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Th e population is usually grouped according Th e pointed top of the pyramid indicates
to their age in the following categories. a high death rate, showing that the life
• Children (0–14 years)—Dependent expectancy in such a country is low. Factors
• Working age (15–59 years)—Productive like poor living conditions and the lack of
• Old age (above 59 years)—Dependent proper medical facilities may be responsible
World statistics indicate that in 2017, about for the high mortality rate among the older
26 per cent of the world’s population was age groups. Such countries have a higher
under 15 years of age and about 8 per cent population of children as compared to people
was over 64 years of age, which means around of working age or senior citizens. Th is results
66 per cent of the population was young and in a strain on the working-age population
productive. Any country, with a vast productive to support the large younger population,
making them work in stressful conditions.
age population is a blessing, but then it should
African countries like Niger belong to this
be skilled, educated, healthy and happy, only
category.
then could the working population contribute
to the growth of their nation.
Male Niger - 2016 Female
100 +
Population Pyramid 95 - 99
90- 94
85 - 89
Population pyramids are graphs that show 80 - 84
75 - 79
70 - 74
information about age and gender of any 65 - 69
60 - 64
specifi c country. Th ese graphs are known 55 - 59
50 - 54
as pyramids because they are shaped like 45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
triangles. Population pyramids usually 30 - 34
25 - 29
display males on the left and females on the 20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
right. Th ere is a vertical line in the middle 5 - 9
0 - 4
of the graph that separates the males from
2 1.6 1.2 0.8 0.4 0 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2
the females, and the age groups or range is Population (in millions) Age Group Population (in millions)
mentioned there.
Progressive population pyramid
Population pyramids are of four types—
progressive, expansive, stationary and Expansive Population Pyramids
constrictive. An expansive population pyramid is similar
to the progressive population pyramid.
Progressive Population Pyramid
Even here, the percentage of the younger
A progressive population pyramid has a age groups is higher than all the other age
triangular shape, with a very wide base and groups. Th e only diff erence between these
pointed apex. Th e bar of each age group two population pyramids is that the bottom
decreases with the increase in age, indicating bars of an expansive population pyramid are
that more people die as the bar goes higher. Th e stable and constant, indicating that deaths are
large base indicates a high birth rate, which
not common among the youth. Death rate is
is probably due to the country exhibiting
visibly lesser but the birth rate is still high.
features like being a developing economy,
Th ese countries have a higher life expectancy
poverty, low levels of female education and
than countries with a progressive pyramid.
less awareness of proper family planning.
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