Grade 9geographyOriginal practice

Human Geography: Population Pyramids & Demographic Transition

Analyze age-sex population pyramids, birth and death rates, dependency ratios, and the five stages of the Demographic Transition Model (DTM).

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Grade 9 · social studies

Human Geography: Population Pyramids & Demographic Transition

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Human Geography: Population Pyramids & Demographic Transition

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Part A: Demographic Analysis. Evaluate population data and answer the human geography questions below.

1.A developing country exhibits an expansive 'Christmas-tree' shaped population pyramid with a broad base of young children and a rapidly tapering apex. What demographic reality does this shape indicate?

ALow birth rates and an exceptionally long average life expectancy

BHigh crude birth rates (CBR) and high infant mortality, characteristic of rapid population expansion (Stage 2 DTM)

CA negative population growth rate where deaths exceed births

DHigh rates of elderly retirement immigration from other nations

2.In Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model (observed in post-industrial nations like Japan, Germany, and Italy), what trend occurs regarding birth and death rates?

ABirth rates skyrocket while death rates plunge

BBoth birth rates and death rates stabilize at low levels, resulting in near-zero or stationary population growth

CEpidemic diseases cause massive spikes in crude death rates

DInfant mortality increases due to lack of modern hospitals

3.Which societal challenge is MOST directly triggered when a nation develops a high elderly dependency ratio (an inverted urn-shaped pyramid with more retirees than working-age citizens)?

ASevere shortages of elementary schools and pediatric physicians

BStrained pension systems, rising healthcare costs, and labor shortages in the domestic workforce

CImmediate overpopulation leading to widespread famine

DUncontrolled urban sprawl driven by high fertility

Part B: Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stages. Categorize each societal description into the appropriate DTM Stage.

Sort these items:

1. Industrializing; death rate drops precipitously due to clean water and sanitation while birth rate stays high2. Urbanizing; fertility rate drops significantly as women gain educational and career opportunities3. Post-industrial; sub-replacement fertility (TFR < 2.1) leading to an aging society and shrinking natural workforce4. Expansive pyramid with high youth dependency ratio (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa)5. Birth rates decline to match low death rates; column-like stationary population pyramid6. Family sizes decrease as agricultural child labor becomes less economically necessary in cities

Stage 2: Rapid Expansion

Stage 3: Moderate Growth

Stage 4 / 5: Stationary / Declining

Grade 9 · social studies · Answer key

Human Geography: Population Pyramids & Demographic Transition

Scan for answers

Grade 9 · social studies · Answer key · continued

Human Geography: Population Pyramids & Demographic Transition

Scan for answers

Part A: Demographic Analysis. Evaluate population data and answer the human geography questions below.

1.A developing country exhibits an expansive 'Christmas-tree' shaped population pyramid with a broad base of young children and a rapidly tapering apex. What demographic reality does this shape indicate?

B. High crude birth rates (CBR) and high infant mortality, characteristic of rapid population expansion (Stage 2 DTM)

A broad triangular base indicates high birth rates and a high proportion of youth, typical of Stage 2 developing nations experiencing rapid population expansion due to falling death rates.

2.In Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model (observed in post-industrial nations like Japan, Germany, and Italy), what trend occurs regarding birth and death rates?

B. Both birth rates and death rates stabilize at low levels, resulting in near-zero or stationary population growth

In Stage 4, urbanization, female education, and access to family planning cause birth rates to decline to meet low death rates, stabilizing total population size.

3.Which societal challenge is MOST directly triggered when a nation develops a high elderly dependency ratio (an inverted urn-shaped pyramid with more retirees than working-age citizens)?

B. Strained pension systems, rising healthcare costs, and labor shortages in the domestic workforce

When fewer active tax-paying workers must support an expanding retired elderly demographic, pension solvency, geriatric healthcare, and workforce productivity face acute pressure.

Part B: Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stages. Categorize each societal description into the appropriate DTM Stage.

Sort these items:

1. Industrializing; death rate drops precipitously due to clean water and sanitation while birth rate stays high2. Urbanizing; fertility rate drops significantly as women gain educational and career opportunities3. Post-industrial; sub-replacement fertility (TFR < 2.1) leading to an aging society and shrinking natural workforce4. Expansive pyramid with high youth dependency ratio (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa)5. Birth rates decline to match low death rates; column-like stationary population pyramid6. Family sizes decrease as agricultural child labor becomes less economically necessary in cities

Stage 2: Rapid Expansion

Industrializing; death rate drops precipitously due to clean water and sanitation while birth rate stays high

Expansive pyramid with high youth dependency ratio (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa)

Stage 3: Moderate Growth

Urbanizing; fertility rate drops significantly as women gain educational and career opportunities

Family sizes decrease as agricultural child labor becomes less economically necessary in cities

Stage 4 / 5: Stationary / Declining

Post-industrial; sub-replacement fertility (TFR < 2.1) leading to an aging society and shrinking natural workforce

Birth rates decline to match low death rates; column-like stationary population pyramid

About this practice

Grade 9 · social studies · Matching answer key included · US Letter and A4

US Letter practice PDF ↓ · Answer PDF ↓A4 practice PDF ↓ · Answer PDF ↓

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Teaching guide, sample answers and curriculum references

Before you begin

Read age-group axes and distinguish a count from a percentage.

How to use this worksheet

Model the target skill: interpret age-sex cohort structures within expansive, constrictive, and stationary population pyramids. Use the first task as a guided example before asking for an independent response.
Check readiness first: Read age-group axes and distinguish a count from a percentage.
Discuss an incorrect response using this distinction: A wide bar describes a cohort's size; it does not by itself establish why births, deaths or migration changed.

A common mistake to discuss

A wide bar describes a cohort's size; it does not by itself establish why births, deaths or migration changed.

What to practice next

Compare two age distributions and identify which conclusions need additional evidence.

Sample question and answer

A developing country exhibits an expansive 'Christmas-tree' shaped population pyramid with a broad base of young children and a rapidly tapering apex. What demographic reality does this shape indicate?

A. Low birth rates and an exceptionally long average life expectancy
B. High crude birth rates (CBR) and high infant mortality, characteristic of rapid population expansion (Stage 2 DTM)
C. A negative population growth rate where deaths exceed births
D. High rates of elderly retirement immigration from other nations

Answer: B. A broad triangular base indicates high birth rates and a high proportion of youth, typical of Stage 2 developing nations experiencing rapid population expansion due to falling death rates.

Intended curriculum references: C3.D2.Geo.7.9-12 · C3.D2.Geo.8.9-12. These references describe learning goals; they are not endorsements.

Published 2026-10-02; updated 2026-10-02. Original MakeWorksheet practice. Automated consistency checks support publication; independent subject-specialist review is not recorded. Read our editorial policy.

Human Geography: Population Pyramids & Demographic Transition

About this practice

Before you begin

How to use this worksheet

A common mistake to discuss

What to practice next

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