Population

Population

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
8:56 AM

Learning Objectives:
○ To understand the components of the population pyramid.
○ To understand that the statistics represented in a population pyramid can help human geographers determine what will happen to a country's population.
○ Students should be able to gather and analyze population pyramids to determine a nation's prosperity and be able to determine what is happening to a particular country's population.


Population Pyramids:
§ Graphically represent the age and gender distribution of certain population.
§ Can be represented by region or by country.
§ Help human geographers determine what is happening to individual populations across the globe.
□ Nigeria has many more small children than older people.
□ Germany has more older people than children
□ The United States has an equal amount of young and old people.
□ Nigeria has more young people because at young ages girls have babies.

Elements of Population Pyramid:
Ø Age- population pyramids visually present the population of a particular country broken down by age.
Ø Gender- population pyramids are split. One side presents the number of males and females. Women on the left and men on the right.
Ø Young and Old Populations- Percentage of population under 15: global average is 30 percent, low is 17 percent (Europe); high of 42 percent (Africa); high number indicates great potential for future growth; Percentage of population over age 65: identifies need health care and other social services
Ø Life Expectancy: average number of years a person is expected to live; affected by many factors such ad sickness/illness, bone problems, AIDS, Flu