Pyramids from Around the World

One thing I have been pondering lately, is how absolutely wonderful this world that God gave us is, thus came the title for this blog.  It is an eclectic, amalgamation of varying cultures and beautiful places, along with the dominating human race, the common presence throughout the world.  But people from alternate parts of the world differ almost as much as the places in which they are live.  Population size varies tremendously from country to country, but we often disregard the reasons for these fluctuations.  Well, at least I have never thought about it before now.  However, lately I have learned that you can infer a lot about a country from its population pyramid. 

For example, a country's population often reflects the status of its development

.  The UN has defined 14 countries as LDCs, or Least Developed Countries.  The countries in this category have been defined so because of three specific reasons.  These include th

e low-income criterion, the human capital status criterion, and the economic vulnerability criterion.  A country must meet each of these factors in order to be categorized as an LDC.  Specifically in reference to the human capital status criterion, LDCs have low populations, below 75 million people.  What is more interesting about this LDC categorization is that the population pyramids of said LDCs are shaped in unusual manners, differing profusely from the MDCs of this wonderful world.  

The below Population Pyramids are from two very contrasting countries of Sudan, one of the LDCs from Central Africa, and Spain, MDC from the Iberian Peninsula.  Their pyramids, therefore, are extremely different.

Sudan has been a country subject to terrible civil wars in the past decade.  The war has also included mass killings of the native African tribes by the Islamic government, especially in the region known as Darfur.  Another problem in this bleak country is the Aids epidemic, which has brought death to many, many people as well.  All of these deaths have made the life expectancy rate drop dramatically. As the pyramid reflects, there is only a small percentage of the elderly or even middle-aged adults.  Since, Sudan has the characteristics of the LDCs, it is a very agricultural country and not very urbanized.  Sudanese families live in very bucolic, agrarian areas, and work the land to sustain their life and raise money.  

The families need a lot of children to do manual labor, which is why the lower levels of the pyram

id are so large.  LDCs are characterized by having a majority of the population in the low

er parts of the pyramids.  Although this part of the pyramid does widen, infant mortality is a problem for all LDCs.  But there

 are enough youths in Sudan to influence the Population Pyramid's vast base.  Sudan's Population Pyramid is that 

of a typical LDC.

Spain's Population Pyramid differs as much from Sudan's as does these countries' other characteristics.  Spain, having a wealthy economy and higher-standard of living, has a population pyramid similar to most other MDCs.  This western European country is urban and has a strong economy, especially when compared with Sudan.  This means better educational systems, better governmental systems, and better hospitals.  The Spanish, as a result, living longer and wealthier lives.  They are not in need of great numbers of children to help raise an income for their families, as the Sudanese.  As a result of compact and expensive urban living, the Spanish have smaller families, maybe only one of two children if any.  The population might even decrease in the next couple of decades because of a lower TFR, even though some people of this country live to be as old as 90 to 100.  The standard of living in an MDC produces a population of less children and more adults than that of an LDC, which is evident from comparing the Population Pyramids of Sudan and Spain.

Writing about the hardships of LDCs makes it a challenge to add to my point that this world is wonderful.  Yes, the people of Sudan suffer daily- and our world is wonderful!  It looks terrible to write that...but in fact, that is the point I am trying to make with this blog.  Although Sin has inundated God's creation, including people, He does still reign over all of it.  Jesus' presence on this world is the reason I can still confidently call it wonderful! 

"The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation; but the one who is rich [should boast] in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.  For the sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance is destroyed.  In the same way, the rich man will wither away while pursuing his activities.  Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crow of life that He has promised to those who love Him." -James 1:9-12

This pericope goes along with my point.  Jesus has blessed those who endure trials.  Sudan is blessed.  This is the hope that truly makes this world wonderful-- a wonderful place to wait for His promised crown of life! 

We have this hope because Jesus lives.