4 Demography Flashcards
Population size affected by births deaths and migration
Demography= study of stats that measure the size and growth of a population e.g. birth and death rate
1 a population generally increases when birth rates higher than death rates.
Low fertility or high mortality rates lead to decline in population as too few children born to replace those dying
2 immigration into country cause increase population, emigration away from country decreases population
Birth and fertility rates have decreased
Birth rate fallen since 20th century.
In 2014 nearly 700 000 births in England and Wales
In 1901 there were 1 million
Fertility was unusually high after 1st and 2nd world wars.
In 1960s those born in these periods called Baby Boomers
The birth rate fluctuated since mid 1970s and is now falling.
Total fertility rate
= average number of children woman have during fertility years 15-14)
The TFR generally decreased in england and wales since early 20 century
In 2014 it was 1.83 children per woman
There were unusual peaks in fertility during baby booms of 20th century.
Completed family size
Average number of children for woman born in a specific year.
E.g.
In england and wales
A woman born in 1968 has CFS of 1.92 children
2.34 in 1941
People are having few children and having them later in life
FEWER LATER NOT AT ALL
People having fewer kids- average number of dependent children per family in 1971= 2.0
2011= 1.7
Women having them later- average age in 1971= 24
2013= 28
More not having any child.
Women born 1945= 9% childless at age 45
Born 1966= 20%
Reasons people having fewer children or later in life
Contraception more available
Women’s roles are changing
The emphasis on individual post industrial society is a key factor
Children= time consuming and expensive.
Couples may spend their time and money in other ways.
Conflict between wanting a successful career and being a mum has made many have kids later
Mortality and death rates also fallen dramatically since 1900
Infant mortality rates (number of child deaths age 0 to 1 per 1000 live births) and childhood mortality dramatically improved.
In 1901 16.6% of boys and
13.6% girls in England and Wales died before their first birthday. Now, IMR less than 0.5%.
Adult mortality fallen. Number of deaths per year stayed same since 1901 but increase population in 20 century means proportions of death fallen
Reason for fall in death rates
Medical advancement in second half of 20th century reduced it- vaccines blood transfusion antibiotics better care for pregnant
NHS 1948- healthcare free and accessible
Government imposes public health by regulating food and drinking water quality and laws to improve cleanness. Awareness how infections transmitted
Mckeown 1972 better nutrition was a major factor in improving mortality rates in UK as more able to fight infection. Critics say some diseases like measles rose as nutrition improved
Overall population of UK ageing
Falling mortality increased life expectancy
1 in 3 babies born in 2013 have the life expectancy of 100
A population ages when number of older increase. This causes median age of population (age when half is young and half old) to increase.
A population needs TFR of 2.1 to replace existing population- replacement level
Uk ageing
-Almost quarter of UK is 65 or over by 2035
Proportion of over 85s doubled since 1985
-Improvement in mortality and increase life expectancy mean more now live past age 65
- when TFR falls below replacement level, an ageing population develops. The decline of fertility rates in late 1970 went below replacement level meaning fewer children are being born.
-= young proportion in Uk decreasing. Proportion of older set to increase due to baby boomers from 2nd world war reach 80s and 1960 boomers reach 60s
= beanpole families of several generations. Older living longer and fewer members in each generation
Ageing population changes burden of care in society
Society responsible for old and young- burden of care- puts pressure on resources.
The burden of care shifts towards older in ageing population. There’s also decline of working age people. Increases dependency ratio and young struggle to meet older people’s needs.
Ageing population Hirsch
Hirsch 2005 suggests people either have to work into 60s and 70s or pay more taxes during working life to contribute to health and social care cost later.
Single pensioners compete for housing against single youngsters. =rise in house prices. Older often own their own homes but young have fewer assets (possessions and propertty) and lose out
Ageing population
Griffith’s report
In late 1980 government commissioned the Griffiths Report on care in community.
It looked at long term care of mentally ill, disabled and older members with the aim of making it more efficient
1) care of older leaving hospital used to be by NHS services, now local council social service responsibility. Movement away from institutionalisation (placing people in group homes, hospitals etc.) towards care in the home.
2) delivering more minor health and social care in home has improved the independence and comfort of older people who don’t want to more to retirement homes or don’t need 24 hour care. But since the financial crisis in 2008, the government has given less money to local councils- this has resulted in cuts to services.
Poverty in old age linked to social class, gender and ageism
Ageism (discrimination against older because of their age) tends to increase in ageing populations- the needs of older are often seen as a problem.
Ageism also involves underestimating the value of older people in society.
Poverty in old age linked to social class, gender and ageism
Peter Townsend 1979 studied poverty in UK- found higher proportion of older in it. An underclass of pensioners developed because older people could no longer rely on income from employment
People with higher status during working lives less likely in poverty old age. He linked this idea to social class- people in poverty throughout working life less likely to have savings and private pensions to support selves in old age. Pilcher 1995 argues both class and gender affect income in retirement. Women often have smaller pensions as might take time from work to care for children.
