In population pyramid which of the following is known as dependent population?

The correct answer is B. The population above 60 years is the dependent group in the upper part of the pyramid: people who no longer work or work only intermittently and rely on the working population for income, health care and support.

• A) 15-60 year group: This is the economically active or working-age population. It supports the dependants, so it cannot be the dependent group.
• C) Above 50 year group: 50 is not a standard boundary in demographic classification. Many people aged 50 to 60 are still economically active.
• D) 0-14 years group: Children are also dependants in a broader sense. The pyramid, however, shows children as a separate youth or child segment at the base, and the question's classic framing points to the elderly bracket above 60.

The core concept is the dependency ratio, which divides the dependent population by the working-age population. In India the Census and planning documents use these age brackets to assess the burden on the workforce and the need for pensions, health spending and social security. This links directly to GS-III economy and GS-II social justice. Note that many official sources now treat 60 and above as the elderly group, while some international references use 65 and above.

Trap: Aspirants often pick the 0-14 group because children are obviously dependent. Read the question for the bracket the pyramid itself labels as dependent.