Population Pyramid Shape Classifier
Classify a pyramid as expansive when the young share exceeds the old share by more than half a point, constrictive when the reverse holds, stationary when they are equal within half a point, and report the age-dependency ratio.
Description
Classify a pyramid as expansive when the young share exceeds the old share by more than half a point, constrictive when the reverse holds, stationary when they are equal within half a point, and report the age-dependency ratio.
Classify a pyramid as expansive when the young share exceeds the old share by more than half a point, constrictive when the reverse holds, stationary when they are equal within half a point, and report the age-dependency ratio.1
When to use Population Pyramid Shape Classifier
Use this indicator to compare age-sex structure after placing every count in the stated age bands and using the same population reference date.
- Young %
- Percent of the population aged 0-14.
- Working %
- Percent of the population aged 15-64.
- Old %
- Percent of the population aged 65 and over.
How the method works
- Shape
- Classic pyramid-shape classification.
- Dependency
- Dependency ratio (young plus old) per 100 working-age persons.
Limitations and assumptions
Fixed age thresholds are conventions rather than biological boundaries. Migration, cohort shocks, institutional populations, and different age-band definitions can alter comparisons.
Alternative or Complementary measures
Show the underlying age-sex counts or population pyramid beside the summary ratio. Alternative dependency thresholds can test whether a conclusion depends on one conventional age boundary.
References
-
Population pyramid — Wikipedia contributors
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