Roots

Roots

1. Family size

   • The total population of the UK rose from around 38 million in 1901 to 61 million in 2007
   • Individual household sizes have fallen
   • In the early 1900s, four or five children might live under the same roof with their parents, today it is likely to be just one or two
   • Many households consist of just one or people
   • Increased life expectancy has led to grandparents living longer, which increases the size of extended family

2. Population structure

   • The UK as a whole has developed a top-heavy population structure
   • Back in 1931, just 7% of the population were aged 65, while 24% were under 16
   • Today, the figures are 16% of over 65s and 19% of under 25s
   • Life expectancy has increased over time
   • In 1901 the average age of death was 50 for men and 57 for women
   • By 2007, the average age of death was 77 for men and 82 for women
   • Before the 1970s
     • Population was still growing due to natural increase
     • The death rate had been falling since the 1800s
       • The total population grew from 38 million to 55 million between 1901 and 1971
     • Death rate came to its current low level by mid-century
     • It took until the 1970s, and the end of the postwar baby boom, for declining birth rate to reach the same low level as death rate
   • Since the 1970s
     • Total population has increased more slowly
     • Growth has mostly been due to immigration
     • Both death rate and birth rate have remained at a low and fairly constant level
     • Family sizes are small while life expectancy is increasing
     • The total population grew from 55 million to 61 million between 1971 and 2007

3. Migration

   • Over time the mobility of the UK population has increased
   • One of the most important recent migrations has been movement away from manufacturing and mining towns and towards settlements with service-sector jobs
   • A general southeast drift of the UK population has resulted, with 26% now living in London and the southeast
   • Counter-urbanisation - significant numbers of people have left towns and cities to live in surrounding rural areas
   • Retired people moving to seaside settlements
   • Young adults leaving home and relocating to university towns
   • Large amounts of international migration took place

4. Employment

   • Employment structures for many settlements have changed beyond recognition in recent decades
   • The decline of traditional manufacturing as well as job losses in farming and mine closures
   • Movement away from the Primary and Secondary sectors to the Tertiary and Quaternary sectors

5. Social status and aspirations

   • At the start of the 20th century, most people in the UK were relatively poor and would have described themselves as 'working class'
   • During the 20th century, average wages rose and more people entered higher education before graduating to non-manual work
   • As a result of social mobility, more and more people have come to define themselves as 'middle class'

6. Ethnicity

   • The ethnic mix of people living in the UK has changed significantly over time
   • With minority groups now accounting for 8% overal
   • From 1950s onwards, large scale migration took place from the UKs former colonies of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
   • Significant numbers of Australians and white South Africans also relocated in the UK
   • Since the Maastricht treaty of 1993 many European migrants have arrived
   • London is now home to 100,000 French nationals
   • Segregating results in some districts having noticeably different ethnic profiles
   • Around 60% of people living in the London Borough of Newham are non-white

7. The Grey Challange

   • The proportion of the UKs population aged over 65 is growing
   • Ageing population
   • Greying of the British society
   • The country faces a growing burden of dependency
   • Dependency ratio = (Population under 16) + (Population over 65) / (Population 15-64) X 100
   • The dependency ratio is rising in the UK as the number of retired people increased
   • Currently, 60% of Britons work and pay the state pensions of the 21% who are retired
   • By 2030,56% of Britons will be working to support the 27% who are retired
   • By 2026, when the 1960s baby boom generation reaches retirement age, this will amount to about £30 billion per year
   • Local authorities with an unusually high proportion of elderly people must fund greater numbers of care homes and services which results in higher council taxes for working people
   • Many older people retire to coastal regions
   • Properties remain occupied by elderly owners for much longer as life expectancy rises
   • This can result in housing shortages, driving up prices for younger people
   • Between 1995 and 2005, average house prices in some UK seaside towns trebled, taking them well beyond the reach of many first-time buyers
   • May place emotional burden on younger and middle-aged people who act as carers for older relatives
   • Voluntary charitable work
   • Spending the grey pound
   • Some many continue to work
   • Bringing wisdom and experience to politics