Grade 9 Geography – Unit 2 Lesson 9
POPULATION PYRAMIDS
Building Pyramids using Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
You have a handout about Population Pyramids and a number of definitions
about population growth (e.g., Birth Rate, Fertility). In the handout, there is
information about interpretation.
We could make the pyramids by hand on graph paper, but we can also used
computer technology to speed up the activity and, perhaps more importantly,
store information for later examination. We can use Microsoft Excel to make a
Population Pyramid
Steps.
1. Turn on Microsoft Excel
2. Using the data supplied, enter the Male data in Column B as NEGATIVE
numbers. Put the title Male in Cell B1 and start by entering the YOUNGEST
AGE GROUP (e.g., Age 0-4) is Cell B2 working down the column entering the
next youngest group in Cell B3, and so on.
3. Repeat the action for the Female data but enter it as POSITIVE numbers in
Column C.
4. In Column A, enter the corresponding AGE GROUP labels or numbers. You
may have to format some of the cells due to Excel Date formatting. Rightclick on a cell defaulted to have a date. Left-click Format Cells, select
Number and from the Category drop down menu select Text. You will have to
re-enter the Age Group for that cell
You data should look somewhat like this. Note: numbers are fictitious.
Age
Male
Female
Groups
0-4
-0.5
0.5
5-9
-0.7
0.7
10-14
-1.1
1.2
15-19
-1.6
1.5
…and so on
5. Select all the data including the titles by holding down the LEFT CLICK on the
mouse starting in Cell b1 and dragging the mouse to the last cell in Column C
so that all the data are highlighted. DO NOT select the Age Group
information.
6. Under INSERT on the Menu Bar, select CHART
7. In the menu, STANDARD TYPE, select BAR
8. From the six pictures of bar charts on the right (listed as Chart sub-type),
select CLUSTERED BAR (It should be the first one, and it should be already
highlighted. If it is not highlighted, click on it). Click NEXT.
9. In the Data Range picture, it should show that the Age Groups will be put on
the y-axis. Likewise, in the Data Range box, it should show that you have
selected data from A1 to C_ written as $A$1:$C$_ Click NEXT.
10. Click NEXT and Click FINISH. You should have created a bar chart on the
same sheet as your data. You are not done because you have to tell Excel
how to build the pyramid.
11. Click on a Vertical Axis of the bar chart, and using the Right Click button on
the mouse, select CHART OPTIONS from the drop down menu
12. Under GRIDLINES, turn OFF the MAJOR and MINOR GRIDLINES by
clearing any checkmarks in the four boxes shown.
13. In the bar chart, left click on one of the bars in the male section of the chart.
Note: you must click on the bar. All the male bars should be highlighted.
14. RIGHT CLICK and select OPTIONS from the Menu Bar
15. In the OVERLAP BOX, set Overlap to 100 and inn the GAP WIDTH BOX, set
Gap Width to 0. This will eliminate the negative numbers for Males.
16. RIGHT CLICK to select the numbers along the bottom of your chart and
select FORMAT AXIS from the menu. Select Number from the Menu Chart
and select CUSTOM in the Category list. Select 0.00 and go OK
17. Congratulations, you have built a pyramid.
18. OPTION FOR THE MOMENT You can customize it by adding a TITLE by
selecting the vertical axis on the full chart, RIGHT CLICK and select CHART
OPTIONS.
19. Print and submit your work.
Grade 9 Geography – Unit 2 Lesson 9
Population Pyramids
A Population Pyramid is a graphical illustration that shows the distribution of various age groups
in a population.
Most often, a population pyramid consists of two back-to-back bar graphs. Population is plotted
on the X-axis and age on the Y-axis. One bar graph shows the males, while the other graph
shows females in a particular population. The ages are made up of five-year age groups (also
called cohorts). Males are shown on the left and females on the right. The number of males and
females may be shown as absolute numbers or as a percentage of the total population.
Types of Pyramids
Pyramid shapes differ from country to country, or within a country, region to region. However,
four general pyramid shapes, as determined by fertility rates and mortality rates, have been
noted.
?
Expansive — A broad base, indicating a high
proportion of children, a rapid rate of population growth
and a low proportion of older people. The pyramid
points upward. Fertility is high so the many children
are born replacing the parents. In Canada, Nunavut is
an example of an expansive type population pyramid.
?
Stable growth — A structure with indentations that
even out and reflect slow growth over a period. The
Northwest Territories is an example of a stable type
population pyramid.
?
Stationary — A narrow base and roughly equal numbers in each age group, tapering off at
the older ages. The base and the centre of the pyramid make a box shape. In this case,
fertility equals mortality. Manitoba is an example of a stationary type population pyramid.
?
Declining — This pyramid has a small base suggesting a low proportion of children to many
older people. The pyramid points downward. Fertility is so low that the number of children
born does NOT replace the parents. In summary, a high proportion of aged persons and
declining numbers. Newfoundland and Labrador is an example of a declining type population
pyramid.
Total Fertility Rate
Another element of Population Pyramids is Total Fertility Rates (TFR). It is the single most
important factor in determining future population.
