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Population structure: youthful and ageing populations Cambridge IGCSE Geography revision

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In plain words

Two countries can have the same number of people and completely different futures. One is full of children who will soon need schools and jobs. The other is full of pensioners. A population pyramid shows which at a glance.

7 things to know

  1. Population structure is the make-up of a population by age and sex. It is shown on a population pyramid, with males on one side, females on the other, and the youngest at the bottom.
  2. A wide base shows a high birth rate and a youthful population. A narrow base and a wide top show a low birth rate, long life expectancy and an ageing population.
  3. Structure is shaped by natural increase and by net migration. Migrant workers add a bulge of young adults.
  4. Dependants are the young (under 15) and the old (65 and over), who rely on the working population.
  5. A youthful population is caused by a high birth rate. It puts pressure on schools, healthcare and housing, and jobs must be found as children grow up. It also means a large future workforce.
  6. An ageing population is caused by a low birth rate and people living longer. It raises the cost of pensions and healthcare, while there are fewer workers to pay taxes and fill jobs. Older people also contribute, through experience, voluntary work and care of grandchildren.
  7. Responses to ageing: raising the retirement age, encouraging immigration, and pro-natalist policies.

Worked example

A population pyramid has a very wide base that narrows quickly towards the top. Describe what it shows and one problem this causes.

  1. The wide base shows a high birth rate: there are many children.
  2. The quick narrowing shows a high death rate and low life expectancy: few people reach old age.
  3. Problem: a large number of young dependants, so the country needs many schools and, later, many jobs.

Tips and tricks

  • Describe a pyramid from the bottom up: base (birth rate), sides (death rate), top (life expectancy).
  • An evaluation of an ageing population should include benefits as well as costs.
5 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

Population structure: youthful and ageing populations: 5 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

  1. What does a wide base on a population pyramid show?
    • a high birth rate (the answer)
    • a low birth rate
    • a high life expectancy
    • a high death rate among the old

    There are many young children.

  2. What does a wide top on a population pyramid show?
    • a high birth rate
    • a high life expectancy (the answer)
    • a youthful population
    • high infant mortality

    Many people live to old age.

  3. Who are dependants?
    • people aged 15 to 64
    • the young and the old, who rely on the working population (the answer)
    • people who work in services
    • migrants

    Usually those under 15 and those 65 and over.

  4. Which is a problem of an ageing population?
    • too few schools
    • rising costs of pensions and healthcare (the answer)
    • too many young workers
    • a high birth rate

    There are also fewer workers to pay for them.

  5. Which could reduce the problems of an ageing population?
    • lowering the retirement age
    • encouraging immigration of working-age people (the answer)
    • closing hospitals
    • an anti-natalist policy

    It increases the number of workers and taxpayers.

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