Population Pyramids

1971 to 2056 - Projection: Pyramid for Canada

Archives

1901 to 2001 - Pyramids for Canada, the provinces and territories
1971 to 2006 - Pyramids for Canada, the provinces and territories

The population pyramids presented here are animated to show the change in population distribution for Canada, the provinces and territories from 1971 to 2006. The data are standardized and expressed as a number per 100,000 population, allowing comparisons between regions of different sizes. To view the animated population pyramids, select the name of the region you wish to view. Use the Stop button to view a single year of data. The Reload or Refresh button will start the animation again.

The age-sex distribution of a population is an important feature to analyse if you wish to understand a country's demographic situation. These statistics give governments and others one of the tools they need to make informed decisions that will affect our lives today and in the future. A handy way to illustrate the structure of a population is to graph the number of males and females for various ages. A horizontal bar graph with data for males on the left and females on the right is called a population pyramid.

By analysing population pyramids and identifying trends, we can learn a lot about our society. Vivian Z. Klaff sets out the following age structure models in Dem-Lab: Teaching Demography Through Computers, 1992 Prentice Hall:

Expansive — a broad base, indicating a high proportion of children, a rapid rate of population growth, and a low proportion of older people. Nunavut is an example of an expansive type population pyramid.

Stable growth — a structure with indentations that even out and reflect slow growth over a period. Northwest Territories is an example of a stable type population pyramid.

Stationary — a narrow base and roughly equal numbers in each age group, tapering off at the older ages. Manitoba is an example of a stationary type population pyramid.

Declining — a high proportion of aged persons and declining numbers. Newfoundland and Labrador is an example of a declining type population pyramid.

Lesson plans