Discuss the characteristics of a society with “too many under 15s” and one with “too few under 15’s”.

Hint: need for schools, pension schemes, teachers, toys, wheel chairs, labour supply, hospitals.

Age composition of a population determines the kind of facilities a government has to provide for its citizens. If a society has ‘too many under 15s’, it means that Government has to ensure adequate supply of schools, teachers, playgrounds etc. Such a population will provide more scope for toys or sports industry. It would have less labor supply.

If a society has too few under 15s, it implies it has more adult population which will require more pension schemes, hospitals, etc. Such population will provide fertile ground for pharmaceutical or medical equipment industries. It would also have high youth population which means government has to create enough employment opportunities.