Topic 10: Demographic trends in the UK since 1900
Even though the UK birth rate has declined since 1900, the population has risen because
people live longer (78 male / 82 female)- NATURAL GROWTH
Also, since 1980s, more people have entered the UK than have left, thus increasing the
population through NET MIGRATION, though more may be emigrating since the recession
A 2010 estimate suggested that the UK population was over 62million compared with
37million in 1901
Definitions
Birth Rate: Number of live births per 1,000 people per year
Total Fertility Rate (TFR): Average number of children born to women during their fertile
years
Infant Mortality Rate(IMR): Number of infants who die before their first birthday per 1,000
born alive per year
Life Expectancy: How long an average person born in a given year can expect to live
Death Rate: Number of deaths per 1,000 people per year
Dependency Ratio: Relationship between the numbers of workers and numbers of
dependents
Net Migration: Differences between the numbers immigrating and emigrating
BIRTHS
England and Wales had a birth rate of 28.7 in 1900 but by 2007 it had fallen to an estimated
10.7
The UK’s TFR has risen since 2001 but is still much lower than in past
The birth rate is influenced by the proportion of women who are of child-bearing age and
their fertility rate
From an all-time low of 1,63 children per woman in 2001 it rose to 1.84 by 2006
Reasons for decline
1. Changes in position of women
Legal equality with men
Increased educational opportunites- more likely to go to uni
More women in paid employment and laws outlawing unequal pay and sex discrimination
Want to launch careers before having children or may delay childbirth until financially stable
Changes in attitudes to family life and women’s role
Easier access to divorce
As a result of these changes, women now see other possibilities in life apart from the
traditional role of housewife and mother
Many are choosing to delay childbearing or not to have children at all, in order to pursue a
career- 1/5 women aged 45 was childless (2x number of 20yrs earlier)
Even though the UK birth rate has declined since 1900, the population has risen because
people live longer (78 male / 82 female)- NATURAL GROWTH
Also, since 1980s, more people have entered the UK than have left, thus increasing the
population through NET MIGRATION, though more may be emigrating since the recession
A 2010 estimate suggested that the UK population was over 62million compared with
37million in 1901
Definitions
Birth Rate: Number of live births per 1,000 people per year
Total Fertility Rate (TFR): Average number of children born to women during their fertile
years
Infant Mortality Rate(IMR): Number of infants who die before their first birthday per 1,000
born alive per year
Life Expectancy: How long an average person born in a given year can expect to live
Death Rate: Number of deaths per 1,000 people per year
Dependency Ratio: Relationship between the numbers of workers and numbers of
dependents
Net Migration: Differences between the numbers immigrating and emigrating
BIRTHS
England and Wales had a birth rate of 28.7 in 1900 but by 2007 it had fallen to an estimated
10.7
The UK’s TFR has risen since 2001 but is still much lower than in past
The birth rate is influenced by the proportion of women who are of child-bearing age and
their fertility rate
From an all-time low of 1,63 children per woman in 2001 it rose to 1.84 by 2006
Reasons for decline
1. Changes in position of women
Legal equality with men
Increased educational opportunites- more likely to go to uni
More women in paid employment and laws outlawing unequal pay and sex discrimination
Want to launch careers before having children or may delay childbirth until financially stable
Changes in attitudes to family life and women’s role
Easier access to divorce
As a result of these changes, women now see other possibilities in life apart from the
traditional role of housewife and mother
Many are choosing to delay childbearing or not to have children at all, in order to pursue a
career- 1/5 women aged 45 was childless (2x number of 20yrs earlier)
