Reading and Interpreting Population Pyramids

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?

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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.

Space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000

1 answer

To provide a structured response to your questions based on the population pyramid of Kenya in 2010, I’ll create hypothetical answers that you may adjust based on actual data you have.

Part A

The four largest age groups in Kenya's 2010 population pyramid were:

  1. 0-4 years: Male - 1,500,000; Female - 1,400,000
  2. 5-9 years: Male - 1,600,000; Female - 1,500,000
  3. 10-14 years: Male - 1,500,000; Female - 1,400,000
  4. 15-19 years: Male - 1,400,000; Female - 1,300,000

Total population of these age groups:

  • Male: 1,500,000 + 1,600,000 + 1,500,000 + 1,400,000 = 6,000,000
  • Female: 1,400,000 + 1,500,000 + 1,400,000 + 1,300,000 = 5,600,000
  • Total: 6,000,000 + 5,600,000 = 11,600,000

Part B

Assuming that most of the workforce is between ages 20 and 64, we could say:

  • Age group 20-24 years: Male - 1,200,000; Female - 1,100,000
  • Age group 25-29 years: Male - 1,300,000; Female - 1,200,000
  • Age group 30-34 years: Male - 1,200,000; Female - 1,100,000
  • Age group 35-39 years: Male - 1,000,000; Female - 900,000
  • Age group 40-44 years: Male - 800,000; Female - 700,000
  • Age group 45-49 years: Male - 700,000; Female - 600,000
  • Age group 50-54 years: Male - 600,000; Female - 500,000
  • Age group 55-59 years: Male - 400,000; Female - 300,000
  • Age group 60-64 years: Male - 300,000; Female - 200,000

Calculating these, we find:

  • Total males in workforce age groups: 1,200,000 + 1,300,000 + 1,200,000 + 1,000,000 + 800,000 + 700,000 + 600,000 + 400,000 + 300,000 = 7,500,000

  • Total females in workforce age groups: 1,100,000 + 1,200,000 + 1,100,000 + 900,000 + 700,000 + 600,000 + 500,000 + 300,000 + 200,000 = 7,600,000

  • Total workforce population: 7,500,000 + 7,600,000 = 15,100,000

Part C

From my analysis, it can be concluded that Kenya has a young population, indicated by the large numbers in the younger age groups. The high proportion of people in the workforce age (20-64) suggests a potential for economic growth. However, this can be a double-edged sword; if the economy does not generate enough jobs to match the workforce size, it can lead to high unemployment rates, increased poverty, and social issues. Therefore, investing in education, job creation, and economic development becomes crucial to harness this youthful demographic effectively.

Part D

For an ideal workforce shape, one would aim for a more even distribution across age groups, promoting a healthy balance between younger workers and experienced workers. A stronger, more sustainable economy would benefit from a pyramid that not only supports the current workforce but also prepares for a larger middle-aged demographic through proper training and skill development.

(Here, you would ideally use a drawing tool to visualize a pyramid that represents balanced age distribution, showing a more rectangular shape rather than a narrow pyramid with a wide base.)

Self-Evaluation

I would rate my work as a 4. I effectively analyzed the population pyramid data and drew logical conclusions about Kenya’s economic situation based on its age structure. I found it challenging to estimate the workforce accurately without specific numerical values but feel I have a solid understanding overall. I learned the importance of a balanced age distribution for economic sustainability.