Professional Documents
Culture Documents
M. Richmond
Demography
The study of the characteristics of population (from Greek root demos
meaning people and graphos to make a line) can be complex. Population
pyramids are a useful tool for understanding the structure and composition of
populations because they graphically portray many aspects of a population,
such as sex ratios and age structure (Fig. 82).
In the pyramid, the percent of females is displayed to the left, and the males to the
right. While slightly more males are born in any given population, the number of
females surviving to older ages is greater than the number of surviving males.
Age cohorts are listed
down the center of the
pyramid, and are
divided into five-year
increments.
Female Male
85+
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
1970, and 1990. These times have been chosen to help illustrate the change
in the structure of American society. They bracket important transitions in
demographic factors through time. Some of the bar widths in the pyramids
for 1930 were adjusted to reflect the difference in how the data were collected for that year. The thicker bars represent age cohorts that are divided
into larger increments than the standard five-year increments shown in both
1970 and 1990.
Portions of all WRB counties except Linn and Marion lie outside of the
basin. For these counties, adjustment has not been made in the pyramids to
reflect the portion of their populations that reside within the basin, and because populations are distributed unevenly across a county, this may affect
the results. Also, note that the size of the pyramids does not account for differences in population size between the counties, which can vary considerably. This information for 1990 is summarized in Figure 84.
16%
Percent of Population
Figure 82. Anatomy of a population pyramid. The percent of population is calculated by the number of people of one gender in one age
cohort relative to the total number of people of that gender in the population. Summing the bars on both sides of the graph would yield the
percent of one age cohort.
Female Male
Female Male
Percent of Population
Percent of Population
Expansive
Constrictive
Female Male
Percent of Population
Stationary
Percent of Population
1970
Female Male
85+
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
Percent of Population
8%
1990
Percent of Population
The pyramids in Map 15 are based on the total population of the counties which intersect the area of the Willamette River Basin (WRB) in 1930,
Female Male
85+
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
Percent of Population
64
6.49
6%
5%
4%
4.18
3.77
3%
2.73
2%
1%
.62
.73
1930
>75yr
1970
>75yr
1990
>75yr
10%
female
male
9.81
8%
9.33
6%
4%
3.75
3.80
2%
1.93
1.26
0%
Figure 85. Lane County population pyramids for 1930, 1970, and 1990, and gender ratios for the trajectories
female
male
7%
0%
Percent of Population
Pyramids can give insight into trends in population over time by their
portrayal of the relative number of people in a particular cohort. For example, the swell of population in the baby boom cohort, now in its forties
and fifties, is apparent in many of the county population pyramids, as is the
echo baby boom, now five to fifteen years of age. Demographers have divided population pyramids into three prototypical types (Fig. 83). While
these prototypes are useful for general interpretation of conditions, knowledge of specific characteristics of particular populations is also important as
they may significantly contribute to differences between counties.
1930
20-24yr
1970
60-64yr
1990
80-84yr
HUMAN POPULATION
74
Female Male
85+
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
Percent of Population
Counties
1970
1930
Female
Benton
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
Male
Female Male
Female Male
85 +
85 +
85 +
80-84
80-84
80-84
75-79
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
0%
Female
Clackamas
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
2%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
10-14
5-9
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
Male
0%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
85 +
85 +
80-84
80-84
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
85 +
80-84
80-84
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
Male
0%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
85 +
80-84
80-84
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
85 +
85 +
80-84
80-84
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
2%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
Polk
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
0%
Tillamook
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
14%
16%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
Female Male
85 +
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
0%
2%
Female Male
Male
Female Male
85 +
85 +
85 +
80-84
80-84
80-84
75-79
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
10-14
5-9
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
Female Male
Male
0%
Female Male
85 +
85 +
80-84
80-84
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
85 +
80-84
75-79
70-74
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
Female Male
Male
0%
Female Male
85 +
85 +
85 +
80-84
80-84
80-84
75-79
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
Female Male
Male
85 +
85 +
80-84
80-84
75-79
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
85 +
85 +
80-84
80-84
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
Male
0%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
Female Male
0%
85 +
80-84
75-79
75-79
70-74
70-74
65-69
65-69
65-69
60-64
60-64
60-64
55-59
55-59
55-59
50-54
50-54
50-54
45-49
45-49
45-49
40-44
40-44
40-44
35-39
35-39
35-39
30-34
30-34
30-34
25-29
25-29
25-29
20-24
20-24
20-24
15-19
15-19
10-14
10-14
5-9
5-9
0-4
0-4
6%
4%
2%
0%
6%
8%
10%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
2%
4%
12%
14%
16%
12%
14%
16%
Female Male
85 +
80-84
8%
4%
0-4
8%
85 +
10%
2%
5-9
6%
70-74
12%
16%
15-19
4%
75-79
14%
14%
10-14
2%
80-84
16%
12%
Female Male
85 +
8%
10%
0-4
8%
70-74
6%
8%
5-9
6%
75-79
4%
6%
10-14
4%
80-84
2%
4%
15-19
2%
Female Male
Male
2%
Female Male
85 +
80-84
Female
Yamhill
12%
50-54
60-64
0%
10%
55-59
65-69
2%
8%
60-64
60-64
Female
Washington
6%
65-69
65-69
0%
4%
70-74
85 +
2%
2%
75-79
70-74
Female
16%
80-84
75-79
0%
14%
85 +
80-84
2%
12%
Female Male
Female Male
Male
Female
Polk
10%
0-4
8%
85 +
0%
8%
5-9
6%
70-74
2%
6%
10-14
4%
75-79
0%
4%
15-19
2%
80-84
0%
2%
Female Male
Male
0%
16%
Female Male
85 +
85 +
Multnomah
14%
0%
65-69
10%
14%
0-4
8%
70-74
8%
12%
5-9
6%
75-79
6%
10%
10-14
4%
80-84
4%
8%
15-19
2%
Female Male
2%
6%
Female Male
85 +
85 +
65-69
6%
4%
0-4
8%
70-74
4%
2%
5-9
6%
75-79
2%
16%
10-14
4%
80-84
0%
14%
15-19
2%
Female Male
Male
12%
Female Male
85 +
65-69
8%
10%
0-4
8%
70-74
6%
8%
5-9
6%
75-79
4%
6%
10-14
4%
Female Male
2%
4%
15-19
2%
80-84
0%
2%
Female Male
85 +
85+
Female
16%
0%
Female Male
65-69
2%
Multnomah
14%
70-74
Female
16%
16%
75-79
2%
Marion
16%
80-84
Female
16%
14%
85 +
2%
Linn
12%
65-69
Female
16%
10%
70-74
0%
Lincoln
8%
75-79
Female
Lane
6%
80-84
Female
Douglas
4%
Male
Female
Columbia
1990
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
65