chapter-3 population composition

8/13/2019 CHAPTER-3 Population Composition

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3CHAPTER POPULATION COMPOSITIONDefine the terms -

1. Population composition: The term population composition refers to thedistinguishing attributes of population of a country such as occupation,

education, life expectancy, age, sex, place of residence, etc.

2. Sex ratio: The ratio between the number of women and men in the populationis called sex ratio. It is calculated by two different methods according to the

number of women or men in the country. In India it is calculated by:

In other countries it is calculated by:

3. Age structures: The number of people in different age-groups is referred to asage structures.

4. Population pyramid is a diagram which is used to show the age-sex structureof the population number of females and males in different age groups!. The

shape of the pyramid reflects the characteristics of a population.

5. "iteracy rate is defined as the percentage of people abo#e $ years of age,who is able to read and write and ha#e the ability to do arithmetic calculations

with understanding.

6. %ccupational structure : The proportional distribution of acti#e populationunder specific economic acti#ities is &nown as occupational structure.

$.

SEX COMPOSITION

'.( )hat is the a#erage sex ratio in the world* In which countries+regions the sexratio is fa#ourable or unfa#ourable. i#e any four reasons for this imbalance

in the sex ratio in the world.Ans. The a#erage sex ratio in the world is females per ( males. The

highest sex ratio in the world has been recorded in "at#ia which is ((/$females per ( males. In contrast, the lowest sex ratio occurs in 0.A.1.

which is 23/ females per ( males.In Asian countries its low due to:

i. ender discrimination, which is widespread.

ii. 4igh female death during childbirth.iii. "ower socio-economic status of women.

iv. 4igh female infant mortality due to negligence and lac& of medicalfacilities.

#. Preference to male child which results in high female foeticide and

female infanticide.#i. 5omestic #iolence against women.

In 1uropean countries its high due to:i. 5ue to better status of female in the society.

ii. 5ue to excessi#e male-dominated out-migration to different parts ofthe world.

SuryaVeer Singh Page 1 of 3 10/22/2009


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AGE STRUCTURE'.6 4ow the age structure is considered an important indicator of population

composition*Ans. It is an important indicator of population composition due to following:

a. If there are large numbers of young people below (7 years! it meansthat region has high birth rate and the population is said to beyouthful.

b. If there are large numbers of adults between (7 to 7 years! it meansthat country has large wor&ing population.

c. If there are large numbers of old people abo#e 3 years! it meansthat birth rates are low and the population is said to be ageing which

re8uire more expenditure on health care facilities.

+'.6 )hat are the three types of population pyramid*

Ans. The three &inds of shapes are:

a. Constant popuation p!rami": It is bell shaped pyramid whichtapers towards the top. It shows that the birth and death rates arealmost e8ual. Australian population shows this &ind of shape.

b. E#pan"in$ popuation P!rami": It is triangular shaped pyramid.This &ind of shape is found with the de#eloping countries pyramid.

It has wide base which shows that the country has a high birth rateand a large young population. The population of 9igeria,

angladesh and ;exico represents this shape.

c. De%inin$ popuation p!rami": This pyramid has a narrow baseand narrow top. It shows that the birth and death rates are

declining. ural Population.6. 0rban Population.

?haracteristics of >ural Population:

a. In western countries ?anada @ inland! males outnumber females inrural areas. ;ales stay in rural areas due to farming acti#ities which ishighly mechaniBed.

b. In countries of Asia li&e 9epal, Pa&istan and India! female outnumbermales in rural areas. In rural areas the female participation in farming

acti#ity fairly high. Shortage of housing, high cost of li#ing, lac& of Cob

opportunities and lac& of security in cities, discourage women tomigrate from rural to urban areas.?haracteristics of 0rban Population:

a. In )estern countries, females outnumber the males in urban areas.The excess of females in urban areas of 1urope is the result ofmigration of females from rural areas to urban areas to ta&e

ad#antage of the #ast Cob opportunities.



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b. In countries li&e 9epal, Pa&istan and India males outnumber thefemales in urban areas. ;ale domination is due to the maleimmigration from rural areas in search of better Cobs.

&ITERAC)

'.2 ;ention fi#e factors which affects the literacy rate in the world.

Ans. The factors which affect the literacy rate are:i. "e#els of economic de#elopment: - low income countries ha#e low literacy

rates.

ii. 0rbaniBation and standard of li#ing: - literacy rate is high in urban areas thanin rural areas. ?ountries with high human de#elopment ha#e high literacy

rates.

iii. Social status of females: - countries in which females are gi#en e8ual statusand role in the society ha#e high literacy rates.

i#. A#ailability of educational facilities.

v. Policies of the go#ernment. unds and expenditures on education by thego#ernment influence literacy rates.

OCCUPATIONA& STRUCTURE'.7 1xplain 2 groups of occupational structure.Ans. The four maCor groups of occupation are:

a. Primary acti#ities : it includes hunting, agriculture, forestry and fishing.

b. Secondary acti#ities : it includes manufacturing and power.

c. Tertiary acti#ities : it includes transport, communication and other ser#ices.d. 'uaternary acti#ities : it includes more intellectual occupations, whose tas& is

to thin&, research and de#eloped ideas.

+'.7 )hy there are significant #ariations among different countries in the

occupational structure* OR

;ention the relationship between occupational structure and le#els ofeconomic de#elopment.

Ans.

i. If the economy is less de#eloped than the proportion of wor&ing population inprimary acti#ities is high.

ii. If the proportion of wor&ing population is high in secondary and tertiaryacti#ities, if the economy is more de#eloped.

iii. As the economy de#elops, more and more people are seen wor&ing in tertiaryacti#ities.


chapter-3 population composition

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