Expansive pyramid characteristics?

• A. Population pyramids for elderly populations only
• B. Population pyramids that generally have a shape similar to a triangle w/ high population growth, low life expectancy, low GDP, and a young population
• C. Population pyramids that show no growth
• D. Population pyramids with rectangular shape

Answer: (B)

Expansive pyramids show a population with many young people and rapid growth. The wide base reflects high birth rates, so there are many children in the population. As age increases, the number of people drops quickly, giving a triangular silhouette. This pattern is common in developing regions where life expectancy is often lower and resources per person are limited, which aligns with a low GDP per capita. The result is a growing population with a large youth cohort. The other shapes describe stable or aging populations (a rectangle for no growth or a top-heavy shape for an aging population), not the rapid growth indicated by an expansive pyramid.