Demography

• Birth rate: The number of live births per 1000 of population per year.
• Total fertility rate: The average number of children a woman will have during their fertile years.
• Death rate: Number of deaths per 1000 of the population per year.
• Childbearing patterns:

  • Over 1 in 4 children are born outside of marriage.
  • Women are having children later.
  • More women are remaining childless.
• Reasons for decline in birth rate:

  • Changes in the position of women - contraceptive, divorce, employment, attitude
  • Decline in infant mortality- better sanitation, nutrition, improved healthcare, better knowledge
  • Children have become an economic liability
  • Child centredness
• Future issues:

  • Fertility rates
  • Recent increase due to increased immigration
  • projection up to 2041
• Effects of changes in fertility:

  • The family
  • Dependancy ratio
  • public services and policies
• Trends in death rate:

  • Total number is stable in the UK since 1900
  • Increases during world wars
  • Death rate halved since 1900
  • Slight decline since 1950’s
• Reasons for decline in death rate:

  • Decline in infectious diseases
  • Lower infant mortality
  • Improved nutrition
  • Medical improvements
  • Improved public health
  • Decline in dangerous occupation
• Life expectancy trends:

  • 1900, men-50, women-57
  • 2005, men-76, women-81
  • Average age of 2 per decade
  • Baby has more chance to reach 65th birthday than 1st
  • Lower in manual jobs