4.3: Age structure diagrams

One of the tools that demographers use to understand populations is the age structure diagram. This diagram shows the distribution by ages of females and males within a certain population in graphic form. Figure $\PageIndex{1}$ shows a diagram for the United States population. In this diagram, the ages are arranged so that age ranges are grouped together, for example: 0 – 4 years, 5 – 9 years, and so on. The population of each group is represented as a bar extending from a central vertical line, with the length of each bar dependent upon the total population for that particular group. The centerline separates the females from the males. The female and male populations for each group are represented by the distance from the centerline, with females on the right and males on the left.

Figure $\PageIndex{1}$: Age Structure diagram for the U.S. in 2000

By looking closely at the age structure diagram, one will notice slightly more boys in the younger age groups than girls; however, the ratio tends to reverse in the upper age groups, when females tend to outnumber males. Many countries have a female majority as a result of the longer life expectancy for females.

The following age structure diagrams (Figure $\PageIndex{2}$) show the United States in 2005 and 2010. Please note the slightly different x-axes scale on these diagrams compared to the 2000 diagram above (Figure $\PageIndex{1}$). You can see the ageing group of baby boomers move upward when you compare these 3 age structure diagrams. There are also more elderly (80+) individuals, especially women, in 2005 and 2010.

Figure $\PageIndex{2}$: Age Structure diagram for the U.S. in 2005 and 2010.

An age-structure diagram provides a snapshot of the current population and can represent information about the past and give potential clues about future problems. When you are interpreting age-structure diagrams, it is important to compare the width of the base to the rest of the population. If the base is very wide compared to the upper parts of the diagram, then this indicates a lot of young people (pre-reproductive) in the population compared to older generations i.e. a high birth rate and a rapidly growing population. If the base is smaller than the upper parts of the diagram, then this indicates few young people in the population compared to older generations (post-reproductive). This population has low birth rates and is shrinking.