TFR is the average number of babies born to women during their reproductive years OR the sum
of the age-specific birth rates of women in five-year age groups. Note - Fertility rate is the
number of children born alive per thousand fertile women per year.
? A TFR of 2.1 is considered the replacement rate. Once TFR reaches 2.1, the population
will remain stable assuming no immigration or emigration takes place.
? When TFR is greater than 2.1, a population will increase.
? When it is less than 2.1, a population will decrease, although due to the age structure of a
population it will take years before a low TFR is translated into lower population.
Although still high in many parts of the world, TFR has been declining dramatically over the past
decade. As shown in Table 1, the TFRs in the developed countries (e.g., Canada are below the
replacement rate, although in many of these countries population continues to grow due to the
age structure of the population as well as immigration. Currently 61 countries have a TFR of 2.1
or less (Canada’s 1998 TFR was 1.7).
The TFR for less developed countries is twice as high as the developed countries. However, it is
falling -- TFRs in less developed countries dropped almost 40 percent from 4.7 in 1990 to 3.1 in
2000. Although the cause is debated, there is no doubt that women all over the world are having
fewer children.
Table 1. World Total Fertility Rates (Observed and Predicted).
Region
1990 TFR
2000 TFR
2010 TFR
World
3.4
2.8
2.5
Less Developed
4.7
3.1
2.7
Countries
Developed
1.9
1.6
1.7
Countries
Source: www.overpopulation.com/faq/basic_information/total_fertility_rate
2020 TFR
2.3
2.4
1.7
In 2005, Niger has the world’s highest TFR at 8.0 children.
How do you calculate TFR?
This is the data for Canada.
? Divide Number of Live Births / Female Population in the Age Group to determine the Age
Specific Birth Rate
? Sum the Age Specific Birth Rates
? Multiply by 5 to calculate the TFR.
Table 2.
Age of
Number of Live
Female Population in
Age Specific
Mother
Births
the Age Group
Birth Rate
10-14
367
387 341
0.0009
15-19
15 267
408 422
20-24
30 613
403 191
25-29
42 245
397 398
30-34
39 105
446 488
35-39
17 378
469 810
40-44
2 808
458 439
45-49
94
413 377
SUM
The TFR is the sum of the age-specific birth rates multiplied by five. What is Canada’s TFR?
From the above information, is Canada’s childbearing population is replacing itself? Provide an
explanation with your answer.
Grade 9 Geography – Unit 2 Lesson 9
Population Pyramid – India
All information is from the 2007 CIA World Factbook.
India is the second most populous country in the world with a 2006 population of just less than
1.1 billion people.
2
Population Density is 368.4 persons / km
Population Growth Rate is 1.38%.
Fertility Rate is 2.73 children / woman (2006 estimate).
Life Expectancy is 64.7 years.
Infant Mortality Rate is 54.6 deaths / 1 000 live births.
Median Age is 24.9 years
Slightly over 30% of the population is under the age of 15.
Literacy Rate (15 years and older who can read) is 59.5%
Annual GDP per capita (Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)) is $3 700.
Unemployment Rate is 7.8%
Over 25% of the population lives below the poverty line.
About 80% of the population is Hindu.
India has 14 official languages.
India’s debt is about $132 billion, and India receives $2.9 billion in aid annually.
A population pyramid can reveal much information about a country’s population, age structure,
future service needs and priorities, potential, etc. Construct a Population Pyramid of the following
datasets.
Table 1. Percentage of Males and Females in Various Age Groups for the 2000 India Population
Age
% Female
% Male
0-4
11.9
12.2
5-9
11.1
11.4
10-14
10.4
10.6
15-19
9.9
10.0
20-24
9.3
9.3
25-29
8.7
8.6
30-34
7.6
7.6
35-39
6.5
6.5
40-44
5.5
5.5
45-49
4.6
4.6
50-54
3.8
3.8
55-59
3.2
3.1
60-64
2.6
2.5
65-69
2.0
1.8
70-74
1.4
1.2
75-79
0.8
0.7
80+
0.6
0.4
Note: Total India population in 2000 was just over 1 billion people.
Table 2. Projected Percentage of Males and Females in Various Age Groups for the 2050 India
Population
Age
% Female
% Male
0-4
6.4
6.6
5-9
6.4
6.6
10-14
6.5
6.7
15-19
6.5
6.8
20-24
6.4
6.9
25-29
6.4
7.0
30-34
6.4
7.0
35-39
6.4
6.9
40-44
6.4
6.8
45-49
6.4
6.7
50-54
6.2
6.4
55-59
5.7
5.8
60-64
5.3
5.2
65-69
4.8
4.5
70-74
4.3
3.7
75-79
3.5
2.9
80+
5.8
3.6
Note: Total ESTIMATED population for India by 2050 is 1.8 billion people. Some numbers have
been rounded.
Answer the questions…
1. Describe the general shape of the two population pyramids?
2.
What were the major similarities and differences between the two years targeted for
review?
3.
What are the implications for India if the projection occurs?
4.
Offer some possible solutions (e.g., reduced birth rate)