3.2.1 Section A: Urban Issues and Challenges -The Distribution UK Cities

Question 1

What was the UK’s population in 2022?

Answer 1

68.5 mil

Question 2

How has the UK’s population changed since 1900?

Answer 2

• exponential population growth
• rapid increase in number of people living in UK from 1900

Question 3

How is the UK’s population distributed?

Answer 3

unevenly distributed

Question 4

What % of the UK’s population lives in urban areas? and how many of those live in London or the South East?

Answer 4

• 82% live in urban areas
• I in 4 of those live in London and the South East

Question 5

How much land area does the South East of England cover in the UK? and how much of the UK’s population lives in the South East of England?

Answer 5

South East of England covers 1/10 of the land area but has over one third of the UK population living there

Question 6

What is the population distribution in many highland areas in the UK? and explain why:

Answer 6

many highland regions of Scotland and Wales are very sparsely populated - these are upland areas that are remote and can experience harsh climatic conditions

Question 7

Which place in the UK has the lowest population density and what is its population density?

Answer 7

Scottish Highlands/Elleen Siar: 9 people per km2

Question 8

What place in Northern Ireland has the lowest population density and what is its population density?

Answer 8

Lowest population density in Northern Ireland - Moyle: 35 people per km2

Question 9

What place in England has the lowest population density and what is its population density?

Answer 9

Lowest population density in England - Elden, Cumbria: 25 people per km2

Question 10

What place in Wales has the lowest population density and what is its population density?

Answer 10

Powys: 26 people per km2

Question 11

Where is the UK’s highest population density outside of London and what is its population density?

Answer 11

Portsmouth: 5141 people per km2

Question 12

What is the only major city in the North East in the UK where its population has fallen?

Answer 12

Sunderland

Question 13

Why is there a higher population in SE England?

Answer 13

higher population in SE England as better temps and better conditions for farming

Question 14

What was the population of Scotland in 2015?

Answer 14

5.3m

Question 15

What was the population of England in 2015?

Answer 15

54.3m

Question 16

What was the population of Northern Ireland in 2015?

Answer 16

1.8m

Question 17

What was the population of Edinburgh in 2015?

Answer 17

450,000

Question 18

What was the population of Cardiff Ireland in 2015?

Answer 18

310,000

Question 19

What was the population of London in 2015?

Answer 19

7.2m

Question 20

What does the distribution of the UK’s major cities and most densely populated areas reflect?

Answer 20

its industrial past - shaped by the Industrial Revolution in the 18th C

Question 21

What took place in the industrial revolution in the UK?

Answer 21

• there was a development of heavy industries and concentration of population near supplies of coal and raw materials such are iron ore - for example:
  
  • the Central Lowlands of Scotland (Glasgow)
  • North East England (Newcastle & Sunderland)
  • Lancashire (Manchester)
  • South Wales (Cardiff and Swansea)

Question 22

Why did London develop?

Answer 22

• London developed because of its position as the capital of the UK with associated political and administrative functions
• from being the capital of a large empire it became a global city and a financial centre

Question 23

Why did Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh develop?

Answer 23

Belfast, Cardiff, and Edinburgh grew because of their function as capital cities of Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland

Question 24

Why did Birmingham develop?

Answer 24

the UK’s second biggest city, Birmingham grew mainly as a centre of industrial innovation due to its key position as an important trading centre explaining the growth of ports such as London, Liverpool, and Bristol

Question 25

What is the general drift in population distribution in the UK?

Answer 25

has been a general drift towards the SE England and London - one of the world’s financial, business and cultural centres

Question 26

Counter-urbanisation:

Answer 26

moving from urban to rural areas

Question 27

Why are more and more people moving to rural areas?

Answer 27

• the UK has increasing population of older people, many choosing to retire to live on the coast or in the country
• counter-urbanisation: the movement of people from urban to rural areas
• because of COVID there are easier ways of working remotely meaning more people choose to move/live in urban areas
• increase in younger people moving to rural areas as well

Question 28

Since 1997 what has been greater than the annual outward migration?

Answer 28

since 1997 annual inward migration has been greater than annual outward migration

Question 29

Between 2009 and 2014 how much has the UK’s population increased each year?

Answer 29

between 2009 and 2014 this increased the population by an average of 243,000 each year

Question 30

Where do immigrants generally settle in the UK?

Answer 30

immigrants generally settle in larger cities where there are more job opportunities

Question 31

What has the net migration been like between 2015 - 2021 for the UK?

Answer 31

the net migration (inward minus outward) has declined every year from 2015 to 2021 - this likely to continue because of UK’s exit from Europe

Question 32

Map showing the distribution of the UK’s population:

Answer 32

Question 33

Map showing the population of the UK and its major cities in the UK:

Answer 33