Mean and Median Ages in Mexico

Solution & Explanation

In the context of Mexico, the question of whether the mean age is greater than the median age can be addressed by examining the age distribution of the population. The relationship between the mean and median is heavily influenced by the distribution shape:

1. Normal Distribution:

   • Scenario: If the age distribution is normal, the mean and median will be equal. However, this is not typically the case for population age distributions.

2. Right-Skewed Distribution:

   • Scenario: If the distribution is right-skewed, the mean age will be greater than the median age. This occurs because the mean is affected by the longer tail of older ages, pulling it higher than the median.
   • Evidence: In Mexico, the age distribution is right-skewed. According to data from Statista, the population is characterized by a significant proportion of younger individuals, with ages 0-14 comprising 25-29% of the population, and ages 15-64 making up 64-66%. Only 6-7% are aged 65 and above. This results in a longer right tail due to fewer older individuals, thus increasing the mean age relative to the median.

3. Left-Skewed Distribution:

   • Scenario: If the distribution were left-skewed, the median age would be greater than the mean age. This would occur if there were more older individuals compared to younger ones, creating a longer left tail.
   • Conclusion: This is not the case in Mexico due to its younger population.

Conclusion

Given that Mexico's age distribution is right-skewed, the mean age is typically greater than the median age. The presence of a younger population and a smaller proportion of older individuals leads to a distribution where the mean is pulled upward by the older age tail. This pattern is consistent with demographic trends in developing countries, where higher birth rates result in a youthful population structure. The mean, being sensitive to outliers, reflects the influence of the relatively fewer older individuals, while the median remains a more robust measure of central tendency, unaffected by the extremes.