Reading and Interpreting Population Pyramids

Question

This activity will help you meet this educational goal:
You will examine and interpret the population pyramid of a country.
Directions
Read the instructions for this self-checked activity. Type in your response to each question, and check your answers. At the end of the activity, write a brief evaluation of your work.
Activity
Examine the population pyramid of Kenya and answer the questions.

a graph showing the male and female population of Kenya in 2010 based on age

Part A
What were the four largest age groups, both male and female, in Kenya in 2010? What was the total population of these age groups?

Space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000
Part B
Assuming that most of the workforce is between the ages of 20 and 64, approximately how many people were in the workforce in Kenya in 2010?

Space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000
Part C
Looking at your answers from parts A and B, what conclusions can you draw about the economic situation in countries such as Kenya?

Space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000
Part D
Question
Using the drawing tool, draw a shape based on the age ranges in the diagram that would provide a bigger workforce and a stronger, more sustainable economy.

a graph showing the male and female population of Kenya in 2010 based on age

Lines

Shapes

Fill:
Line:
Width:
2 pt

Self-Evaluation
How did you do? Rate your work on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 as the highest score. Then write a brief evaluation of your work. Note what you learned and what challenged you.

Answer 1

I can't directly access or view the population pyramid of Kenya from 2010, but I can help you understand how to analyze it and provide information on typical trends found in such pyramids. Here's how you would approach the questions based on a general understanding of population pyramids.

Part A

To analyze the population pyramid for Kenya in 2010:

1. Identify the largest age groups: Look for the age groups with the widest bars (i.e., highest population) for both males and females. Typically, you may find that the largest groups are:

   • Children (ages 0-4 or 5-9)
   • Young adults (ages 10-14 or 15-19)
   • More mature adults (ages 20-24 or 25-29)
   • Adults (ages 30-34 or 35-39)

2. Total population: To find the total population of these age groups, you would sum the values of each group (both male and female) from the pyramid.

Part B

Assuming the workforce is generally denoted as ages 20 to 64, you would:

1. Identify the relevant age groups in the pyramid. Typically, you would look for the age groups 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, and 60-64.
2. Sum the populations of these groups for both males and females to get the approximate workforce population.

Part C

From your answers in Parts A and B:

1. Economic conclusions could include:
   • A large youthful population may indicate high potential for economic growth if there are enough jobs and educational opportunities.
   • In contrast, high dependency ratios (more dependents than workers) can strain the economy.
   • Issues such as high rates of unemployment or underemployment might arise if the population grows faster than the job market.

Part D

For the drawing tool:

1. Shape representing a bigger workforce: You would want to depict a balanced age distribution more heavily weighted towards the middle age groups (i.e., the "working-age" population). This would suggest a need for policies that foster economic opportunities for young people while ensuring a smaller elderly population, indicating better health and longevity among the working-age populace.

Self-Evaluation

• Rating: (Self-reflect based on your understanding, say a score of 4).
• Evaluation: You might state that you learned how crucial the age structure of a population is for understanding economic potential. You may have found it challenging to pick the exact numbers from the pyramid, which requires careful observation.

Suggestions for Improvement

In your evaluation, consider suggesting ways in which you could improve your analysis skills, such as looking at more pyramids from different countries or years to see how demographics change over time, as well as understanding socioeconomic effects more deeply.

Feel free to ask if you need clarification on any of the approaches mentioned!