Areas of Population Decline

Question 1

De-population:

Answer 1

A substantial reduction in the population of an area.

Question 2

Causes of De-Population

Answer 2

• Reduction in traditional employment due to mechanised farms, increased competition from abroad for farm produce and exhaustion of natural resources (e.g. tin, copper).
• Few jobs (often low-paid) and relatively high unemployment.
• Increase in popularity/second homes causes house prices
to rise so young people can’t afford to live there and are forced to move away.
• Less people results in fewer services (e.g. banks, doctors, post offices and public transport). According to DEFRA, 30 rural schools have closed every year since the 1970s.
• Young people move away leaving older people behind.

Question 3

Example: Cumbria

Answer 3

• In Cumbria, over 700 agricultural jobs were lost between 2000 and 2007.
Services close due to lack of demand e.g. 35 Post Offices closed in Cumbria in 2008, Welton School which had 9 pupils closed in 2011.