In a developing country with a broad-based population pyramid, which group is typically the largest?

In a developing country with a broad-based population pyramid, which group is typically the largest?

• A. Young dependents
• B. Working-age adults
• C. Elderly
• D. Teenagers

Answer: (A)

Population pyramids show how a country’s people are distributed across ages. In a developing country with a broad base, many births keep the bottom wide, so there are more children than any other single age group. That makes the largest group young dependents—young children and early teens who rely on adults for support. Elderly are fewer because life expectancy is shorter, and even though there are many working-age adults, the sheer number of young children typically exceeds them. Teenagers are included in the youth group, but the whole group of young dependents is larger.

Population pyramids show how a country’s people are distributed across ages. In a developing country with a broad base, many births keep the bottom wide, so there are more children than any other single age group. That makes the largest group young dependents—young children and early teens who rely on adults for support. Elderly are fewer because life expectancy is shorter, and even though there are many working-age adults, the sheer number of young children typically exceeds them. Teenagers are included in the youth group, but the whole group of young dependents is larger.