Population: Two contrasting countries - Afghanistan

Question 1

What does Afghanistan’s population pyramid look like?

Answer 1

A triangle.
Wide base and narrows above the age of 50.
Then Narrows quickly.

Question 2

Why does the population narrow quickly?

Answer 2

• malnutrition
• war
• lack of health care
• lack of education
• lack of medical care and supplies
• poor sanitation
• poverty

Question 3

What stage of the DTM is the Afghanistan population pyramid?

Answer 3

Stage 1

Question 4

Why is there a broad base?

Answer 4

Due to high birth rate.

• lack of effective birth control, availability of advice
• high infant mortality rates so more children to replace lost ones.
• desire to have large families so that children can help in farming, provide security when parents get old

Question 5

Why does it get narrow above the age of 50?

Answer 5

• Low life expectancy
• poor living conditions:
  shanty towns
  war
  droughts
  famines
  lack of vaccines