Change

• Birth rate :

  Generally declining, UK born mothers have a birth rate of 1.7% whereas immigrants have a slightly higher birth rate of 2.3% bringing the overall birth rate to 1.9%

  so

  Smaller families, having less children means women are more likely to be able to pursue careers. More time and energy spent on each child.
• Death rate :

  Declining due to increasing affluence and quality of life, better education, better healthcare and medical knowledge.

  so

  More older people, leading to an ageing population and an increased dependency ratio. Puts greater pressure on women in families to care for elderly relatives. On the other hand, grandparents may be active for longer and play more of a role in their grandchildren's lives, as well as helping with childcare while both parents work.
• Family size :

  Decreasing due to the cost of raising children. Immigrant families typically have larger families however.

  so

  More beanpole families, the family is more geographically mobile which suits being flexible to move for work. Some argue smaller families lead to them being more isolated and possibly more conflict ridden, due to the lack of support from the extended family.
• Age at first marriage :

  Much later due to the cost of weddings, cohabitation being seen as an acceptable alternative, people especially women attending university and being more career-centred.

  so

  More cohabiting couples, greater number of people choosing to live alone, greater expectations about marriage mean people are less willing to commit until they have lived with their partner first. Marriage is less important in society.
• Age when first child is born :

  First child is born later, on average now, due to increasing career centredness, more effective contraception.

  so

  Less children being born due to later starting age, lower fertility rates contributing to an increasing dependency ratio.
• Ageing population :

  Decreasing rate of first marriage but increasing numbers of subsequent marriages.

  so

  Greater strain on women who usually take care of the older family members, older people playing a greater role in the lives of their grandchildren. More beanpole families.
• Marriage rate :

  Increased due to laws making divorce easier, greater expectations, women being financially self sufficient.

  so

  An increase in serial monogamy. Greater instability/change in family life, greater expectations about relationships, perhaps greater emotional fulfilment, greater numbers of people cohabiting choosing to be single.
• Divorce rate :

  Increased due to laws making divorce easier, greater expectations, women being financially self sufficient.

  so

  An increase in people living alone after their divorce or returning to their parents (boomerang families) more cohabiting couples, more lone parent families, greater instability in family life, more remarriage.