Population composition means all the characteristics of population by which population is separated from one another, i.e. age, sex, settlement, occupation, education, and life expectancy.

Components of Population Composition: The major components of population composition are age, sex, literacy, settlement, etc. These elements play important roles in deciding the plans of future development.

1. Sex – Composition: An important demographic specialty of a country is the number of males and females living in that region. The ratio of females on males in the population is called the sex – ratio. Sex – ratio is an important index of the position of women in that country as well of the economic status.

In the countries, where discrimination against women is seen, there is unfavourable sex ratio against females. Besides female foeticide and female infanticide, domestic voilence against female is also seen in these regions. The main cause of these abuses is the very low socio – economic status of women in these countries.

2. Literacy: The literacy – ratio of population in any country is index of the socio – economic development and progress in that region. The literacy ratio of population shows living standard, socio – economic position of females, availability of educational facilities and the policies adopted by the local government. Literacy ratio also decides the standard of economic human development.

3. Occupational Composition: The working population engaged in different services and manufacturing sector is called the occupational composition. 

The working population of a country is divided into 5 sectors:

• Primary sector : Agriculture, forestry, fishing mining, etc. 
• Secondary sector : Manufacturing and industries. 
• Tertiary sector : Commerce and business, transportation, communication, etc. 
• Quarternary sector : Works related to inventions and discoveries. 
• Pentinary sector : Specialists, advisors, policy-makers, etc.

Population engaged in all above sectors is a very good index of the economic development in a country. In the countries with primitive economy, most of the population is engaged in primary sector, but in a developed economy, most of population is engaged in secondary, tertiary, quarternary and pentinary sectors.

4. Age composition: The population in a country is also divided on the basis of age. Age composition is an important factor of population. It shows the number of population in different age- groups. There are mainly 3 age groups of population. Child age group (0-14 years). Adult age group (15-64 years) and Old age group (above 65 years).

If the number of children in a country is in surplus, than the ratio n dependent population increases. If the number of population in the age – group 15 – 16 is high, then the ratio of working population increases. If more people of age – group above 65 years are found, then the expenditure on health-related facilities increased.