FAMILY: demography Flashcards
What was the UK population in 1801 compared to 2007?
1801: 10.5 million
2007: 61 million
Until the 1980s what was the main reason for the UK population growth?
Natural changes e.g. more births than deaths
After the 1980s what were the main reasons for population growth?
More immigration than emigration. (net migration)
How many children does the average UK woman have?
1.89
How many children does the average non-UK woman have living in the UK?
2.28
How many babies were born in 2004 & 2011?
2004: 716,000 babies born
2011: 808,000 babies born
What was the average fertility rate for a UK woman in 1964?
2.95
What trend is occurring in the fertility rate of UK and non-UK mothers today?
The fertility rate for UK mothers is increasing but declining for non-UK mothers
When did the UK experience dips in the birth rate?
- During both world wars
- Introduction of the contraceptive pill
- Legalisation of abortion
3 reasons for a declining birth rate
1) Recession- the cost of children
2) Women choosing not have children
3) Women have children later therefore they have less
Why might there have been an increase in the birth rates in 2002?
The UK border opened up to the European Union.
Non-UK women have a higher birth rate.
How might the position of women changing over the 20th century alter the birth rate?
(3 points)
1) Women have more control of if/when they have children due to more contraception & abortion.
2) Increased educational opportunities for women mean that the majority no longer simply strive for the goal of having a family.
3) Women no longer feel obliged to have children/ a family.
Define the birth rate
the number of live births per thousand of population per year
Define infant mortality rate
the number of deaths of children before their first birthday per 1000 live births.
What was the IMR in 2013?
4.5 per 1000 births
Give 4 reasons for the falling IMR
1) Improved housing e.g. running water & flushing toilets
2) Better knowledge of nutrition for mother & baby
3) Improved services for mother & baby e.g. midwifery
4) Mass immunisation e.g. MMR jab
How might children have become an economic liability?
Previously children could be an economic asset however today they cannot be sent to work.
Childcentredness mean that people have less children as children today require a greater amount of money and attention.
Changing in norms mean that children now expect material possessions from parents. This is reinforced by media.
What effect has the falling fertility rate had on family size?
Smaller families=women more able to work resulting in more dual earner families.
evaluation of this point = better off families can afford childcare and can therefore have more children.
What effect will the falling fertility rate have on the dependency ratio?
Will create a ‘burden of dependency’. This is when there is not enough working population to support the growing, ageing dependent population.
Define dependency ratio
the relationship between the amount of working population that must support the dependent (non working) population.
e.g. pensioners and benefits claimants
3 impacts on public services of falling birth rate
- Fewer schools
- Smaller & less homes being built
- Companies can give higher rates of maternity pay as overall women have less time off
When did the death rate begin to fall?
1870 until 1930
In 2013 what did the British health survey uncover about life expectancy?
In wealthier areas boys are expected to live to 97 years & girls to 103 years.
In poorer areas life expectancy is 72.5 years old.
What did Tranter conclude about the fall of the death rate between 1850-1970?
It has been due to the fall in deaths from infectious diseases.
For example typhoid, TB & cholera.
What did McKeown onclude about the fall of the death rate?
Improved nutrition accounted for up to half the reduction in death rates.
We have a greater knowledge of healthy eating and more access to fresh food.
How might medical improvements helped the death rate fall?
Introduction of antibiotics
Widespread immunisation
Blood transfusions
Improvements in midwifery
When was the NHS introduced?
Who would have mostly benefited from this?
1948
The poor
How has improvements in housing helped the death rate fall?
Running water - hardly any water born disease
Better ventilation - less breathing problems and illness
evaluative point: for poorer people housing today is still poor.
Give an example of a law introduced to protect people’s health?
2006 - smoking banned in public places
Give 2 social changes that have impacted the death rate
Decline in dangerous manual occupations e.g. mining
What was the life expectancy in the UK in 1900?
Males: 50 years
Females: 57 years
Identify 3 reasons why manual workers have higher death rates than professionals
1) Physical risks
2) More likely to drink & smoke
3) Payed less
What has Hirsch concluded about the ageing population?
The traditional age population pyramids are being replaced by almost equal sized blocks.
Why would the falling IMR reduce the birth rate?
less insurance babies
How has ageing being seen as a problem socially constructed?
Society’s attitude towards the elderly is often that they are a strain and problem for society.
What is meant my ‘net-migration’?
the difference of immigrants and emigrants of an area in a period of time, divided per 1,000 inhabitants
Between 1945-1990 who was the largest immigrant group in the UK?
Irish
In the 1950s which immigrant group significantly increased?
Caribbean
In the 1960s/70s which immigrant group significantly increased?
South Asians/East Africans
In 2004 what was the net-migration?
223,000 people
