The population

• The population of the UK is increasing, currently at 68 million

  • it has increased every year since 2001, but growth rate has slowed since 2011
• the changing population structure of the UK is shown using population pyramids

  • in 2001, the highest number of people were 30-39 due to high birth rates in the 1960s
  • by 2015, it was 40-49 as they got older

  
• The Demographic Transition Model shows how a countrys population is likely to change as it develops, based on changing birth and death rates.

  
• DMT

  at stage 1, the birth and death rates are high and population is low. as a country develops, healthcare improves so death rates falls and population grows

  however overtime, better education and increased access to contraception means that birth rates falls, so population growth begins to slow down

  • UK is in stage 4
• the UK in the DTM

  birth and death rates have fallen for the past 300 years as it moves through stages 1-3 of the DTM

  • it hasn’t reached stage 5 yet, where death rate is higher than birth rate
• Migration in the UK

  Roughly half of the UK’s population growth is driven by natural increase and half by migration.

  • in 2015, 600,000 people moved to the UK
  • 300,000 moved overseas

  Majority of migrants move to London and the south-east

  • they affect the UKs position in the DTM by increasing birth rates
  • account for 27% of babies born
• Londons population

  there is a young and ethnically diverse population here

  • population of 8.8 million
  • Fastest population growth here than anywhere else in the UK

  People move here in ages 20-69 from overseas to work
• ethnic diversity

  13% of the population was born in another country

  • in London this value is 37%

  London white British population has fallen from 60% to 45% between 2001 and 2011
• The UK has an ageing population, as around 20% of the population is over 65, and this is increasing

  • low birth rates due to better contraceptive options
  • better medical care
  • people leading healthier lifestyles
• elderly people often live in coastal areas in the east or south west of England, as they move there when they retire

  • low elderly population in big cities and Scotland
• Effects of the ageing population

  Social

  • retired people do voluntary work
  • grandparents babysit grandchildren
  • Some people act as unpaid carers for older family members, so they have less leisure time

  Economic

  • taxes rise to pay for pensions and healthcare
  • They dont work, and therefore pay less tax
  • Have a disposable income
• responses to the ageing population

  • increased taxes to fund more medical care
  • cut spending on areas such as education
  • government raising age at which you can claim a pension so people work for longer
  • government encouraging people to save for retirement