Population Pyramids
Beyond endless lists of numbers, statistics enable us, when the data is presented visually, to draw far-reaching conclusions. In the following video, Kim Preshoff presents population pyramids – a visual representation of the population data of a country. He shows population pyramids of various countries and how these pyramids allow us to learn about the countries’ past and predict what the future may hold for them.
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Which of these countries has a faster-growing population?Select the correct answer:
Nigeria
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Neither
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Russia
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X axis – years
Y axis – population growth
If we want to fully understand how the graph will look in the future, we need to understand internal factors that we can analyze using graphs that are somewhat different to the ones we’re used to, as we will now see.
According to the graph data, what do you think will happen in Canada in the near future? Select the correct answer:
Normal population growth.
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Slow population growth.
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Rapid population growth.
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The population will gradually decline.
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Looking at the figures on the graph, what do you think will happen in Japan in the near future? Select the correct answer:
Rapid population growth.
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The population will gradually decline.
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Slow population growth.
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Normal population growth.
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In an industrial society, the most important raw material for humanity are natural minerals and their extraction. In contrast, in post-industrial societies, human capital is the most important resource, enabling the production of alternative sources of energy and raw materials using technology and science.
According to the above, countries in advanced stages of industrialization are the ones in which ________ . Select the correct answer by completing the sentence.
There is rapid population growth, as seen in Rwanda.
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By closely inspecting the graph, we can see the impact of historical events both on the population and how the graph looks today. Think of other events that have shaped the graph and let’s consider some examples.
Population Pyramids – An interactive video
Play VideoActivity Overview
In this video, students will gain an understanding of statistical thinking and its daily applications, as well as how this field is used to predict different population growths around the world. Students will see the power and importance of reading graphs, and how, through correct graph interpretation, we can discover a variety of information about past events, the current situation in different countries, and what the future holds. The answers to the questions are inside the video, which includes explanations of the key terms. In addition to the clip itself, answering the questions will take 10-15 minutes.
statistics, graphic representation, diagram.
Knowledge building
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