Study the diagram carefully and answer the following five (5) questions.
The pyramid is predicting :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Declining population
An age-sex pyramid shows the number of males and females in each age group. Its shape tells whether a population will grow, stay the same or shrink.
Option (1) Expanding population — Incorrect. An expanding population has a triangular pyramid with a wide base, because high birth rates give many children. The pyramid here is narrow at the base.
Option (2) Constant population — Incorrect. A constant population has a bell-shaped pyramid, because birth and death rates are almost equal.
Option (3) Declining population — Correct. The pyramid has a narrow base and a tapered top. Few children are being born, so in future there will be fewer people.
Option (4) Population explosion — Incorrect. A population explosion is very fast growth with many births. It would need a wide base, not a narrow one.
Note: This question is taken from the pre-rationalised NCERT book. The latest edition (2026-27) does not have this part. An extract of the pre-rationalised NCERT book is given below for the benefit of students.
Pre-rationalised NCERT: “Declining Populations The Japan pyramid has a narrow base and a tapered top showing low birth and death rates. The population growth in developed countries is usually zero or negative.”
Fig. 3.3: Declining Population |
