Name: ________________________________________
Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS and PYRAMID LAB
Biology JB16rev
A population pyramid is a graphical illustration that shows the distribution of age groups in
a population (typically that of a country or region of the world). If it forms the shape of a pyramid, the
population is producing more offspring with each generation (expanding population). If the younger age
groups look more like a column, the population size is stationary or if an inverted pyramid is observed, the
population size is in a period of decreasing.
Population pyramids can be used to predict the needs and demands of a population on the resources that
are used by the population.
Population pyramids are also used in ecology to determine the overall age distribution of a population; an
indication of the reproductive capabilities and likelihood of the continuation of a species.
It typically consists of two back-to-back bar graphs, with the population plotted on the X-axis and age on
the Y-axis, one showing the number of males and one showing females in a particular population in fiveyear age groups.
Males are conventionally shown on the left and females on the right, and they may be measured by raw
number or as a percentage of the total population.
Section 1: PRACTICE.
Examine the population pyramids illustrated below. On the line under the
pyramid indicate if the population is: Expanding, Declining, or Stationary.
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Continued 
1 revised 9/2016
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Section 2: US and World Population Clock
Type, copy and paste in a browser, or hold the control key (Ctrl) while your click on the URL to open the
website:
http://www.census.gov/popclock/?intcmp=home_pop
Write your answers on the line provided:
1. _________________________________________ Write the estimated population of the United
States as you begin this activity.
2. ________________________________________ Write the estimated World Population as you
begin this activity.
3. ________________________________________ In the US, one birth happens every __ seconds.
4. ________________________________________ In the US, one death happens every __ seconds.
5. ________________________________________ In the US, the migrant level (net) is one person
every ___ seconds.
6. ________________________________________ In the US, the net gain is one person every __
seconds.
7. ________________________________________ Using the select a date section, what was the
population of the US on your birth date two years
ago?
Scroll down the webpage to discover more data.
8. ________________________________________ What three STATES in the USA have the largest
populations (most populous)?
________________________________________
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9. ________________________________________ What three CITIES in the USA have the largest
populations (most populous)?
________________________________________
________________________________________
10. ________________________________________ Observe the CITIES with the highest density. In
the City with the highest density, how many
people live per square mile?
11.__________________________________________ Open the website below. Scroll down to the
bottom of the data. What is the density of El
Dorado County (Person per square mile)?
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06017.html
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Section 3: World Population Pyramid 1950-2100
Type, copy and paste in a browser, or hold the control key (Ctrl) while your click on the URL to open the
website:
http://populationpyramid.net/WORLD/1950/
You will be looking at a population pyramid from the year 1950. Write your answers on the line
provided.
12. _________________________________________In 1950, at what age group does the
percentage of the World’s population reach 0%?
(Move the cursor over the graph). This
would be the maximum life expectancy in the
World in 1950.
13. _________________________________________In 1950, was the World’s population rate
expanding, declining, or stationary?
14. ________________________________________What percentage of the World’s population
was ages 0-14 in 1950?
15. ________________________________________What was the World Population in 1950?
16. ________________________________________In 2015, at what age group does the
percentage of the World’s population reach 0%?
(Move the cursor over the graph). This
would be the maximum life expectancy in the
world in 2015.
17. _______________________________________In 2015, was the population rate expanding,
declining, or stationary?
18. ______________________________________What percentage of the World’s population
were ages 0-14 in 2015? Add up the ages/genders.
19. _____________________________________ What was the World Population in 2015?
20. _____________________________________ Move back to 1950. Then watch the graph
as you enter the projection model for the
year 2099. What is the projected World
population in 2099?
21. _______________________________________ In 2099, is the projected population rate
expanding, declining, or stationary?
22. _______________________________________Look under the “click for a country” and select
the United States of America. In 1950 was the
USA population rate expanding, declining, or
stationary.
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23. ___________________________________________ For the United States of America, in 1980 was
the USA population rate expanding, declining,
or stationary.
24.___________________________________________ For the United States of America, in 2015 was
the USA population rate expanding, declining,
or stationary.
25. _______________________________________Look under the “click for a country” and select
the Hong Kong, SAR China. In 1950 was the
population rate expanding, declining, or
stationary.
26. ___________________________________________ Hong Kong, SAR China in 1980 was
the population rate expanding, declining,
or stationary.
27.___________________________________________ For Hong Kong, SAR China in 2015 was
the population rate expanding, declining,
28. _______________________________________
Look under the “click for a country” and select
India. In 1950 was the population rate
expanding, declining, or stationary.
29. ___________________________________________ For India in 1980 was the population rate
expanding, declining, or stationary.
30.___________________________________________ For India in 2015 was the population rate
expanding, declining, or stationary?
31.___________________________________________ For EUROPE in 2015 was
the population rate expanding, declining, or
stationary?
32.___________________________________________ For ASIA in 2015 was
the population rate expanding, declining, or
stationary?
33.___________________________________________ For AFRICA in 2015 was
the population rate expanding, declining, or
stationary?
30.___________________________________________ For NORTHERN AMERICA in 2015 was
the population rate expanding, declining, or
stationary?
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Section 4: US and World Population Clock
Type, copy and paste in a browser, or hold the control key (Ctrl) while your click on the URL to open the
website:
http://www.census.gov/popclock/?intcmp=home_pop
Write your answers on the line provided:
1. _________________________________________ Write the estimated population of the United
States as you END this activity.
2. ________________________________________ Write the estimated World Population as you
END this activity.
3. How much did the population change from when you started this activity? Look at Q 1-2
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United States Population Change
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World Population Change
Section 5 Research other populations on your own for homework:
US Census Bureau - International Data Base
This is another data base of population statistics from countries around the World.
Type, copy and paste in a browser, or hold the control key (Ctrl) while your click on the URL to open the
website:
http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/informationGateway.php
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Select Report:
a. Demographic Overview – shows statistics of the population (normally in thousands or per 1,000).
b. Population Pyramid Graph – illustrates the pyramid
Select Year(s): To select or unselect multiple years, hold the control (Ctrl) key while clicking or pressing
the space bar
Aggregation Options: (this shows individual country data or adds the data together from selected
countries)
a. select “Show individual Region/Country data only” to see each country individually
b. select “Show aggregated Region/Country data” to add data from multiple countries.
c. Select “show both individual and aggregated data” to get both data sets.
Select Countries (hold the control (Ctrl) key while clicking or pressing the space bar to select/unselect
multiple countries).
Select Regions -This will select all countries in a geographic region.
Identify a country (other than the counties used on previous questions) that shows:
HW1. ______________________________ An expanding population pyramid for this year.
HW2. ______________________________ A stationary population pyramid for this year.
HW1. ______________________________ A declining population pyramid for this year.
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