The population pyramid of a certain country is shown below.
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Based on the diagram, which of the following best characterizes this population?
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A population pyramid displays the percentage of individuals in each age cohort to describe the current population profile, and to project how the population will increase/decrease in the future. Every population pyramid is unique, but most fit into one of three general categories.
Expansive populations have high birth and mortality rates and short life expectancies. Therefore, they show a larger percentage of people in younger cohorts (ie, graph has a broad bottom and narrow top). These populations are young and growing, and their pyramids characterize many developing countries.
Stationary populations have declining birth rates, low mortality rates, and long life expectancies. Therefore, they show a somewhat equal percentage of people in each age cohort (ie, graph has a somewhat rectangular shape). These populations are stable (ie, neither growing nor shrinking), and their pyramids are characteristic of many developed countries.
Constrictive populations have significantly low birth and mortality rates, and long life expectancies. Therefore, they show a smaller percentage of people in younger cohorts (ie, graph has a narrower bottom). These populations are shrinking, and their pyramids are characteristic of very advanced countries with a high level of literacy, easy access to birth control measures, and exceptional health and medical resources.
In this question, the population pyramid has a broad bottom, indicating a high birth rate, and a narrow top, indicating a higher mortality rate that results in a short life expectancy (Choices B and C). Populations with high birth rates are populations that are young and growing (Choices D and E). Therefore, the population pyramid is characteristic of many developing countries.
Educational objective:
There are three types of population pyramids: expansive (ie, young and growing population; high birth and mortality rates), stationary (ie, stable population; declining birth rates and low mortality rates), and constrictive (ie, shrinking population; significantly low birth and mortality rates).