Use the data in the table below to answer the questions that follow; Age group No of Students in thousands 1955 1960 0 - 16 150 143 17 - 45 51 107 46 -60 29...
Question 1 Report
Use the data in the table below to answer the questions that follow;
| Age group | No of Students in thousands | |
| 1955 | 1960 | |
| 0 - 16 | 150 | 143 |
| 17 - 45 | 51 | 107 |
| 46 -60 | 29 | 33 |
| above 60 | 15 | 17 |
(a) What is the percentage increase in the working population between 1955 - 1960?
(b) Calculate the ratio dependent population to the working population in 1955.
(c) Calculate the ratio of dependent population to the working population in 1960.
(d) Has the dependency ratio increased or decreased between 1955 and 1960?
Answer Details
We treat ages 17 to 60 as the working population and the rest (0 to 16 and above 60) as the dependent population (in thousands).
| Group | Age bands | 1955 | 1960 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working | 17-45 and 46-60 | \(51+29=80\) | \(107+33=140\) |
| Dependent | 0-16 and above 60 | \(150+15=165\) | \(143+17=160\) |
(a) Percentage increase in the working population, 1955 to 1960:
\[ \frac{140-80}{80}\times100 = \frac{60}{80}\times100 = 75\% \]
(b) Ratio of dependent to working population in 1955:
\[ 165 : 80 = 33 : 16 \approx 2.06 : 1 \]
(c) Ratio of dependent to working population in 1960:
\[ 160 : 140 = 8 : 7 \approx 1.14 : 1 \]
(d) The dependency ratio has decreased, falling from about 2.06 : 1 in 1955 to about 1.14 : 1 in 1960. Fewer dependants are now supported by each working person, because the working-age group grew sharply (up 75%) while the dependent group stayed roughly the same.
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