You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The chart below shows the percentage of the total US population aged 65 and over between 1900 and 2000.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Sample Answer 1 (Band 9)
The bar chart provides an insightful breakdown of the percentage of the total US population aged 65 and over, delineated into three age groups, across a century from 1900 to 2000.
An overview of the data highlights a notable trend: a consistent rise in the proportion of the population falling within the senior age brackets. This trend is particularly pronounced from the mid-20th century onwards, suggesting significant demographic shifts over time. It is evident that the oldest age group, those aged 85 and over, has expanded from being a minimal fraction to a more substantial component of the senior demographic.
In the year 1900, individuals aged between 65 and 74 formed 2.9% of the U.S. populace, emerging as the predominant cohort in the older demographic spectrum. This segment witnessed a steady climb over the next nine decades, peaking at 7.3% in 1990, before experiencing a slight decline to 6.5% by the century's end. Simultaneously, the 75-84 age bracket, albeit on a similar upward trajectory, registered a less dramatic rise. Starting at a modest 1% at the dawn of the century, it incrementally grew to encompass 4.4% of the population by 2000.
In contrast, the 85 and above age group, initially constituting a nearly imperceptible 0.2%, demonstrated the most pronounced percentage increase. By the turn of the millennium, this fraction had expanded remarkably to 1.5%, despite representing smaller absolute numbers. The data from the 1990s onwards underscored an accelerated growth in the senior population, particularly noticeable in the 75-84 and 85+ categories. By the year 2000, these two age groups combined matched the 65-74 age bracket in proportion, marking a significant milestone.
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Sample Answer 2 (Band 9)
The bar graph meticulously delineates the evolution of the percentage of the total US population aged 65 and over, segmented into three distinct age groups, during the century spanning from 1900 to 2000.
At a glance, the overarching trend is a substantial augmentation in the proportions of each senior age cohort, with a marked acceleration noticeable from the mid-twentieth century onward. This uptick becomes most pronounced in the latter decades, indicating a demographic shift towards an older population composition.
Delving into the specifics, the early 20th century saw the 65-74 age bracket forming 2.9% of the U.S. population, standing out as the largest group within the elderly demographic. This segment experienced a consistent upswing, ascending to 7.3% by the 1990s. However, an interesting turn occurred in the final decade of the 20th century, with a slight reduction bringing this figure down to 6.5%. Parallelly, the 75-84 age group mirrored this pattern but with a subtler rate of increase. Initially accounting for a mere 1% of the population, it gradually rose to encompass 4.4% by the century's closure.
In stark contrast, the 85+ age category, initially almost inconsequential at 0.2%, witnessed the most dramatic percentage surge. This group expanded significantly, reaching 1.5% by the year 2000, despite starting from the smallest base. The 1990s marked a notable acceleration in the growth of the senior segment, especially within the 75-84 and 85+ categories. By the millennium's onset, these two groups collectively matched the size of the 65-74 age group, a first in the century.
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Sample Answer 3 (Band 9)
The provided bar chart meticulously enumerates the changes in the percentage of the total US population aged 65 and over, classified by three age groups, throughout the 100-year period from 1900 to 2000.
The data reveals two principal observations: a gradual increase in the percentage of the senior population across all age brackets, with a pronounced surge in the latter half of the century. Additionally, the most remarkable growth is observed within the oldest cohort, those aged 85 and above.
In 1900, the 65-74 age group represented 2.9% of the U.S. population, emerging as the most significant segment within the older age demographics. This group witnessed a steady rise over the subsequent nine decades, peaking at 7.3% by 1990. However, in the decade that concluded the century, there was a notable decrease, with the percentage dropping to 6.5%. Concurrently, the 75-84 age bracket exhibited a similar, albeit less marked, pattern of growth. It began the century at a modest 1% and progressively expanded to 4.4% by the century’s end.
Contrastingly, the 85+ age category, initially a minuscule portion of the population at 0.2%, experienced the most substantial percentage increase. By 2000, this segment had grown to an impressive 1.5%, despite its relatively small absolute numbers. Particularly from the 1990s onwards, there was a discernible acceleration in the senior population's growth. This period saw the combined proportions of the 75-84 and 85+ age groups equate to that of the 65-74 age group for the first time by the year 2000.
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