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World Geography 3202 |
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Population Pyramids Introduction:
Population Pyramids are a visual and graphic way to study, compare, and analyze population growth of various countries throughout the world. Population Pyramids are age structure diagrams that allow users to compare population distributions by age and sex to make generalizations of the world's population growth.
Task:
Each student will be responsible for calculating, graphing, and analyzing population data. The population data required to calculate, graph, and analyze will include: population density, doubling times, and population pyramids.
Procedure:
1) Choose one country of the world from the following six continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Obviously, Australia is a continent and country so it can only count as one and Antarctica is only a continent with no countries.
2) For each of the six countries selected , calculate, graph, and analyze the population densities, doubling times, and population pyramids.
· Population Density is the total population divided by the total land area in square kilometres. Use the resource Cia Fact book to locate this data.
Example: Current population of the United States is 307 million people and the land area in square miles is 9, 826,675. Taking the population and dividing it by the land area gives you 31 people per square km.
· Population Doubling Time tells us how long it will take (in years) for a country's current population to double. This can be calculated by dividing the current growth rate (rate of natural increase) of the country into the number 70 which comes from the natural log of 2, which is .70. Use the resource Cia Fact book to locate the growth rate.
Example: Current population growth rate of the United States is 0.6%. Divide 70 by 0.6% and you get a doubling time of 117 years. (population data sheet)
· Population Pyramids are visual ways to describe and analyze population growth. For each of the eleven countries study the population pyramid to describe the growth rate of the country. Describe this growth as: expansive, constrictive, or stationary. Click on link to see an example and explanation of each type. (types of population pyramids) Use the resource IDB to locate this data. Click here for instructions on locating data within this resource. Also, for each of the 11 countries calculate the age group that makes up the largest percentage of the population for males and females. Also, for each of the 11 countries calculate the age group that makes up the largest percentage of the population for males and females.
Canada Example: Females = 35-39 years old at 1.4 million people Males = 35-39 years old at 1.4 million people
(link to idb population pyramid info)
Final Product
· 2 graphs properly labelled and coloured (Density & Doubling Time) Taking the population density and doubling time information construct bar graphs that will visually show this information to present to the class. Graphs should be made for the following areas: Density and Doubling time, for the 6 countries selected. As a class we will then analyze this information and make generalizations about global population growth.
· A Population Pyramid for each of the selected countries. Instructions for completing population pyramids in Microsoft Excel can be found here
· A 1 paragraph description should be completed for the 6 selected countries. This description should include: Density (include whether it is densely or sparsely populated) , Doubling Time, and classification of the Population Growth Rate as either slow-, moderate-, or fast-growing populations , calculation of the age group that makes up the largest percentage of the population for males and females. explanation of the type of growth (expansive, constrictive, or stationary) ,along with an explanation as to if the country is a developed or developing country based on its population statistics. Finally, given relevant data, classify a country according to the demographic transition model.
Resources: Population Pyramids and Animations Population and Land Area Statistics Developed and Developing Countries definitions
Conclusion:
Now that you have completed this research process, you should have a firm grasp on how to find the population density and doubling time of any country's or the world's population growth. Properly analyzing and interpreting population pyramid information should be another skill obtained by completing this lesson. Having the ability to collect, interpret, and analyze population data should allow for generalizations to be made concerning global population growth.
Evaluation:
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