Demography and the family

• What are the three main factors that affect population size?

  Births, deaths, and migration
• How did birth and fertility rates change after the First and Second World Wars?

  They were high after the wars and in the 1960s
• What was the completed family size for a woman born in 1945 in England and Wales?

  1. 92 children
• What trend has been observed in childbearing in England and Wales in recent decades?

  People are having fewer children and having them later in life
• What was the average number of dependent children per family in 1971 compared to 2011?

  20 in 1971 compared to 17 in 2011
• What are some reasons for the decrease in birth rates?

  Increased availability of contraception and changing societal values
• How have mortality and death rates changed since 1900?

  Mortality and death rates have fallen dramatically
• What was the infant mortality rate in 1901 for boys and girls in England and Wales?

  16.6% for boys and 14.4% for girls
• What medical advances contributed to the reduction in mortality rates in the second half of the 20th century?

  Vaccines, blood transfusions, anesthetics, and better prenatal care
• What role did the NHS play in improving public health?

  The NHS provided free and accessible healthcare to all
• How has the ageing population affected the burden of care in society?

  The burden of care shifts towards older people, increasing the dependency ratio
• What does the dependency ratio indicate?

  The ratio of dependents (young and old) to the working-age population
• What did the Griffiths Report focus on in the late 1980s?


  The long-term care of mentally ill, disabled, and older members of society
• How did the care of older people change after the Griffiths Report?

  Responsibility shifted from NHS services to local council social services
• What are the implications of ageism in an ageing population?

  Older people's needs are often seen as a problem, leading to discrimination
• What did Peter Townsend discover about poverty in the UK?

  There was a higher proportion of older people in poverty compared to younger people
• How does social class affect poverty in old age?

  People with higher status during their working lives are less likely to be in poverty in old age
• How does gender affect income in retirement?

  Women often have lower pensions due to time taken off work for caregiving
• What was the net migration figure for the year 2014-15 in the UK?

  330,900
• What was the impact of the British Nationality Act of 1948?

  It made it easier for citizens of British Commonwealth countries to settle in the UK
• How did net migration affect the average age of the UK population?

  Migrants tend to be young and of working age, decreasing the average age
• What are some reasons for migration in a globalized world?

  Educational purposes and economic migration for work
• What does Eriksen (2007) suggest about migrants in a globalized world?

  Migrants tend to form transnational identities and do not see a single country as home
• What are the main demographic trends affecting families and society in the UK?

  • Decrease in birth and fertility rates
  • Increase in life expectancy and ageing population
  • Changes in mortality rates
  • Significant net migration since the Second World War
  • Impact of globalization on migration patterns
• What are the implications of an ageing population on society?

  • Increased burden of care for older people
  • Higher dependency ratio
  • Pressure on resources and services
  • Potential for increased poverty among older individuals
• What are the effects of net migration on UK society?

  • Decrease in average age of the population
  • Increase in multi-family households
  • Contribution to the economy through a younger workforce
  • Cultural diversity and multicultural society
• What are the causes of falling mortality rates in the UK?

  • Medical advances (vaccines, blood transfusions)
  • Establishment of the NHS
  • Improved public health regulations
  • Better living conditions and sanitation