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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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.
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.
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.
Free printable worksheet
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