Question.
Discuss the factors responsible for imbalances in the sex age found in different parts of the world and occupational structure.
(Class 12 geography, Fundamentals of Human Geography, Chapter-3. Population Composition )
Answer.
The sex-age composition of a population refers to the number of females and males in different age groups. The population pyramid is used to show the age-sex structure of a population.
There is an imbalance in age-gender in different parts of the world as well as differences in occupational structure.
There is wide variation and imbalance in the age-sex and occupational composition of the population in different parts of the world due to the following reasons:
Countries in different parts of the world are at different stages of demographic transition. Due to this, there is wide variation in the level of socio-economic development.
The country, whose economy is largely dependent on agriculture and allied activities, has a large youth population and a large family is considered the capital that contributes to farming. The sex ratio is not favorable for women because women are discriminated against in society. In rural to urban migration, the number of men is more, due to this the number of men is more in the cities and the number of women is more in the rural areas. Most of the developing countries in Africa and Asia fall into this category.
In developed and industrialized countries such as the United States and France, the number of older people is increasing in the population. The sex ratio is also favorable for women. A major part of the population is involved in non-primary activities. Women outnumber men in urban areas while the opposite is true in rural areas.
In highly industrialized countries such as Japan and Germany, there is a decline in the population because the population of children is less than the old population. The sex ratio is also favorable in these countries. A very small part of the population is involved in agricultural activities.
Countries can be divided into three major categories based on the age-sex pyramid of population:
- expanding population
- Stable population
- declining population
Expanding Population:
The pyramid of the expanding population is triangular in shape because the birth rate is higher than the death rate.
Developing countries like Nigeria, Brazil, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are in the second stage of demographic transition and the population of these countries is expanding.
The number of children in these countries is more than the elderly.
Stable Population:
The pyramid of a stable population would be bell-shaped with a conical top. The birth rate is almost equal to the death rate.
Developed countries such as Canada and France are at the beginning of the third phase of demographic transition and the natural growth of the population is almost stagnant.
Declining Population:
The population pyramid of the declining population has a narrow base and a conical top. The birth rate is less than the death rate.
Highly industrialized countries like Japan and Germany are facing declining populations.
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