Demography Flashcards
(43 cards)
Birth rate
The number of live births per 1000 of the population per year
Infant mortality rate
The number of infants that die before their first birthday (per 1000 infants that are born alive per year)
Total fertility rate
The average number of children women will have during their fertile rates
Reasons for decline in birth rate - changes in the position of women
Legal equality with men - the right to vote, abortion rights, equal pay act
Increased educational and employment opportunities
Easier access to divorce
Access to abortion and reliable contraception
Harper argues that education is the main reason for this fall because those who are educated are more likely to use contraception and get a job instead of having kids.
This leads to a decrease in birth rate because women feel less pressure to have kids
In 2012 20% of women were childless
Reasons for decline in birth rate - decline in infant mortality rate
In the 1900s IMR was 154 meaning that 15% of babies died within the first year. In 2018 it has fallen to 4, this is because:
- improved services for women such as antenatal and postnatal clinics
- improved housing and sanitation
- mass immunisation against childhood disease and the use of antibiotics to fight infection. In 1950 IMR was 50 but dropped to 4 in 2012
- better knowledge of hygiene, child health and welfare
Brass and Kiber - the trend to smaller families began in urban areas where IMR was high
Harper - decline in IMR means a decline in birth rate because children are surviving meaning that parents having less children
Reasons for the decline in birth rate - children are now an economic liability
- laws banning child labour and introducing compulsory schooling
- changing norms about what children have a right expect from their parents in material terms mean the cost of bringing up children has children
Reasons for decline in birth rate - child centredness
- changes in cultural norms about family size
- smaller family sizes have become the norm, whereas large ones have been seen as deviant or less acceptable
- social construction of childhood has meant that family sizes are based on quality not quantity
Death rate
Number of deaths per 1000 of the population
Life expectancy
How long on average people who are born in a given year can be expected to live
Reasons for decline in death rate
Tranter says that the main reason for the decline in DR is because the reduced levels of ‘infectious diseases’ such as measles, small pox, TB etc…
Since the 1950s these diseases have been replaced with illnesses such as heart disease and cancer
Reasons for decline in DR - improved nutrition
Mckeown argues that improved nutrition reduces the number of deaths from TB as it boosts resistance to infection
Reasons for decline in DR - medical improvements
Medical knowledge has increased since the 1950s such as the introduction of NHS in 1948 - this lead to antibiotics and improved maternity services
Reasons for decline in DR - smoking and diet
Harper - argues that a huge reduction in the number of people smoking has led to the falling of DR. Although obesity has increased, it hasn’t led to the rise in DR because the improvement of drug/surgery therapies
Reasons for decline in DR - public health measures
Since the 1900s, government and local councils have been given policies to put in a series of public health laws that have improved the environment and health
This has included improving housing, air pollution, drinking water and the standard of food and drinks
In 2019, London has introduced one of the worlds most anti-pollution policies - ULEZ in central London reducing emissions by 80%
Class, gender and regional differences
Women live longer than men
North + Scotland have lower life expectancy but that’s because of class - men do unskilled jobs so they’re 3x more likely to die before 65
Walker - poorer people are more likely to die in 7 years earlier than those living in rich areas
Immigration
Movement into a country or area
Emigration
Movement out of a country
Net migration
The difference between numbers of people immigrating and the people emigrating. There can be an increase or decrease of net migration
Advantages of immigration
New opportunities
Larger working population
Increase in cultural diversity
Plugs gap in employment market
Disadvantages of immigration
Overpopulation
Job insecurity
Shortage of housing and food etc…
Cultural tensions
UK emigration stats
From 1500s to 1980s, UK had higher rates of emigration than immigration
Since the 1900s, many emigrants have left for popular destinations such as USA, China, Australia
Push factors for emigration
No job opportunities
Conflict
Bad education
Distance from family
Inflation rates
Poor standards of living
Bad weather
Pull factors for emigration
More job opportunities
Safety
Better educational opportunities
Closer to family
Decrease in inflation
Better standards of living
Better weather
Ageing population
This refers to the average age of the population getting older
In 1971 the average age was 34.1 and by 2019 it increased to 40 years. By 2037 it’s expected to rise to 42.8
12.4mil people in the UK are aged 65 and over
