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Year 7

Population challenges: ageing populations

I can describe the features and impacts of ageing populations globally.

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New
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Year 7

Population challenges: ageing populations

I can describe the features and impacts of ageing populations globally.

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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Life expectancies around the world are increasing due to better healthcare and disease prevention.
  2. Many higher income countries such as the UK, Germany and Japan have ageing populations.
  3. An ageing population leads to the government having to invest more in pensions and healthcare.

Keywords

  • Life expectancy - the average number of years a person is expected to live

  • Pension - a regular payment made during retirement from an investment fund

  • Healthcare - services provided to individuals to treat and prevent illness

  • Economic - anything to do with money, jobs, and resources

Common misconception

All countries have ageing populations.

Not all countries have ageing populations. It is more common in higher income nations with longer life expectancies.


To help you plan your year 7 geography lesson on: Population challenges: ageing populations, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

A good place to find up-to-date data on population stats is Our World in Data.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
On a population pyramid, what do the different sides represent?
Correct answer: Gender: male and female
Age groups
Total population
Q2.
Which of these characteristics does a tall population pyramid suggest?
Low life expectancy
Correct answer: High life expectancy
Low birth rate
High death rate
Q3.
What does a steady or rectangular shape in a population pyramid indicate?
Decreasing population
Rapidly growing population
Correct answer: Balanced population growth
High death rate
Q4.
A population pyramid with a very wide base is most likely to be found in which type of country?
Developed country with low birth rates
Correct answer: Developing country with high birth rates
Developed country with high birth rates
Country with a balanced age structure
Q5.
Which age group is typically found at the top of a population pyramid?
Young children
Middle-aged adults
Correct answer: Elderly
Teenagers
Q6.
What does a low top in a population pyramid suggest?
Correct answer: Low life expectancy
High birth rate
Low birth rate
High life expectancy

Exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is a primary reason for the increase in global life expectancy?
Increased use of cars
Correct answer: Improved healthcare
Higher birth rates
Decline in technology
Q2.
What is an economic impact of an ageing population?
Reduced spending on education
Correct answer: Increased spending on healthcare
Higher birth rates
Decreased life expectancy
Q3.
Which country is known for having a high life expectancy and an ageing population?
Nigeria
Brazil
Correct answer: Japan
India
Q4.
Why does a low birth rate contribute to an ageing population?
It increases life expectancy
Correct answer: It reduces the number of young people
It leads to increased migration
It promotes economic growth