Roots

Demography Demography is the study of population characteristics Changing population trends in the UK is an important topic for geographers to study Over time our population has changed significantly, as it is clear from family trees that we look at There are many reasons for this changing trend in population

How do we know that population has changed? National scale: The UK census goes back to 1801, with a good level of detail recorded from Some census data is now available for the public to view Local scale: Church records e.g. births, baptisms, deaths and marriages have been recorded since the middle ages in UK Personal scale: Personal recollections of family members

What has changed population structure Since the census in 1901 there have been a number of demographic, economic and migratory changes have been identified. These include: –Family size –Population structure –Migration –Employment –Social status and aspirations –Ethnicity

Changing factor How this has changed Family size Population rise from 37m in 1901 to 61 million in Even though household size has fallen (small families, gay couples, pensioners and divorcees) life expectancy has risen. This increases extended households. Population structure UK now has a top heavy population structure. In 1931, just 7% were aged over 65 and 24% under 16. However nowadays it has changed to 16% and 19% respectively. Life expectancy has also risen to 77 (men) and 82 (women). Migration The UK is more mobile now. People now migrate towards settlements with service jobs, generally, towards the south – east. 26% of the UK now live in London. Counter – urbanisation now exists as well as age selective migrations. Employment Industrial decline and manufacturing decline have changed where people live and what jobs they are employed in. There's been a move towards ‘white collar’ service work. Social status and aspirations Social mobility has increased meaning that more people are moving around, and out of poverty into the middle classes. More people going into further education and into non – manual work. Ethnicity Around 8% of the UK are made up of minority groups. From 1950s a large scale migration from the UK’s former colonies and then the expansion of the EU in early 2000 both changed the ethnic make up of the UK. Segregation exists in some districts. What has changed in the UK since 1901?

Explaining the pattern of population change Birth rates and death rates ultimately control population size and structure We can think about population change before and after the 1970s

Before the 1970s Population growing due to natural increase Death rate falling due to improvements in food supply, health and hygiene Post war baby boom Population grew from 38 million to 55 million between 1901 and 1971

Since 1970s Population increased more slowly Most growth now due to immigration BR and DR at a fairly low rate Family size small, life expectancy rising Reports in 2007 suggested that BR was on the rise due to child bearing age migrants Total population grew from 55 million in 1971 to 61 million in 2007

Demographic Model for the UK from 1700 Stage 1Stage 4Stage 3Stage 2

Population Pyramids These are a great way to show the structure of a population Particularly plotting them over time

A population pyramid for the UK in 2010

Fall in Fertility During the 20 th Century fertility rates fell There have been a number of factors that have lead to this: –Education about contraception –Knowing the risks of smoking and drinking during pregnancy –Secularisation –Consumerism

Factors causing changes in births and life expectancy in the UK Falling births Costs and consumerism Contraception, abortion and education Global connections Woman’s status, pay and rights Nutrition, diet and lifestyle Hygiene, sanitation and safety Global connections Healthcare, treatment and prevention Longer life expectancy

An ageing population

The Greying of British Society As we’ve already talked about, the number of people over 65 is growing This means we are going to have a higher dependent population We can work this out with this equation Dependency ratio = (Population under 16) + (Population over 65) (Population 15 – 64) X 100

Advantages of greying population Disadvantages of greying population Voluntary charitable work Spending money on goods and services Earning money and paying tax Bringing wisdom and experience to some sectors Economic costs – providing health care, retirement homes and a pension is going to become increasingly expensive (Baby boomers will cost £30 billion a year) Housing shortages due to longer life expectancy Emotional burden