Population structure: past paper questions
Real questions on population structure
The newest 20 of 79 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0460/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(i)[1]
How many females aged 40–44 were there in Switzerland in 2022?
See it on the paper → - 0460/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(ii)[1]
1-mark question — its maths and diagrams are best seen on the paper.
See it on the paper → - 0460/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(iii)[3]
Describe three differences between the shape of the population pyramids of Switzerland and Uganda in 2022.
See it on the paper → - 0460/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3b(i)[1]
Describe the predicted change in the number of people aged 0–19 in 2052 shown in Fig. 3.3 compared to in 2022 shown in Fig. 3.1.
See it on the paper → - 0460/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3b(ii)[2]
Some countries such as Switzerland have an ageing population. Suggest two problems caused by an ageing population.
See it on the paper → - 0460/21 · May/June 2025 · Q6c(i)[1]
Suggest one problem caused by the population structure of Bulgaria.
See it on the paper → - 0460/21 · May/June 2025 · Q6c(ii)[1]
Suggest one problem caused by the population structure of Mali.
See it on the paper → - 0460/11 · October/November 2024 · Q1b(i)[3]
Compare the population structures of rural areas and urban areas in China in 2020. Do not use statistics in your answer.
See it on the paper → - 0460/11 · October/November 2024 · Q1b(ii)[5]
There have been large increases in the numbers of old dependants in China. Explain why this may cause problems.
See it on the paper → - 0460/13 · October/November 2024 · Q1a(i)[1]
What percentage of Nigeria’s population is aged between 40 and 44? Underline your answer. 2.3% 4.5% 6.2% 9.8%
See it on the paper → - 0460/13 · October/November 2024 · Q1a(ii)[2]
Compare the young dependent population of the USA and Nigeria. Use statistics in your answer.
See it on the paper → - 0460/13 · October/November 2024 · Q1a(iii)[3]
State three ways in which the shape of the pyramid of Nigeria is typical of an LEDC.
See it on the paper → - 0460/13 · October/November 2024 · Q1a(iv)[4]
Explain why birth rates are high in LEDCs such as Nigeria. USA male old dependents economically active young dependents 6% 4% 10% 8% 2% 100+ 95 to 99 90 to 94 85 to 89 80 to 84 75 to 79 70 to 74 65 to 69 60 to 64 55 to 59 50 to 54 45 to 49 40 to 44 35 to 39 30 to 34 25 to 29 20 to 24 15 to 19 10 to 14 5 to 9 0 to 4 0%...
See it on the paper → - 0460/13 · May/June 2024 · Q1a(i)[1]
What percentage of the population of India in 1989 was male aged 0 to 4? %
See it on the paper → - 0460/13 · May/June 2024 · Q1a(ii)[2]
Describe how the total percentage of the population aged 0 to 4 changed between 1989 and 2019. You should use statistics in your answer.
See it on the paper → - 0460/13 · May/June 2024 · Q1a(iii)[3]
Describe how the shape of India’s population pyramid changed between 1989 and 2019.
See it on the paper → - 0460/13 · May/June 2024 · Q1b(i)[3]
Complete Fig. 1.2 by plotting the following information for 2019: old dependents = 11% economically active = 53% young dependents = 36% ,
See it on the paper → - 0460/13 · May/June 2024 · Q1b(ii)[5]
Explain why increasing numbers of old dependents may cause problems for LEDCs, such as India. ,
See it on the paper → - 0460/22 · February/March 2024 · Q2a(i)[1]
What was the percentage of the population aged 50–54 in 1989? %
See it on the paper → - 0460/22 · February/March 2024 · Q2a(ii)[1]
Identify the age group with the biggest change in population percentage between 1989 and 2019.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Neither part of this question was answered well. Instead of suggesting the problems caused by the population structures, a high proportion of candidates just stated what the population structure was ageing for Bulgaria and youthful for Mali. This did not answer the question. In part (i), where candidates did gain a mark, it was usually for shortage of workers. Other creditworthy problems were work...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0460/21 Q6(c) (Cambridge)
Neither part of this question was answered well. Instead of suggesting the problems caused by the population structures, a high proportion of candidates just stated what the population structure was ageing for Bulgaria and youthful for Mali. This did not answer the question. In part (i), where candidates did gain a mark, it was usually for shortage of workers. Other creditworthy problems were work...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0460/21 Q6(c) (Cambridge)
Answers to (i) were often inaccurate with many stating 4%, rather than the correct answer at 3.8%. A small tolerance either side was allowed here. In (ii) most answers identified the group with the biggest change in population percentage as being 0–4 years. In (iii) many answers stated correctly that both the 15–64 age and 65+ age groups had increased. Some suggested that the former decreased or s...
— Examiner report, February/March 2024, 0460/22 Q2(a) (Cambridge)
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