If children and elderly people together form 42 percent of a population, how will the remaining 58 percent generally be viewed in demographic analysis?

Correct answer: Mainly the working-age population

In broad demographic analysis, children and older people are usually treated as dependent age groups because they are less likely to be in the main working ages. The remaining group, lying between childhood and old age, is generally viewed as the working-age population. If children and elderly people together make up 42 percent, the remaining share is found by subtracting from the whole population: 100 minus 42 equals 58 percent. Thus, the 58 percent is mainly the working-age population, so choice A is correct.

The word “mainly” is important because age categories can differ slightly between countries and statistical systems, and not every person in working age is employed. Even so, the question asks for a broad demographic classification, not actual employment. The remaining share cannot be identified as only migrants, only women, or only rural residents, because those are different population characteristics and do not follow from age percentages. Therefore, option A is the only supported answer.