Population Structure

Geography: Cambridge International GCSE (2027 Exams), topic 6.2.4

There are different words to describe different cohorts (parts) of the population.

Population pyramids show the number of people in each age band (cohort) and organises them by gender.
A cohort is one age group (e.g. 25-30 years old).

The economically active population means the number of people of working age. This generally refers to those who are between 16-60 years old.
The dependent population means the number of people who rely on the working (non-dependent) population to provide for them.
Large dependent populations are a drain on the country’s economy.
The young dependent population means children (0-15 years old) who do not work.
The old dependent population means people over 60 years old who are retired and living off their pension.

An ageing (greying) population is where there is a high number of people who are over 60 years old and that number is increasing.
These people can be a drain on the economy because they may need nursing homes and healthcare.
A youthful population is where there is a high number of young people (under 16 years old).
These people can also be a drain on the economy as they may need childcare and education.

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