Theory question 101
PopulationSection A (answer one question only from this section)
A pie-chart shows the age distribution of a population: 0-17 years 162°; 18-54 yrs 90°; 55+ years 108°. The total population is 120 million. The official school-leaving age is 18 years while the official retiring age is 55 years.
(a) From the above information, calculate the: (i) population of children between 0 and 17 years (ii) population of old people (55 + years); (iii) working population (18 - 54 years)
(b) What is the economic implication of the above population structure?
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(a)(i) 162/360 × 120m = 54 million
(ii) 108/360 × 120m = 36 million
(iii) 90/360 × 120m = 30 million
(b) Dependants = 54m + 36m = 90m (75%), workers only 30m (25%): a very high dependency ratio (3 : 1). Implications:
- Heavy burden on the working population; high taxes.
- Low savings and low investment, so slow growth.
- High government spending on education, health and pensions.
- High demand for goods may cause inflation and more imports, worsening the balance of payments.
- Low standard of living; pressure on social amenities.
- Small labour force limits output.
Angle ÷ 360 × total gives each group.