Population distribution and structure

Demography is the study of population and population change. The most common method of researching demography consists of taking a census. In the UK, a census is taken every 10 years. The next census is due in 2011, and is one example of a social survey. According to the last census, the UK’s population is over 60 million.

For the examination you should be aware of changes to the level of population in the UK since the 1970s. The main factors to consider are as follows;

• Life expectancy has steadily increased. In common with other Western societies, Britain has an ageing population
• The number of children being born has steadily declined. One consequence of this is the potential problem of a birth dearth
• The level of net immigration has grown since the early 1990s due to a demand for skilled labour in the economy
• The death rate has remained relatively stable, although average life expectancy has risen. Women also live longer than men.

You also need to be aware of the impact of such changes upon the government and society. For example the ageing population has led the present government to increase the age of retirement for new workers. The impact of an ageing population has also been considerable. For instance, those in work need to generate the tax revenue necessary to provide for old age pensioners. On a more positive note, the demand for goods and services tailored towards older people has increased.

Latest entries in the Sociology Blog