Economically Less Developed Country
slope of pyramid indicate the death rate
width of the base is related to birth
rate/fertility rate
proportions of men and women can suggest male or
female migrations
height of graph can indicate life expectancy
"kinks" indicate dramatic reductions in birth
rate or increases in death rate in the past
area of graph indicates total population -
compare areas of differentpopulation age groups
or different sex on one graph
The overall shape of the population pyramid can
indicate whether it is an Economically More
Developed Country or Economically Less Developed
Country
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Baby Boomers

• People who were born after WWII (between 1945
  1965) when men came home to their wives and
  started families
• They are now into their late 60s and late 40s
• This was the largest population of babies to
  exist all at one time and still is to this day
• Hilarious Baby boomers clip - http//www.youtube.c
  om/watch?v_N_SqLljunQfeaturerelated

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Population Pyramid of Canada in 2000
Baby Boom
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Population Pyramid of Canada in 2025
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Population Pyramid of Canada in 2050
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Types of Population Pyramids

• Three Types of World Population Pyramids
• Expanding Populations increase in births and
  deaths
• Example Angola, Africa
• Contracting Populations lowering birth rate
• Example China
• Stable Population low birth rate, high life
  expectancy
• Example Canada and the United States

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Population of Angola, Africa 2005 - expanding
population
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Population of China in 2006- contracting
population
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Conclusion

• What will Canadas population look like in the
  future?
• How old will you be in 2025? 2050?
• Which age group will you be in?
• How will Canada be affected by our current aging
  population?
• How will Canada be impacted by our growing and
  increasing population?

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Creating a Population Pyramid

• On your own, you will now create a population
  pyramid for Canada using the statistics given to
  you from Stats Canada.
• You will need to look at the stats carefully for
  each set of years and the gender.
• Carefully, outline the pyramid for males in
  Canada and then for females in Canada
• When the outline is done, you may colour the bars
  to your pyramid
• Boys blue Females red

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Population Pyramids - worksheet

• 1. Read the handout as a class.
• 2. Then compete the following questions on the
  following generations
• Generations Baby boomers, Generation X, Echo
  Boomers and the youths of today are now
  Generation Y

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What does it all mean?

• Complete the chart by THINKING about the effects
  of population. No textbook needed. Just you and
  your brain.
• How will it impact you? What do you think is
  going to happen?
• This is a continuation from the what we discussed
  on population problems and the pros and cons to a
  growing population in Canada.

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Demographic Transition Model

• Complete the demographic transition model by
  filling in the chart on your handout and then
  drawing the diagram into your notes and labeling
  it.

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Population Pyramids related to the Demographic
Transition Model
Both birth rates and Death rates are High, so
population growth rates are slow but
population Is usually restored Due to high birth
Rate. Short life Expectancy EXAMPLES
Population continues to grow but at slower rate.
Low C Death Rate. Dramatically declining Crude
Birth Rate. EXAMPLES
Low Crude Birth Rate and Crude Death Rate Higher
dependancy ratio and longer life expectancy Crude
Death Rate does Rise slightly because of The
ageing population EXAMPLES
Population starts to grow at an exponential rate
due to fall in Crude Death Rate. More living In
middle age. Life expectancy rises Infant
mortality rate falls. EXAMPLES
Scotland today. Japan, USA
Scotland before 1760 New Guinea Remote parts
of Amazonia
Scotland 1870 -1950 Algeria, Tunisia Morocco
Scotland 1760 - 1830 Republic of Congo
There is some merit in including or considering
a Stage 5 today with a declining population