Age-Sex Structure

Kayla Cook & Justin Tanhauser

 Age-sex Structure
Not only are people unevenly distributed on Earth, they also vary greatly in
terms of age & sex distributions
Age-sex Structure-describes the amount of people in a set of age
categories
important in understanding a countrys well being & challenges
To show age-sex distribution, a countrys %s of the population are
put in a graph:
Constricting- developed countries, Expansive- under-developed countries, Stationary- developed countries, low
older populations, longer life-spans younger populations, shorter life-spans mortality, low fertility, longer life-spans
Age-sex Structure (pt. 2)
Stationary pyramid-around the
same size lines in young -middle
ages; shows a stable growth
Ex: USA
Its important to ask Why? or
What caused that?
Ex: Baby boomers in U.S.
Constrictive pyramid (Aging
population) - older age groups
outnumber the young age groups
Death rates are rising and the
populations will decline
Japan and Germany
working age has to pay
more to support the elderly

There are far

The bulges here more elderly
are a result of women than
the baby men
boomers (50-54 (70-90yrs).
yrs) & their Due to WW2
children (20-24
yrs)
 Age-sex Structure (pt. 3)
Expansive pyramid-aka christmas tree; when the
younger age group outnumbers the older
typical of low developed countries
high birth rates & high infant mortality
working age has to pay more to support the
youth
strains economic growth
Think WHY
Why is Kenyas birth rate so high?
less women are educated & involved
in workforce
Why does Kenya have a high infant
mortality rate?
lack of suitable water, medicine,
nourishment
Age-Sex Structure: Questions

1.) What are some economic issues caused by constrictive

(vase-shaped) pyramids?
2.) What are some economic issues caused by expansive (christmas
tree) pyramids?

3.) How can historical events like plague, wars, baby-boomers, etc.
affect populations of places and their age-sex structures?