Part 3 – Population Histograms
1. Look at the population histograms in the IDB Data Base for the U.S. For the 2000 histogram,
compare the number of children, middle aged people and elderly people. Roughly, what
shape does this histogram have (pyramid, inverted pyramid, square, hour-glass, other?)
Based on this histogram, would you say the U.S. was experiencing a rapid growth, slow
growth, no growth or negative growth in population? Why?

2. Now look at the year 2065. How do the number of children, middle aged people, and elderly
people compare? What shape does this histogram have? By the year 2060 would you say
the U.S. population would be experiencing a rapid growth, slow growth, no growth or
negative growth in population? Why?

3. Based on these two histograms, what can you say about our nation’s population growth,
currently and in the near future?

4. Go to IDB Summary Demographic Data. Choose “The World”. Select examples of five other
countries whose populations are experiencing rapid growth, slow growth, no growth, and
negative growth. Draw a sketch of each country’s population histogram (Scroll down to see
it) and label each as rapid growth, slow growth, no growth or negative growth. Also be sure
to name the country for each sketch.
5. How does a histogram’s shape help to display a country’s population growth? What shape
would a population experiencing rapid growth have? Slow growth? No growth? Negative
growth?
6. Look at this graph of World Population Growth. Is there any relationship between how
industrially developed a country and the population growth of that country? Find examples of
more developed countries and less developed countries that support or refute the
information on this chart