Look at the population histograms in the IDB Summary Demographic Data database for the U.S. These histograms (also known as population pyramids) show the population for various age groups for both men and women. For the 2000 histogram, compare the number of children, middle aged people and elderly people. Roughly, what shape does this histogram have (pyramid, inverted pyramid, square, hour-glass, other?) Based on this histogram, would you say the U.S. was experiencing a rapid growth, slow growth, no growth or negative growth in population? Why?
  

Now look at the population histogram for 2025. How do the number of children, middle aged people, and elderly people compare? What shape does this histogram have? By the year 2025 would you say the U.S. population would be experiencing a rapid growth, slow growth, no growth or negative growth in population? Why?
 

Based on these two histograms, what can you say about our nation's population growth, currently and in the near future? 
 

Find examples of other countries whose populations are experiencing rapid growth, slow growth, no growth, and negative growth using the IDB Summary Demographic Data. Draw a sketch of each country's population histogram and label each as rapid growth, slow growth, no growth or negative growth. 
 

How does a histogram's shape help to display a country's population growth? What shape would a population experiencing rapid growth have? Slow growth? No growth? Negative growth?

Look at this graph of World Population Growth. Is there any relationship between how industrially developed a country and the population growth of that country? Find examples of more developed countries and less developed countries that support or refute the information on this chart.