Population Pyramids
A population pyramid is a chart made of two back-to-back horizontal bar charts, one for males and one for females, that shows how a population is split by age group and sex. Age bands run up the vertical axis from youngest at the bottom to oldest at the top, with each bar's length showing the number or percentage in that group. It is used in GCSE Statistics to compare the age structures of different populations, or the same population at different times.
Before you start
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Method
- Look at the vertical axis: age bands run from youngest at the bottom to oldest at the top.
- Read the two horizontal axes, one for males (usually on the left) and one for females (usually on the right), checking whether both sides use the same scale.
- Compare the width of the bars at the base (young ages) with the width at the top (old ages) to judge the general shape.
- A wide base and narrow top suggests a young, fast-growing population; a narrow base and wide top suggests an aging population.
- Look for bulges or dips in particular age bands, which can show past events such as a baby boom or a period of low birth rate.
- When comparing two pyramids, compare the same age bands directly and describe the differences in context.
Worked example
A survey of a small town's population is grouped by age band. The percentages of males and females in each band are: 0-15: males 12%, females 11%; 16-64: males 55%, females 54%; 65+: males 8%, females 10%. Describe two features you would see on the population pyramid for this town, and state which sex has the higher proportion aged 65 and over.
- Age bands run vertically, with 0-15 at the bottom and 65+ at the top.
- The bars for 0-15 (12% and 11%) are the longest bars on the pyramid, giving it a wide base.
- The bars for 65+ (8% and 10%) are the shortest bars, giving the pyramid a narrow top.
- Compare the 65+ values directly: females are 10% and males are 8%, so females have the higher proportion.
- Final answer: the pyramid has a wide base and a narrow top (more young people than elderly), and females have a higher proportion aged 65 and over than males (10% compared with 8%).
Practice questions
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Q1On a population pyramid, which axis shows the age groups?Show answer
Answer: The vertical (y) axis.
Q2On a pyramid where male bars point left and female bars point right, the bar for females aged 20-24 is longer than the bar for males aged 20-24. What does this tell you?Show answer
Answer: There are more females than males aged 20-24 in the population.
Q3A pyramid has a wide base and a narrow top. What does this suggest about the population?Show answer
Answer: A high proportion of young people and a low proportion of elderly people (a growing population).
Q4A pyramid is roughly the same width all the way up, with only a slightly narrower top. What does this suggest?Show answer
Answer: A fairly even spread of ages, with a slowly aging population (a stable/mature population).
Q5In a pyramid, the bars for ages 65+ are unusually long compared with younger age bands. Give one possible reason.Show answer
Answer: The population is aging, for example due to a low birth rate and/or long life expectancy.
Q6Country A's pyramid has a wide base and narrow top; Country B's has a narrow base and a wide middle/top. Which country most likely has the higher birth rate?Show answer
Answer: Country A (a wide base means relatively more young children).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Statistics exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
The table shows the percentage of a population in each age band by sex: 0-14: male 10%, female 9%; 15-64: male 62%, female 61%; 65+: male 3%, female 5%. State two features of the population pyramid drawn from this data, and explain what these features suggest about the population.
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A population pyramid shows that the bars for females are longer than the bars for males in every age band from 65 upwards. State what this suggests, and suggest one possible reason for it.
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The tables below show the percentage of the population in each age band for Town P and Town Q. Town P: 0-15: 24%, 16-64: 63%, 65+: 13%. Town Q: 0-15: 15%, 16-64: 60%, 65+: 25%. Compare the age structures of Town P and Town Q, using the data given.
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See real GCSE Statistics past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the population pyramids worksheet pack - 12 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 23 of GCSE Statistics Foundation Workbook 1 and chapter 27 of GCSE Statistics Higher Workbook 1, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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