Building Map and Data Skills

Name: Grade: (25 possible)

Worksheet 4: Population Geography (25 Points)

Population Pyramids

The population pyramid is a useful tool for analyzing the age structure of a population and the demographic changes within that population over the past two to three generations. It consists of two back-to-back bar graphs. The number or percentage of people in each age group, by gender (females make up one side of the bar graph, males the other), is indicated on the horizontal axis. The vertical axis indicates the different age groups, or cohorts, usually in 5-year intervals.

Go to the U.S. Census Bureau International Data Base page – direct link on the Links page on the class web site: http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/informationGateway.php Select the desired country and year then click Submit. After data is generated, click Population Pyramids.

1. Generate population pyramids using 2012 data/estimates for the following four countries:  China  India  Russia  United States Print out of the 4 pyramids and turn them in with this worksheet. (6 points) (Right click on the pyramid after generated. Select “Save as” to save each .png. In word paste and print – all four pyramids on 1 page if possible).

2. Compare and contrast the four population pyramids. What noticeable differences are there? Discuss aspects of the human, cultural, economic and historical geography of these four countries that help account for the differences. (7 points)

Demographic Data

1. Go to the Population Reference Bureau (http://www.prb.org/) to complete the table below. (6 points)

Map and Data Worksheet 4 – Population Geography: p. 1 of 2 Click on the 2011 World Population Data Sheet, and search the charts on pages 6-13 to find the requested information. You may access the PRB World Population Data Sheet.pdf directly from the Links page on the class web site.

Demographic Variables China India Norway Russia USA (1) Birth Rate (CBR): annual number of births per 1,000 population (2) Death Rate (CDR): annual number of deaths per 1,000 population (3 ) RNI (Rate of Natural Increase): birth rate minus death rate expressed as a %. (CBR – CDR)/1000 (4) 2050 Population as a Multiple of 2011 projected % population change 2011 – 2050 (5) Infant Mortality Rate: infant deaths per 1,000 live births (6) Total Fertility Rate (TFR): average number of children a woman bears (7) Population Age < 15 (%): percent of population younger than 15 years old (8) Population Age 65+ (%): percent of population older than 65 years old (9) Life Expectancy at Birth, Both Sexes: average number of years a newborn infant can expect to live under current mortality rates (10) Urban Population (%): % of total population living in towns of 2,000 or more (11) % Married Women Using Contraception Includes all methods (12) GNI PPP Per Capita, 2009 (US$) Gross national income in purchasing power equity (international dollars) divided by midyear population

2. Select 1 of the demographic variables (1-12) that you found most interesting and/or surprising across the 5 countries. What does it reflect about differences/similarities between the 5 countries? Explain/discuss. (6 points)

Map and Data Worksheet 4 – Population Geography: p. 2 of 2