O-LevelGeographyPopulation and settlement2217/12 · May/June 2017 · Q125 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about the population of Mexico (an LEDC) in 2000 and 2025 (estimated). [Figure 1.0]

(a)(i)Estimate the number of young dependents in Mexico in 2000. Choose from the list below and circle your answer. 6 million 17 million 32 million 60 million[1]
(a)(ii)Using Fig. 1, describe how the numbers of young and old dependents in Mexico are likely to change between 2000 and 2025. Young dependents Old dependents[2]
(a)(iii)Give three reasons why the number of young dependents in LEDCs, such as Mexico, is high. 1 2 3[3]
(a)(iv)Describe how the population structure of an MEDC is likely to be different from the population structure of LEDCs such as Mexico.[4]
(b)(i)Using Fig. 2 only, describe the changes in the rate of increase in the percentage of the world population aged 65 and over from 2000 to 2012 from 2012 to 2039 from 2039 to 2048.[3]
(b)(ii)Explain why the percentage of old dependents in the world is increasing.[5]
(c)For a named country you have studied, describe the problems caused by an increasing percentage of young or old dependents. Name of country[7]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2017). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] 32 million
[2] Young dependents – decrease/gone down
[2] Old dependents – increase/gone up
[3] High birth rates/high fertility rate;
[3] Lack of education about family planning/sex education/contraception/problems of having a large family/for females;
[3] Lack of/cost of/access to/contraception/family planning/unprotected sex/no contraception for religious reasons;
[3] Economic reasons for large families/children needed to work/earn money;
[3] High infant mortality;
[3] Traditional/in their culture/part of their religion to have large families/keep having children until produce a male child/status of having a large family;
[3] To look after parents in old age/no pensions;
[3] Get married young/start having children at a young age;
[3] Lack of availability/cost of abortions;
[4] Lower percentage/less young dependents;
[4] Smaller numbers of babies/under 5s etc.
[4] Higher percentage/more economically active;
[4] More people at e.g. 45 – 49;
[4] Higher percentage/more old dependents;
[4] More people at 80+;
[4] Higher average age
[3] 2000 to 2012 – gentle/small/slow/steady/gradual;
[3] 2012 to 2039 – steep/large/quick/rapid/faster/major/high/great amount/rate increased;
[3] 2039 to 2048 – gentle/levels off/slows down/low/decrease;
[5] Low or decreasing death rates/long life expectancy/less elderly dying /people live longer;
[5] Better/investment in health care/hospitals/clinics etc.;
[5] More doctors/nurses;
[5] Better/access to medicines/vaccinations/treatment/can cure disease;
[5] Good water supply;
[5] Sanitation/hygiene;
[5] Improved food supplies/nutrition/better diet;
[5] Provision of pensions;
[5] Care provision for elderly/elderly homes;
[5] Education about diet/exercise/hygiene/AIDS;
[5] Healthy lifestyle/take more exercise;
[5] Safer working environments/ better health and safety;
[5] Reduction in birth rates/having less children/having smaller families = MAX 1 with no DEV mark
[7] Problems of providing pensions/child allowances;
[7] Increased pressure on hospitals/health services;
[7] Need to invest more in health/welfare services;
[7] Increased dependency ratio;
[7] Lower earnings through taxation/need to increase taxes;
[7] Increased need for old people's homes/nursery services/schools;
[7] Difficulty of recruitment for armed forces;
[7] Less innovative workforce ;
[7] Need for foreign workers; etc.