1.4: Population Structure and Control

Population Pyramids of Niger, Bangladesh, The UK & Japan

Observations

Niger (Top Left)

• The wide base of Niger’s pyramid reflects extremely high fertility. The birth rate in Niger is 48/1000, one of the highest in the world.

  
  

Bangladesh (Top Right)

• The base of the pyramid for Bangladesh is narrower, reflecting a considerable fall in fertility after decades of government-promoted birth control programmes.

• The fact that the 0–4 and 5–9 bars are narrower than the two bars immediately above is evidence of recent falls in fertility.

  
  

The UK (Bottom Left)

• In the pyramid of the UK, much lower fertility is still illustrated by the narrowing of the base. The birth rate in the UK is only 12/1000.

  
  

Japan (Bottom Right)

• In the case of Japan, the distinctly inverted base reflects the lowest fertility of the four countries. The birth rate is only 9/1000.

  
  

Divisions of the Population Pyramid

1. The young dependent population: 0–14 years

2. The economically active population: 15–64 years

3. The elderly dependent population: 65 years and upwards

   
   

The youth dependency ratio is the ratio of the number of people under 15 to those aged 15–64 years.

The elderly dependency ratio is the ratio of the number of people over 64 years to those aged 15–64 years.

Dependency Ratio Formula

The Shape of the Population Pyramid

Population Pyramid

• Broad base – shows a large number of children, a high birth rate.

  
  

• Broad shape at the top – shows a high proportion of people living longer, higher life expectancy.

  
  

REVISION QUESTION

For a named country you have studied, describe and explain changes in the population structure. Name of country... (2015)

Content Guide: Answers will depend on the country chosen, but most are likely to refer to:

• Ageing population,

• Reducing the proportion of young dependents,

• Increasing proportion of the elderly

• Male/female imbalance

• Migration ideas, etc.

  
  

Place-specific reference is likely to consist of: named parts of the chosen country/locational detail, population data, etc.

Case Study:

Niger – A Country with a Highly Dependent Population

The Republic of Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa named after the Niger River. Its climate is mainly very hot and dry with many desert areas. It is an LEDC, and one of the poorest countries in the world.

Niger has the highest fertility rate in the world, with 7.1 births per woman. Literacy rate is only 28.7% and the population below the poverty line is 63%. About 90% of the total workforce is engaged in agriculture, 6% in industry, and 4% in services. The birth rate is 49.6, and the death rate is 20.3.

Population Dependents

Niger’s population under 15 years is 48%, with 3% of 65 years or more, which shows that 51% of the total population is dependents.

• Bangladesh has 37% dependents.

  
  

• Japan has 37% dependents.

  
  

• The UK has 34% dependents.

  
  

Problems of a High Young Population in Niger

• A large young population of 48% requires a substantial proportion of resources to look after them.

  
  

• Young people need resources for health, proper education, food, safe drinking water, and housing.

  
  

• The money required to cover such needs may leave little to invest in agriculture, industry, and other aspects of the economy.

  
  

• It is difficult to meet the large demand for the country’s resources, and family planning may need to be introduced to reduce the birth rate.

  
  

• However, parents often consider children as wealth.

  
  

• They also rely on their children in old age because of the lack of state welfare benefits.

  
  

Problems of an Ageing Population in Niger

• An increasing amount of money is needed for residential homes for elderly people.

  
  

• More money is required for pensions for retired people.

  
  

• Greater demand for hospitals and healthcare for the elderly.

  
  

• Increasing amounts of the family doctor’s budget and time are taken up by the elderly.

  
  

• Less money is available for younger age groups for education and other necessities.

Population Density

Population density is the average number of people living in a square kilometre of land.

• When the number exceeds 200/km², the area is densely populated.

  
  

• When the number is 10–200/km², the area is moderately populated.

  
  

• When there are fewer than 10/km², the area is sparsely populated.

Population Density Formula

Population Distribution

Population distribution refers to the spread of people in an area. The world population is unevenly distributed.

• The majority of people live in Asia, which accounts for 60% of the total world population.

  
  

• Africa ranks second.

  
  

• Europe ranks third.

  
  

• South America and North America rank fourth and fifth, respectively.

  
  

• Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand) has the fewest people.

  
  

• Antarctica has only scientists and explorers.

  
  

In ancient times, the main activities of people were hunting, fishing, and gathering fruits. However, with the dawn of domestication and agricultural practices, people began to settle down in particular places.

Attributes generally considered for human settlements in a particular area include:

• Relief – lowland areas where the people can practice agriculture

  
  

• Climate – in those places where there is no extreme climate; availability of water for

  drinking and farming;

  
  

• Fertile soil – for agriculture, etc.