Describe elements of population composition used by geographers

Explain ways that geographers depict and analyze population composition

Explain the causes and consequences of an aging population

Population Composition

Population Structure- What is the percentages of the different main portions of population (elderly, children, male, and female.)

• Significant impacts politically, socially, and economically

• What does a society need when a certain portion of the population is high

• What is the cause?

Population Pyramids

• She the population structure/ composition of a location

• Population pyramids are used to assess population growth and decline and to predict markets for goods and services

• Can be utilized at various scales

  • Ex: City or Country

Dependency ratio

dependency Ration: the number of people in a dependent age group divided by the number of people in the working age group multiplied by 100 (People that cant supply their own living ((not working class)) and need to depend on a care giver/ care assistant to survive)

• Under the age of 15 and over the Age of 65

• What is the demand being placed on the working age population to provide for the dependent population?

  • Youth dependency

  • Elderly Dependency

Impacts of Dependency Ration

• High dependency ratio=

  • of people not working

  • Not earnign an income

  • Not payign taxes

    • Dependent on state care?

    • Schools?

    • Living facilities?

    • Hospitals?

• Working population face =

  • Higher taxes

Lense of Analysis

Economic

• The elderly pay less income taxes

• Supported by a govt sponsored retirement funds

• As life expectancy increases, so do healthcare costs

  • Are there infrastructure and healthcare workers available?

• Provide opportunities for employment in the elder care industry: geriatric physical therapists, in-home healthcare providers

• Volunteer work

Social

• Traditional families → Bride moves into her husband's family’s residence

  • Culture is changing

• Living facilities for the elderly

• Provide social support to families → babysitting, keeping families togesther

Political

• Typically the most politically active group in many places

• Different perspective on political issues: healthcare, retirement

Sex ratio

Sex ratio: The proportion of makes to females in a population

• Important to examine at multiple scales!

• What would cause fewer women or fewer men in a society

  • War

  • Insufficient healthcare for women

  • Migration

  • Gendercide/ Sex- selective Abortions