Population Dynamics EQ1

Question 1

What does demographic mean?

Answer 1

Characteristics of a population e.g. age, gender

Question 2

How has the UK’s demographic transition model changed?

Answer 2

-In the UK, Stage 1 (pre-1750) had high birth and death rates. By Stage 2 (after 1800, during the Industrial Revolution), death rates fell due to better healthcare, causing rapid population growth
-By Stage 4 (post-1950s), birth rates also declined, stabilising the population
-Now, the UK is entering Stage 5, with an ageing population and low natural increase

Question 3

How has the UK’s population pyramid changed over time?

Answer 3

-In 1800, the pyramid was wide at the base and narrow at the top, showing high birth rates and low life expectancy
-By 2000, the base had narrowed, and the top widened, reflecting lower birth rates and increased life expectancy
-By 2011, bulges appeared due to the post-war baby boom (people born in the late 1940s and early 1950s after WWII) and improved survival of elderly people, showing a more top-heavy structure with a ‘greying’ population

Question 4

What’s the difference between fertility rate and mortality rate?

Answer 4

-Fertility rate is the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime. Mortality rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 people per year
-High fertility increases population growth, while high mortality reduces it. In the UK, fertility has declined but remains stable due to migration, while mortality has declined due to better living conditions and healthcare

Question 5

What factors influence fertility rates in the UK?

Answer 5

-Fertility is affected by access to family planning, education about contraception, women’s careers, and cost of child-rearing
-In modern Britain, fertility is generally lower due to later marriages and more women in the workforce. However, immigration of younger families and cultural traditions of larger families can help keep fertility rates from falling too far.

Question 6

What factors influence mortality rates in the UK?

Answer 6

-Mortality is shaped by housing conditions, healthcare access (e.g. the NHS), medical advancements, better diets, and lifestyle improvements
-Although diseases still exist, improved living standards and medical care have reduced death rates significantly
-Health inequalities linked to deprivation and class still affect mortality patterns in some urban areas.

Question 7

How has migration influenced recent UK population change?

Answer 7

-Since the 1990s, net migration has played a major role in population growth, now contributing as much as natural increase. Many migrants are young adults, boosting both the working-age population and birth rates
-This helps offset ageing and stabilises the fertility rate, especially in urban areas like London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

Question 8

What are demographics usually like in urban areas?

Answer 8

-Populations are younger and more ethnically diverse.
-There’s a high proportion of people aged 20–40, which boosts fertility rates and overall population growth.

Mortality rates are mixed:
-Lower due to good access to healthcare
-Higher in some cases due to stress, fast-paced living, pollution, and deprivation

Question 9

What are demographics usually like in rural areas?

Answer 9

-Populations are older with fewer young adults, often because young people migrate to cities for work or study
-This leads to lower fertility and higher mortality rates, especially in isolated or poorly serviced areas.
-Ethnic diversity is low and population change often happens through internal migration, not international immigration
-Patterns vary more because rural areas are affected by environmental conditions, accessibility, and history