Which of the following population pyramids depicts the population that is most likely to decrease in size in the near future?

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11ecba2d_0d78_118d_a3bf_9557d84f3a79_MD0008_00 Population pyramids, which display the relative number of males and females in each age cohort in a given population, have three general shapes: Expanding pyramids have broad bases (lots of younger people) and narrow tops (few older people) and are characteristic of developing countries with high birth/death rates and an increasing population size. Stationary pyramids have broad bases and broad tops and are characteristic of developed countries with low birth/death rates and a stable population size. Contracting pyramids have narrower bases than middles and are characteristic of developed countries with very low birth rates and a gradually declining population size. A contracting population pyramid reflects a population with fewer people in the younger age cohorts and more people in the older age cohorts (ie, base is narrower than upper levels of pyramid). In contracting populations, the number of individuals born will not replace the number of older individuals who die, resulting in an overall decrease in population size. (Choice B) A pyramid with a broad base and narrow top depicts an expanding population that is growing in size. (Choice C) A pyramid with a broad base and top depicts a stationary population that is relatively stable in size. (Choice D) A pyramid that is between an expanding and stationary shape depicts a population that was expanding but is in the process of becoming stationary. In this type of population, the growth rate slows, but the overall size of the population does not decrease because more people live to old age. Educational objective: A population pyramid is a type of bar graph that depicts the number or percentage of men and women in certain age cohorts in a given population. Expanding pyramids reflect growing populations with more young than old individuals; stationary pyramids reflect stable populations; and contracting pyramids reflect gradually declining populations.

Which of the Following Population Pyramids Depicts the Population That