The document discusses population structure and how it can be analyzed using population pyramids. It explains that population structure looks at a country's population grouped by age and sex. Interpreting a population pyramid involves looking at recent birth rates at the base, life expectancy at the top, and any prominent age groups in the middle. It also introduces the dependency ratio, which compares economically active vs inactive portions of a population. The UK's population structure has changed from large families and high birth rates in the past to lower rates today, resulting in an aging population. Less developed countries typically have wider bases on their pyramids indicating high birth rates, while more developed countries have stabilized birth rates and more balanced age distributions.

1. Population Structure

2. Learning Objectives Interpret the age-sex structure of a country from a population pyramid Describe how and explain why the UK’s population structure has changed Make links between the DTM and population structure Compare population pyramids from the LEDW and MEDW

3. Population Structure Population structure is the make up of the total population in a country or area where people are grouped by age and sex. The graphical technique used to summarise age structure is the population pyramid.

4. Interpreting Pop Pyramids Start at the base – what has happened recently? Next go to the top – how long do people live for? Then look at the middle – are there any age groups that stand out? Long / short bars?

5. Dependent Population

6. Dependent Population The dependency ratio is directly linked to a country’s age structure. To calculate it, the population is split into economically active (15-64) and inactive (0-14 and 65+) Dependency ratio is calculated as a % using: Number of economically active Number of non-economically active X 100

7. How has the population structure of the UK changed over time?

8. How has the population structure of the UK changed over time?

9. How has the population structure of the UK changed over time? Male Female Population in millions

10. How has the population structure of the UK changed over time?

11. Population Structure of the UK Write a case study to describe how and why the population structure of the UK has changed from 1841-1981. Use annotated sketches of population pyramids to help you. P172-173

12. MEDW vs LEDW The shape of a population pyramid gives a clear indication of the development status of a country and can therefore be linked with countries in the MEDW or the LEDW.

13. LEDW This country has a high BR – the pyramid has a wide base But it also has a high DR – shown by the steeply sloping pyramid

14. Falling BR In some LEDCs, the Government is encouraging families to have fewer children so the BR is falling – the base is becoming narrower.

15. MEDW Low DR – pyramid is wider at the top The largest group of people was born around 40 years ago – ‘baby boomers’. There are roughly the same amount of people in each age category – BR is stable. Male Female Population in millions

16. Declining population BR is falling – the number of people in each category is getting smaller In the future the elderly population will make up the largest section of the population – an ageing population

17. MEDW vs LEDW Male Female Population in millions

18. Population Structure and the DTM The shape of a population pyramid gives a clear indication of the development status of a country and can therefore be linked with a particular stage of the DTM http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/geog/population/

19. Activity Using P174-175 Sketch population pyramid for each stage of the DTM Give reasons for the changes