Sign up to access the complete lesson and track your progress!
Unlock This CourseEvery country has a mix of young and old people. In some countries the mix is tilted heavily one way. The shape of the pyramid (see Population Pyramids and Population Structure) tells you which.
Key terms:
High birth rates mean many babies are born every year. Reasons include little access to family planning, a wish for large families to help with work, and high child death rates in the past. The base of the pyramid gets wider with each new group of children.
Low birth rates mean few children are born, so the base shrinks. Long life expectancy means people live well into old age, thanks to good healthcare, a good diet and clean water. Together these push the share of older people up.
Example: Uganda has a youthful population. Almost half of its people are under 15. Italy has an ageing population. It has a low fertility rate, about 1.2 children per woman, and many people live into their 80s.
A youthful population is not bad in itself. It brings problems and opportunities.
| Type of impact | Negative | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| Social | Not enough schools and teachers. Not enough healthcare for children. Not enough housing. | Lots of energy and new ideas. A growing, lively society. |
| Economic | Many dependants and few earners. Not enough jobs for the young people leaving school. Money spent on children, not saved. | A big future workforce. Plenty of young workers who can earn and pay taxes. |
| Environmental | More people need food, water, fuel and land. Forests may be cleared for farms and homes. | Few direct benefits. A large young generation can be taught to protect the environment. |
The impacts happen at several scales. Locally, a village school may have 80 children in one class. Nationally, the government has to find money for thousands of new classrooms.
| Type of impact | Negative | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| Social | Many older people need care, and care homes can be full. Some live alone, and rural villages may lose their young people. | Older people pass on skills and experience. Many give time as volunteers. |
| Economic | Fewer workers, so fewer taxes. Pension and healthcare costs rise. Businesses struggle to find staff. | The grey pound: older people spend money on travel, leisure and services, which creates jobs. |
| Environmental | Few direct environmental negatives. Some rural villages and farmland may be left empty or neglected as people move away. | Lower pressure on land, water and resources as the population stops growing. |
Locally, a small town may need more care homes and fewer primary schools, and some schools close. Nationally, the government must pay for pensions and healthcare with a smaller group of taxpayers. Regionally and globally, ageing countries compete for the same migrant workers, and many young people from youthful countries move abroad to find jobs.
Invest in education. Build schools and train teachers so young people gain skills for jobs. For example, Uganda introduced free primary education in 1997. This costs a lot and needs many teachers.
Raise the retirement age. People work longer, so there are more workers and fewer pensions to pay. In the UK, the state pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028.
Exam questions often ask you to weigh things up. Use these ideas.
A response is sustainable if it can keep working over many years without running out of money or harming people or the environment.
Saying a youthful population is "bad" or an ageing one is "good" without explaining. Both have positives and negatives. Another mistake is listing impacts without saying who is affected (local, national) or whether they are social, economic or environmental.
Study Fig. 1.1, which shows made-up data for two countries.
| Age group | Country S (%) | Country T (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 0-14 years | 44 | 14 |
| 15-64 years | 53 | 60 |
| 65 years and over | 3 | 26 |
Fig. 1.1
(a) Identify which country has an ageing population. [1 mark]
(b) Describe one difference between the two countries. [2 marks]
(c) Explain one reason why Country S has a youthful population. [2 marks]
(d) Evaluate the impacts of an ageing population on a country. [6 marks]
(a) Country T. (1)
(b) Country S has 44% of its people aged 0-14, but Country T has only 14%. (1) Country T has 26% aged 65 and over, but Country S has only 3%. (1)
(c) Country S probably has a high birth rate (1) because families are large and many people have little access to family planning, so many children are born each year. (1)
(d) An ageing population has negative impacts. The government must pay more for pensions and healthcare, and there are fewer workers paying taxes, so the cost falls on a smaller group. Socially, more care homes are needed and some older people live alone. There are also positives. Older people spend money, the grey pound, which creates jobs, and many do volunteer work. Overall the negatives are probably bigger, because the cost of care and pensions is high, though the country can reduce the problem by raising the retirement age or encouraging migrants.
Top level (5-6 marks): both negative and positive impacts, each developed with explanation, in more than one category (social, economic), and a clear judgement supported by reasons. Middle level (3-4): several impacts with some explanation, but one-sided or no clear judgement. Lowest level (1-2): simple, undeveloped statements.
In an "Evaluate" question, give both sides and then finish with a clear judgement of your own, using a phrase such as "Overall, the negatives outweigh the positives because...".