Chapter 3

Population Structure

1. Choose the answer from the following four options.

(i) Which of the following has caused the sex ratio in the United Arab Republic to decline:-

a) by migration of selected working male population,

b) by high male birth rates,

c) By low birth rate of women.

d) by high rates of female outmigration.

Answer:  a) By migration of selected working male population.

(ii) Which of the following signs depicts the working age group of the population:-

a) 15 to 65 years, b) 15 to 64 years,

c) 15 to 66 years, d) 15 to 59 years.

Answer: d) 15 to 59 years.

(ii) Which of the following countries has the highest sex ratio in the world:-

a) Latvia, b) United Arab Republic,

c) Japan, d) France.

Answer: a) Latvia 

2. Write the answers to the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) What is meant by population components?

Answer:  a) The components of population are age structure, male-female ratio, literacy, residence, occupation etc.

(ii) How can the sex ratio be measured?

Answer:  Some countries calculate it by a formula. Or the number of men per 1,000 women. 

3. Write answers to the following questions in 150 words.

(i) Describe the rural, urban components of the population.

Answer: Population can be divided into rural and urban based on place of residence. This division is necessary, as it is understood by the differences in rural and urban lifestyles, their lifestyles and social status. There are differences in age-gender-occupation structure, population density and level of development between rural and urban areas.

        The policy of separating rural and urban populations varies from country to country. In general, rural areas are areas where people are engaged in primary activities and urban areas are areas where the population is engaged in non-primary activities.

        The rural-urban sex ratio differences in Canada and Western European countries such as Finland are in stark contrast to those in African and Asian countries such as Zimbabwe and Nepal respectively. In Western countries, the number of men outnumbers women in rural areas and the number of women outnumbers men in urban areas. The opposite is true in countries like Nepal, Pakistan and India. The number of women in the United States, Canada and European cities is high due to the influx of women from rural areas to access widespread job opportunities. In such developing countries, agriculture is highly mechanized and predominantly a male occupation. In contrast, the gender ratio in urban areas of Asia is male dominated due to the predominance of male migration. It is noteworthy that in rural areas of countries like India, the participation of women in agriculture is reasonably high. Lack of housing, expensive lifestyle, lack of job opportunities and lack of security discourage women from migrating from rural areas to urban areas .

(ii) Describe the factors of gender-age imbalance and occupational formation seen in different parts of the world.

Answer:  Age Gender of Nigeria The pyramidal column is a triangular column with a wide area and is ideal for low developing countries. Due to its high birth rate, it has a much higher young population. The columns of Bangladesh and Mexico look similar.

The Australian age-gender pyramid is bell-shaped and tapers upwards. This shows that the birth and death rates are almost equal, which refers to an unchanging population.

Japan's steeply sloping pyramidal column shows poor birth and death rates. In general, population growth in developing countries is zero or negative.

Q) Write the formula for deriving the longevity ratio in India?

Answer: