Identify and explain two reasons why family size has decreased

Question 1

point 1

Answer 1

One reason is that there has been an increase in divorce rate in recent years.

Question 2

example 1

Answer 2

In the UK there was a massive rise in the divorce rate during the 1970’s. It then stayed relatively high until 2004 when it began to fall slightly (by 7% since 2004). The reason for this may be that marriage numbers have declined thus there are less people married who can then divorce. The UK still has one of the highest divorce rates in the world.

Question 3

explain 1

Answer 3

This has decreased the family size as less and less families are two-headed which means the overall size of families has gone down.

Question 4

point 2

Answer 4

Another reason is that there has been a decrease in fertility rates due to women having children later in life.

Question 5

example 2

Answer 5

Morgan, points out that total fertility rates (the number of children born per woman of childbearing age) have fallen. In the 1870s, around five children were born per woman. By 1995 it had fallen to 1.77. According to Social Trends (2006) it fell further to 1.63 in 2001. This is a consequence of women having children later in life.

Question 6

explain 2

Answer 6

This has decreased the family size as on average the family is having less children, which decreases the overall average family size.

Question 7

intro

Answer 7

The average size of families has declined in the last hundred years. In the 1860s average completed family size was around six or seven children but by 1990 had fallen below two children.