Chapter 3 Population Composition

Sex Composition

Population composition describes the diverse characteristics of people in a country, such as age, sex, place of residence, occupation, education, and life expectancy.

The number of women and men in a population is a fundamental demographic feature. The relationship between the number of females and males is known as the Sex Ratio.

The formula for calculating sex ratio varies by country:

Some countries: $\frac{\textsf{Male Population}}{\textsf{Female Population}} \times 1000$ (Males per 1000 Females)

India: $\frac{\textsf{Female Population}}{\textsf{Male Population}} \times 1000$ (Females per 1000 Males)

The sex ratio provides crucial insight into the status of women in a society. A sex ratio unfavourable to women (fewer females per thousand males) often indicates societal issues like gender discrimination, female foeticide, female infanticide, or domestic violence.

It's important to note that a higher number of women doesn't automatically imply a better status; it could sometimes be due to men migrating elsewhere for work.

Natural Advantage V/s Social Disadvantage

Biologically, females tend to be more resilient than males, giving them a natural advantage. However, this advantage is often negated by social disadvantages and discrimination faced by women in many parts of the world.

Globally, the average sex ratio is around 102 males per 100 females.

Latvia has the world's highest sex ratio favorable to females (85 males per 100 females), while Qatar has an extremely low sex ratio (311 males per 100 females).

The sex ratio pattern is relatively consistent in developed regions but varies in others.

Based on the UN list, sex ratio is favourable to females in 139 countries and unfavourable in 72 countries.

Generally, Asia exhibits a low sex ratio (e.g., China, India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan).

In contrast, large parts of Europe (including Russia) have a deficit of males. This is often attributed to a better status for women and significant male out-migration historically.

Age Structure

Age structure describes the distribution of population across different age groups. It is a vital component of population composition.

A large proportion of the population in the 15-59 age group signifies a large potential workforce or working population.

A higher proportion of people aged 60 and above indicates an ageing population, which typically requires increased investment in healthcare and social services.

A large share of the young population suggests a high birth rate and a generally youthful population.

Age-Sex Pyramid

The age-sex structure specifically looks at the number of females and males within different age brackets.

A population pyramid is a graphical representation used to visualize the age-sex structure of a population. The shape of the pyramid reveals important characteristics about the population's dynamics.

Conventionally, the left side of the pyramid shows the percentage or number of males in each age group, while the right side displays the percentage or number of females in the same age groups. Age groups are typically stacked vertically.

Expanding Populations

These are characteristic of less developed countries where birth rates are high.

Their age-sex pyramids are typically triangular-shaped with a wide base, indicating a large proportion of young people.

Example: Nigeria, Bangladesh, Mexico.

Constant Population

These populations have birth and death rates that are roughly equal, resulting in little to no population growth.

Their age-sex pyramids are often bell-shaped and taper towards the top.

Example: Australia.

Declining Populations

These populations have low birth and death rates, often resulting in zero or even negative population growth.

Their pyramids have a narrow base and a tapered top, reflecting fewer young people and a higher proportion of older individuals compared to expanding populations.

Example: Japan.

Ageing Population

This is a recent demographic trend where the proportion of older people (usually 60+) in the population significantly increases.

It is prevalent in most developed countries due to increased life expectancy and declining birth rates, which reduce the relative share of children in the population.

Rural Urban Composition

Populations are divided into rural and urban based on their place of residence.

This distinction is significant because rural and urban areas differ greatly in lifestyle, economic activities, social conditions, population density, age-sex structure, occupational structure, and development levels.

The definition of 'rural' and 'urban' varies between countries.

Generally, rural areas are those where the majority of people are engaged in primary activities (like agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining).

Urban areas are where most of the working population is involved in non-primary activities (secondary, tertiary, quaternary sectors).

Sex ratio differences exist between rural and urban areas, and these differences vary across the world.

In Western countries (e.g., Canada, Finland, USA, Western Europe):

• Males tend to outnumber females in rural areas.
• Females tend to outnumber males in urban areas.

This pattern is largely due to the migration of women from rural areas to urban areas seeking better job opportunities. Also, mechanised farming in developed countries is often a male-dominated occupation.

In countries like Nepal, Pakistan, and India:

• The situation is often reversed, with urban areas being male-dominated.
• The female participation in farming in rural areas is relatively high.

The male dominance in urban areas in some Asian countries is linked to male-led migration for work. Factors like limited housing, high cost of living, fewer job prospects for women, and perceived lack of security in cities can discourage women from migrating to urban centres in these regions.

Literacy

The proportion of the literate population is a strong indicator of a country's socio-economic development.

It reflects the standard of living, the social status of women, the availability of educational facilities, and the effectiveness of government policies related to education.

The level of economic development is interconnected with literacy; they influence each other.

In India, the literacy rate is defined as the percentage of the population aged 7 years and above who can read, write, and perform basic arithmetic calculations with understanding.

Occupational Structure

The working population (typically aged 15 to 59 years) is engaged in various economic activities, which constitute the occupational structure.

These activities are broadly classified into four sectors:

• Primary Activities: Involve the extraction of natural resources (e.g., agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining).
• Secondary Activities: Involve manufacturing and processing raw materials (e.g., manufacturing, construction).
• Tertiary Activities: Provide services (e.g., trade, transport, communication, services).
• Quaternary Activities: Involve information, research, development, and high-level services (e.g., jobs related to IT, research).

The proportion of the working population engaged in these sectors is a key indicator of a nation's level of economic development.

In economies that are still in their early stages (primitive), a large proportion of the population is typically engaged in primary activities.

More developed economies with strong industrial and service sectors can support a higher proportion of workers in secondary, tertiary, and quaternary activities.

Exercises

This section contains questions and activities for review and practice based on the concepts discussed in the chapter.