In the past, there were 20 times more children than older people. Then there were 7 times more people under age 15 than over age 64. Currently, there are 3 times as many children as there are elders. These changes in the age make-up of the population are referred to as a(n) "_____."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The changes in the age make-up of the population as described in the question are referred to as a demographic shift. This refers to a change in the distribution of a population's demographic characteristics, such as age or gender. The other answer choices are not appropriate, as population growth would refer to an overall increase in the size of the population, a cyclical event would be a recurring pattern (which may or may not apply to demographic changes), and an "elder explosion" is not a commonly used term in the field of demographics.

In the Past, There Were 20 Times More Children Than