O-LevelGeographyPopulation and settlement2217/12 · Oct/Nov 2012 · Q125 Marks

Study Fig. 1, population pyramids which show the structure of the population for three towns in an MEDC in Europe.

(a)(i)What is meant by the structure of a population?[1]
(a)(ii)Define the terms dependent population and economically active as used in the key for Fig. 1. Dependent population Economically active[2]
(a)(iii)Which of the population pyramids shows: • a town on the coast to which many elderly people migrate when they retire; • a town where birth rates are high, but from which many young adults leave to find work elsewhere; • a growing town to which many young families have moved?[3]
(a)(iv)Describe the differences in the dependent populations of the towns shown by the population pyramids A and B. Use data in your answer.[4]
(b)(i)Compare the percentage of the population over the age of 65 in Indonesia and Malaysia in 1990 and 2010. Use data in your answer.[3]
(b)(ii)Suggest reasons for the large increase in the percentage of the population over the age of 65 which is expected in Indonesia and Malaysia by 2025.[5]
(c)For a named country which you have studied, describe the problems caused by an ageing population. 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 2012). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] Credit answers which talk about age/gender/ethnic groups as long as the answer includes a reference to the idea of proportion or percentage.
[1] Dependent population – people who depend on other people to look after/care for/support them/do not work or earn money/are unemployed (1).
[1] Economically active – people who are earning/working (1)
[1] B
[1] C
[1] A
[1] Greater proportion of/more young dependents in A/smaller proportion of/less young dependents in B;
[1] 37-38% of population of A compared with 22–23% of B;
[1] Greater proportion of /more old dependents in B/smaller proportion of/less old dependents in A;
[1] 30-31% of population of B compared with 9–10% of A;
[1] More dependents overall in B/less dependents overall in A;
[1] 52-54% of the population are dependent in B with 46–48% in A;
[1] The gender of old dependents is more balanced in A than B;
[1] Country A (Females 5–6% Males 4–5%) and Country B (Females 19–20% and Males 11-12%) (NB: Credit 1 mark for a statement such as “Country A has more young than old but B has more old than young") Statistics need to be for the total number of dependents in each case. Need to compare A and B not old and young dependents for one pyramid on its own. 4 @ 1 mark
[1] Malaysia's percentage higher/more than that of Indonesia in 1990;
[1] Indonesia's percentage higher/more than that of Malaysia in 2010;
[1] 1990 Malaysia was 4% and Indonesia was 3%/Malaysia is higher by 1% or vice versa;
[1] 2010 Malaysia was 5% and Indonesia was 6%/Indonesia is higher by 1% or vice versa
[1] longer life expectancy/lower death rate;
[1] better treatment of diseases/reduction of disease or examples/medicines available;
[1] improved/better health care facilities/medical care/clinics/doctors/hospitals;
[1] investment in care homes/services for elderly/practical help for elderly or eg;
[1] lower birth rates/smaller families or reason for;
[1] young people moving away;
[1] people have a more healthy lifestyle;
[1] education/awareness about a healthy lifestyle/diet/exercise;
[1] improved access to water supply;
[1] improved sanitation/hygiene;
[1] improved diet/food supply/less famine;
[1] pensions available/taxation used for elderly/government spending on elderly etc (NB: Allow maximum of one development mark on each line of mark scheme (Dev)) 5 @ 1 mark or development
Levels marking Level 1 (1–3 marks) Statements including limited detail describing problems caused by an ageing population. Level 2 (4–6 marks) Uses named example More developed statements describing problems caused by an ageing population. Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example Comprehensive and accurate statements describing the problems caused by an ageing population, including some place specific reference. Candidates are likely to refer to issues such as: 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; under use of services for young; people work longer so less jobs for economically active etc Place specific detail may include names of places within the country and appropriate statistics.