rectangular pyramid triangular pyramid pentagonal pyramid
TRANSCRIPT
Population Pyramids
FRA
NC
E’S
PO
PU
LATIO
N
PYR
AM
ID
Rectangular pyramid
KEN
YA’S
PO
PU
LATIO
N PY
RA
MID
Triangular pyramid
PO
LAN
D’S
PO
PU
LATIO
N
PYR
AM
ID
Pentagonal pyramid
Com
pare
the d
ata
of th
e th
ree
cou
ntrie
s. How
are
they sim
ilar?
How
are
they d
iffere
nt?
The only thing similar in the three countries’ data is that the populations are comprised of
men and women. Each country follows a different growth pattern. France is in the shape of a rectangle, which means slow
growth, Kenya is triangular in shape, which means rapid growth, and Poland is
pentagonal in shape, meaning a declining population.
Population pyramids in the shape of wide-bottomed triangles indicate a high birth rate and a lower death rate and slightly higher life expectancy than triangular
pyramids. We can conclude that countries with a moderately growing population are
economically developing. Mexico, for instance, is not fully developed and the
quality of life spreads unevenly throughout the nation. So while most of the
population has access to contraceptives and good healthcare, there’s still a portion of Mexico who do not have this access and
are living in poor conditions.
What
con
clusi
on
s ca
n y
ou d
raw
ab
ou
t th
e c
hara
cteri
stic
s of
rapid
ly g
row
ing
cou
ntr
ies,
co
untr
ies
wit
h m
od
era
te g
row
th,
an
d s
hri
nki
ng c
oun
trie
s? Triangular population pyramids, such as Kenya’s, indicate a high birth and death rate, and a short life expectancy. We can
conclude that countries with a rapidly growing population are economically
under-developed and that the high birth and death rate and short life expectancy
are probably due to little access to contraceptives and good healthcare and poor living conditions such as a lack of
clean water, little fertile land, etc.
Pentagonal population pyramids, such as Poland’s, indicate a low birth and death rate and a long life expectancy. We can conclude that countries with a shrinking population are economically developed with a high literacy rate, easy access to
contraceptives and good healthcare, and have favorable living conditions.
In counties like Kenya, programs offering health services, contraception, and education
usually take a couple years just to take off the ground. So in 5 years, Kenya’s birth and death rate and life expectancy will probably be around the same, resulting in a similar
shape as it is now. In 10 years, the birth and death rate will go down and life expectancy might lengthen but not significantly. So the only thing noticeably different might be that the little bulge has flattened. In 50 years, it’s probable that Kenya might start to have an
outlook similar to Mexico’s with a wide-bottomed triangle population pyramid
indicating a lower death rate, higher life expectancy, moderate population growth,
and a developing economy.
Base
d o
n th
e d
ata
in y
ou
r p
yra
mid
, wh
at m
igh
t you e
xp
ect
the p
yra
mid
to lo
ok like
in fi
ve
years? In
10
years? In
50
years?
France is an economically developed country, which is currently in the slow
growth stage. For the next 5 and 10 years, France’s population pyramid will probably look the same. Within 50 years, we can assume there will be improvements in
medicine and technology, so the pyramid will continue to be in the shape of a
rectangle, but with a larger population of older citizens, indicating the lengthened
life expectancy improvements in medicine support.
Poland, like France, is an economically developed country but in the declining
growth stage. For the next 5 and 10 years, we can predict that the population
pyramid will look similar, but showing signs of changing due to advances in medicine and the modernization of its
healthcare system. In 50 years, the pyramid will most likely be in the shape of
a rectangle, indicating a slow growth.
Use
the p
op
ula
tion
pyra
mid
s to
make
pre
dictio
ns a
bou
t each
co
untry
’s futu
re. W
hat p
roble
ms
mig
ht e
ach
cou
ntry
face
if its p
opu
latio
n tre
nd
s contin
ue?
France’s future includes a never-ending growth in its population. Kenya’s future
looks bumpy. Though it’s possible for them to begin on the road to economic
development, it will probably take several decades and radical changes to its culture
and government. Poland’s future looks bright. Instead of declining, Poland will probably evolve into a slowly growing
population.
France and Poland could possibly run into trouble trying support such a large
and ever-growing population with healthcare, food, natural resources, etc.
Kenya’s problems include a lack of resources and medical care to decrease
the death rate and lengthen life expectancy.
France’s pyramid structure implies that the country is economically developed and most, if
not all, of the population lives in favorable living conditions with easy access to good
healthcare, the ability to read and write, and a high life expectancy. Kenya’s pyramid structure
implies that the country is young and economically under-developed with the percent of the dependent population being significantly
larger than the percent of the workers supporting them. This also leads to the
conclusion that the birth and death rate is high and the life expectancy is short. Poland’s
pyramid structure also implies that the country economically developed and very similar to
France's population.
What a
re th
e im
plica
tions o
f each
ty
pe o
f pyra
mid
structu
re?
I think Florida would have a rectangular population pyramid with a high percentage of dependents. This is because Florida is mainly a tourist and
retirement state attracting families with children and elderly people ready
to retire.
Th
ink a
bou
t the d
em
og
rap
hics o
f your to
wn o
r state
. Wh
at sh
ape d
o
you th
ink a
pop
ula
tion p
yra
mid
of
your to
wn o
r state
wou
ld h
ave a
nd
why?
That’s a wrap!