Population Structure by Age and Sex in Catalonia
Characteristics of Developed Countries’ Demographics
Developed countries (phase 4) share three common characteristics:
- Aging population
- Low fertility rates
- High life expectancy
The aging of the population is associated with two main issues:
- Sustainability of the Welfare State: If we maintain the welfare state (which guarantees citizens a range of free services in return for taxes), is immigration a solution?
- Immigration: This can lead to low or zero population growth.
Several factors contribute to these demographic trends:
Economic and Social Factors
In developed countries, raising children involves significant expenses. Furthermore, children no longer represent a form of insurance for the future. Additionally, there has been a shift in the role of women and families concerning motherhood. Women’s increased participation in the workforce, greater equality between men and women, and free access to contraceptive methods in developed countries have all contributed to reduced fertility.
Cultural and Ideological Factors
Higher levels of education and decreased influence of religious beliefs are generally associated with lower fertility rates. Furthermore, developed countries offer options such as divorce and abortion, and new family structures are becoming more common, including unmarried couples, single-parent families, and homosexual families. These factors, along with a delay in marriage and childbearing, contribute to the decline in fertility.
Countries in the fourth phase have life expectancies exceeding 80 years for women and 75 for men. Infant mortality rates in developed countries have been minimized to 5% or less. The causes of death also differ. For example, in developing countries, people often die from infectious or parasitic diseases. In developed countries, deaths are more commonly due to degenerative diseases, such as the “three Cs”: cardiovascular diseases (heart), cancer, and car accidents.
Catalonia, as a developed region, exhibits all the characteristics of the fourth phase.
Population Structure by Age and Sex
Population Pyramids
To study the population by age and sex, a population pyramid is used. The horizontal axis is divided into two parts: males on the left and females on the right. The vertical axis represents ages, usually grouped in five-year intervals. It’s common to divide the pyramid into three groups:
- 0-15 years: Base
- 15-65 years: Trunk or body
- 65+ years: Apex
General Characteristics of Population Pyramids:
- More boys are born than girls.
- The birth rate is higher for males than for females.
- More boys die during puberty than girls.
- After age 35, there are more women than men.
Relevance of Age Pyramids
Age pyramids are important because they help us understand a population’s history. They also allow us to anticipate future needs, such as childcare centers or nursing homes.
Types of Population Pyramids
Developing Countries: These have a triangular shape with a very wide base, indicating a high birth rate. The pyramid narrows rapidly, showing high mortality rates and few elderly individuals.
Developed Countries: These have a more bell-shaped pyramid. The base is narrower, reflecting a lower birth rate. The pyramid widens in the adult age groups and has a significant elderly population, indicating a high life expectancy.
The Age Pyramid of Catalonia
The age pyramid of Catalonia shows the evolution of the Catalan population throughout the 20th century. It’s a pyramid where the youngest group is increasingly large, and the older population is increasingly numerous. Observing the pyramid by gender, we see more women than men, except among young people, where there are more men. There are fewer people in the age ranges corresponding to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) due to a lack of births during the war. The largest groups in the Catalan pyramid are those between 25 and 50 years old. The causes of this are:
- The wave of immigration between 1950 and 1975.
- The subsequent Baby Boom (1960-1975).