Question

In Canada in 2010, people between the ages of 45 and 54 made up the largest percentage of the population. What factor is most likely to have caused this bulge in the age pyramid?

1) an increase in the death rate during World War I and the influenza epidemic of 1917
2) the increased availability of oral contraceptives in the 1950s and 1960s
3) a surge in the birth rate after World War II ended in 1945
4) a decline in the birth rate during the Great Depression of the 1930s

Answer 1

The bulge in the 2010 Canadian age pyramid for ages 45-54 was most likely caused by the post-World War II baby boom.

Step-by-step explanation:

The bulge in Canada's age pyramid in 2010, with people between the ages of 45 and 54 making up the largest percentage of the population, is most likely due to the surge in the birth rate after World War II ended in 1945. This period is known as the "baby boom," which produced a significant increase in births, shaping demographic trends for decades. This generation of individuals born post-WWII had by then reached their 45-54 age group by 2010, thus creating the observed bulge in the population pyramid. This demographic shift has led to a higher dependency ratio and an anticipated increase in the elderly population as baby boomers age.