Question

What is the age structure of a population. Explain how it affects population growth and economic growth. What are some problems related to rapid population decline due to an aging population?

Answer 1

Age structure is term used to describe the composition of a population in terms of the proportions of individuals of different ages. This is typically represented using an age structure diagram, which is a bar graph with age ranges on the Y-axis with younger ages at the bottom, and males and females on either side.

As you can see, rapidly growing populations tend to have higher birth and immigration rates than death and emigration rates. On the other hand, in populations where birth rates and immigration rates are in decline, the proportion of older individuals post the reproductive/working age grows while younger individuals capable of working and reproducing are comparatively lesser. The increased life expectancy of people due to improvements in quality of life and modern medicine has lead to more people surviving into old age. The decline in birth rates along with a growing population of older individuals post the reproductive age can lead to an ageing population. An ageing population is never good for a country as it has more mouths to feed who are not contributing to the society by working or reproducing, thereby straining the finances of a nation. A population that is rapidly growing with a high birth rate is typically good for the economy as it would ensure a steady labour force and more working individuals who act as workers and consumers which can keep the economy robust and healthy, and able to care for everyone. A population that is declining must prioritize getting more people to contribute to productive activities, by encouraging immigration, or by employing older individuals and women who are typically underutilized in the workforce.

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