Population Distribution SS1 Economics Lesson Note

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION OR STRUCTURE

Population distribution refers to how the population of a given country is distributed into certain categories such as age, sex, occupation and geographical distribution.

AGE DISTRIBUTION

This refers to the breakdown of the population of a particular country into age groups.  This age distribution which varies from country to country is derived from population census figures.   However, the population of a country can be divided into the following age groups.  These are:

1. 0-17 years include infants, children, and pupils in nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.  This age group is called the dependent population
2. 18-60 years is popularly referred to as the active population or working population or labor force.  (Independent population).
3. 60 years and above is the old age (dependent population).

The summary, the age distribution of any given population can be grouped as follows;

1. 0-17 years is children (dependent population)
2. 18-60 years is adult (working population or labor force)
3. 60 years and above old age (dependent population)

ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OR EFFECTS OF INCREASE IN THE POPULATION OF DEPENDANTS

1. There will be a high demand for goods and services required by the dependent population
2. Imports will increase
3. Increase in government expenditure
4. There will be in the standard of living
5. There will be low savings and low investments

OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION

The occupational distribution of a population refers to the classification of the working population into different types of work they engage in.  The occupation distribution in any population is influenced by several facts.  These include:

1. The level of education
2. Availability of natural resources
3. The level of technology
4. The types of productive activities

However, occupational as a whole can be classified into four major principal divisions namely; extractive, manufacturing and constructive, commercial, direct and indirect services.

SEX DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION

Sex distribution of population refers to the classification of the population according to sex or gender (i.e. male and female).

Sex distribution can easily be obtained from a population census of a given country which shows the total number of males and the total number of females.

Knowledge of the total number of males and females in a country will assist the government in making the necessary plans to cater for the population.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION

The geographical distribution of a given population refers to how people are spread over a given geographical area in terms of where they live.

In Nigeria for example, the population is not equally spread or distributed.  Some areas are highly populated while others are poorly populated.