6.1.1
The UK
Population Structure in the UK
Population Structure in the UK
The population of the UK is unevenly distributed and has grown at different rates depending on location.
Population changes
Population changes
- The population grew from 56 million to 63 million between 1981 and 2011 (2018 estimate is 66.6 million), but not equally in all regions.
- There has been minimal growth in the north and north-east (including Scotland), some growth in the Midlands and strong growth in the south and south-east (including London).
- This pattern reflects the economic prosperity of the regions, with the de-industrialised north losing out to the service sector economy of the south.
Rural/urban
Rural/urban
- Remote rural areas have experienced population decline, as have some inner cities.
- Suburban, rural–urban fringe and accessible rural areas have seen population growth.
- Older (65+) people tend to live more in rural areas.
- The percentage of over-65s in inner-city areas is low.
- Suburban places have a high number of 0-15-year-olds.
- There is less variation in where you would find 0-15-year-olds than in the over-65s.
Factors Influencing UK Population Trends
Factors Influencing UK Population Trends
There are multiple accessibility, physical and historical factors that contribute to the trends we can see in UK population density and structure.
Rural/urban
Rural/urban
- Urban areas are usually more accessible by transport than rural areas.
- Access matters more for working-age people, but less so for the over-65s so more retired people live in rural areas that are more peaceful.
- Remote rural areas can be more hilly, have limited transport connections and therefore access is even more difficult with longer journey times between places.
- Many upland areas have hill farming suitable only for animal grazing, so population density is low.
Historical planning
Historical planning
- Suburban areas have high population densities due to transport developments.
- After 1880 many middle-class people moved out of city centres into the suburbs and commuted to work by rail.
- Planning policies also contributed to the popularity of the suburbs, accessible rural areas and some parts of the rural-urban fringe.
Greenbelt
Greenbelt
- Since 1947, many cities have been ringed by a greenbelt.
- This has encouraged people to move beyond it and live in rural areas and commute further to work in the city (counter-urbanisation).
- Greenbelts have also put pressure on suburban areas to house people at higher densities.
Population dynamics
Population dynamics
Growth and decline of populations are affected by birth and death rate and migrations. There is a difference in population dynamics between rural and urban areas.
Growth and decline
Growth and decline
- The relationship between birth rate and death rate determines whether a population grows (more births than deaths) or declines (more deaths than births).
- Many remote rural areas have declining populations due to these natural factors, whereas many urban areas have growing populations.
- Migration (both internal and international) also has an impact.
Rural/urban
Rural/urban
- Rural areas tend to have high levels of internal out-migration and low levels of international migration (outward and inward).
- Urban areas tend to have high levels of internal in-migration and high levels of international migration (outward and inward).
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
Jump to other topics
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
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