UK's changing population

• Reasons for highest growth in London

  • Global city - attracts migrants
  • Wide range of jobs
• Reasons for lowest growth in North East

  • Traditional primary industries
  • e.g. coal, mining, manufacturing
• How much has the UK population increased in the last 50 years?

  10m
• Migration


  • Net out-migration until 1983
  • Balanced out in 1990s
  • In-migration main driver of population
  • 5.5m British abroad in 2005
  • 'Brain drain'
  • Threatens social cohesion
  • Growing ethnic diversity
  • 8% of work force are migrants from commonwealth countries
• Baby boom


  • Population hasn't stopped ageing
  • Fast growing elderly rate
  • Boomers reaching retirement age
  • High birth rates among immigrant households
  • Infertility treatment for older women
  • Less spending in secondary schools