Demography
booklet
, Explain what is meant by the birth rate
The birth rate is defined as the number of live births per thousand of the population per year.
Reasons for the changes between these years?
Reason 1. Changing gender roles – women are now more likely to work and therefore not
expected to take the expressive role and focus on having children.
Impact: Rise in single parent families; smaller family size = more child-centred society;
gender equality.
Reason 2. Changing attitudes – large families are not the social norm anymore; we do not
expect children to look after their parents in old age and therefore parents are no longer
having large families to ensure they have a secure old age.
Impact: Increase in nuclear families; more expectation for public services for the elderly (e.g.
state social care, privatised health care making a profit for the wealthy)
Explain what is meant by the mortality rate
The mortality rate is the number of deaths per thousand of the population per year.
Reason 1. Better medicine; vaccines and antibiotics
Three quarters of the fall in death rate between 1850 and 1970 was due to advances in
medical science. Which diseases were now treatable or preventable through vaccination?
Impact – a healthier society means more people can work; elderly are living longer which
booklet
, Explain what is meant by the birth rate
The birth rate is defined as the number of live births per thousand of the population per year.
Reasons for the changes between these years?
Reason 1. Changing gender roles – women are now more likely to work and therefore not
expected to take the expressive role and focus on having children.
Impact: Rise in single parent families; smaller family size = more child-centred society;
gender equality.
Reason 2. Changing attitudes – large families are not the social norm anymore; we do not
expect children to look after their parents in old age and therefore parents are no longer
having large families to ensure they have a secure old age.
Impact: Increase in nuclear families; more expectation for public services for the elderly (e.g.
state social care, privatised health care making a profit for the wealthy)
Explain what is meant by the mortality rate
The mortality rate is the number of deaths per thousand of the population per year.
Reason 1. Better medicine; vaccines and antibiotics
Three quarters of the fall in death rate between 1850 and 1970 was due to advances in
medical science. Which diseases were now treatable or preventable through vaccination?
Impact – a healthier society means more people can work; elderly are living longer which
