👪 POPUTATION COMPOSITION
Sex Composition
- The ratio between the number of women and men in the population is called the Sex Ratio.
- In some countries it is calculated by using the formula: Male Population/ Female Population × 1000. In India, the sex ratio is worked out using the formula: Female Population/ Male Population × 1000
- In regions where gender discrimination is rampant, the sex ratio is bound to be unfavourable to women. Such areas are those where the practice of female foeticide, female infanticide and domestic violence against women are prevalent. One of the reasons could be lower socio-economic status of women in these areas.
- On an average, the world population reflects a sex ratio of 990 females per 1000 males. The highest sex ratio in the world has been recorded in Latvia which is 1187 females per 1000 males. In contrast, the lowest sex ratio occurs in U.A.E. which is 468 females per 1000 males.
- The sex ratio is favourable for females in 139 countries of the world and unfavourable for them in the remaining 72 countries listed by the United Nations.
- In general, Asia has a low sex ratio. Countries like China, India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan have a lower sex ratio. A deficit of males in the populations of many European countries is attributed to better status of women.
Age Structure
The age structure of a population refers to the number of people of different age groups. It is divided into three groups i.e. children (0-14 years), adult or working population (15-59 years) and old or ageing population (60 years and above).
Age Sex Pyramid
- The age-sex structure of a population refers to the number of females and males in different age groups. A population pyramid is used to show the age-sex structure of the population.
- Expanding Population : A triangular pyramid with a wide base due to high birth rate is mostly in less developed countries like Nigeria, Mexico and Bangladesh.
- Constant Population : A bell shaped pyramid and tapered towards the top shows almost equal birth and death rates like in Australia.
- Declining Population : A pyramid with narrow base and top wife a wider central part shows low birth and death rates. This is in developed countries like Japan.
Rural Urban Composition
- The division of rural and urban areas based on residence, indicates the pattern of occupations and social conditions.
- In general terms rural areas are those where people are engaged in primary activities and urban areas are those when majority of the working population is engaged in non-primary activities.
- In countries like India, female participation in farming activity in rural areas is fairly high.
- Shortage of housing, high cost of living, paucity of job opportunities and lack of security in cities, discourage women to migrate from rural to urban areas.
- In developed countries like Canada, West European countries, females outnumber males in urban areas while in developing countries like Nepal and Pakistan, it is vice versa.
Literacy
- Proportion of the literate population of a country in an indicator of its socio-economic development as it reveals the standard of living, social status of females, availability of educational facilities and policies of government.
- India – literacy rate denotes the percentage of population above 7 years of age, who is able to read, write and have the ability to do arithmetic calculations with understanding.
Occupational Structure
- The working population (women and men between 15-59) take part in various occupations.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining are classified as primary activities; manufacturing as secondary; transport, communication and other services as tertiary: jobs related to research and developing ideas as quaternary activities.
- The proportion of working population engaged in these four sectors is a good indicator of the levels of economic development of a nation.
- This is because only a developed economy with industries and infrastructure can accommodate more workers in the secondary, tertiary and quaternary sector. If the economy is still in the primitive stages, then the proportion of people engaged in primary activities world be high.
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