Question

What is the importance of Age-Structure?

Hint:

Age-structure determines the dependency ratio and future needs of a nation. Young populations demand jobs and education, while ageing populations require healthcare and pensions.

Answer 1

The age-structure of a population refers to the distribution of people across different age groups, generally divided into three categories: children (0–14 years), working-age population (15–59 years), and aged population (60 years and above).
Importance of Age-Structure:
1. Indicator of Economic Potential:
- A higher proportion of working-age population indicates greater productive capacity, higher labour supply, and economic growth potential.
2. Dependency Ratio:
- The balance between dependent population (children and aged) and the working population helps to calculate the dependency ratio. A lower ratio means less burden on workers.
3. Planning for Education and Health:
- A large proportion of children requires more schools, teachers, healthcare, and vaccination programs. Similarly, a large aged population demands healthcare, pensions, and social security.
4. Employment and Economic Planning:
- If the majority population falls under the working-age group, the government must generate employment opportunities, vocational training, and industrial growth.
5. Social and Demographic Trends:
- Countries with young populations (like India) are considered to have a "demographic dividend," while countries with ageing populations (like Japan) face challenges of labour shortage and social welfare costs.
Example:
- In India, about 65% of the population is below 35 years, which gives the country an advantage in terms of workforce availability.
Thus, age-structure is important for economic development, social planning, and policy-making for future generations.