O-LevelGeographyPopulation and settlement2217/11 · Oct/Nov 2011 · Q125 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 1, population pyramids for two different countries. [Figure 1]

(a)(i)What percentage of the total population in Country A is between 0 and 4 years?[1]
(a)(ii)Which country has: A the highest life expectancy, B the highest dependency ratio?[2]
(a)(iii)Describe three differences between the shapes of the two pyramids.[3]
(a)(iv)Country A is an LEDC. Explain how the population structure of Country A is typical of an LEDC.[4]
(b)(i)Compare the sizes and age structures of the population in Africa and Europe in 2000.[3]
(b)(ii)Suggest reasons for the expected increase in the percentage of population over the age of 65 by 2025.[5]
(c)For a named country which you have studied, describe the problems caused by an increase in the percentage of people over the age of 65. 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 (Oct/Nov 2011). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] 16.8-17
[1] A. Country B
[1] B. Country A
[1] Wider base in Country A / Narrower apex in Country A / More pyramid shaped in Country A
[1] Country A has a wide base but country B has a wide top / Country B is wider in middle / Country B is taller/A is shorter
[1] Country B has straighter sides/rocket/chimney shaped / Country A has a narrow top but country B has a narrow base
[1] large percentage/numbers of 0–14/children/babies/young dependents
[1] high birth rates/lots of babies born
[1] high death rates/lots of people die
[1] decreasing numbers in 15–64/working population/economically active
[1] few people live over 65/old dependents/low life expectancy
[1] high dependency ratio
[1] Africa's population was slightly larger/roughly equal to that of Europe
[1] Europe had a larger percentage of 65+
[1] Europe had a larger percentage of 15–64
[1] Africa had a larger percentage of 0–14
[1] longer life expectancy/people live longer
[1] better treatment of diseases/or examples/medicines (dev)
[1] improved health care facilities/or examples/hospitals/clinics (dev)
[1] investment in care homes/services for elderly/or examples meals on wheels/carers (dev)
[1] low birth rates/small families/lower infant mortality rate/government policy; Max 2
[1] Pensions/so that they can remain independent/buy food
[1] Improved food supplies
[1] Vaccinations
[1] More doctors/nurses/better trained/less people per doctor
[1] Education/awareness of health issues/healthy lifestyle/for example do not smoke/eat healthily/exercise
[1-3] Level 1: Statements including limited detail describing problems caused by increase in percentage of over 65s (e.g. increasing percentage of elderly dependents; strain on working population; higher taxation; need for more money to be spent on care of elderly; lack of workforce; harder to defend country; increase in rates of pay; under use of services for young; under investment in services for young; pressure on healthcare).
[4-6] Level 2: Uses named example. More developed statements describing problems caused by increase in percentage of over 65s (e.g. increasing percentage of elderly dependents causes strain on working population; higher taxation as a result of increasing percentage of elderly dependents; need for more money to be spent on care homes/health care etc.; lack of innovative workforce; not enough recruitment to forces to defend country; lack of workers means need to attract foreign workers; reduced supply of workers leads to increase in rates of pay; under use of services for young leads to inefficiency/closure of schools etc.). NB MAX 5 marks if no named example.
[7] Level 3: Uses named example (e.g. Japan). Comprehensive and accurate statements describing problems caused by increase in percentage of over 65s, including some place specific reference (e.g. With over 20% of population elderly dependents this causes strain on working population; higher taxation as a result of increasing percentage of elderly dependents; need for more money to be spent on care homes/health care etc.; lack of innovative workforce causes stagnation in electronics industries; not enough recruitment to forces to defend country; lack of workers means large need to attract Chinese and Filipino workers; reduced supply of workers leads to large MNCs like Sony having to increase in rates of pay/may reduce likelihood of future investment; under use of services for young leads to inefficiency/closure of schools, etc.). May also use place names within a country for place specific.