Migration

Question 1

From 1900 until the Second World War, what was the biggest immigrant group?

Answer 1

• The Irish

- Mainly for economic reasons

Question 2

In 2011, what % of the UK classed as an ethnic minority group?

Answer 2

14%

Question 3

What are the impacts of migration on the UK population structure?

Answer 3

1. Population size
   - High net migration, there are more immigrants (583,000) than emigrants (323,000)
   - Natural increase: births exceed death. Births to UK born mothers remain low, yet births to non-UK mothers are higher and account for 25% of all births
2. Age structure
   - Directly: immigrants are usually younger. Eg: 2011, average age of UK passport holders was 41, but non-UK was 31
   - Indirectly: being younger, immigrants are more fertile and thus produce more babies

Question 4

What are the 3 effects of immigration?

Answer 4

1. Immigrants are more likely to be of working age and this helps to lower the dependency ratio
2. Over time, due to being younger, immigrants will have more children, increasing the dependency ratio
3. The longer a group is settled in the country, the closer their fertility rate comes to the national average, reducing their overall impact on the dependency ratio