Demography- changes

Changes in death rates

Trends: Death rates have decreased (9.2 in 2017, 19 in 1900)

Reasons: Medical improvements (NHS in 1948- a decline in infectious diseases).

Improved public health/sanitation

Decline in dangerous jobs

Changes in lifestyle/ higher standards of living

Effects: Increase in life expectancy and an ageing population

Changes in birth/fertility rates

Trends: Birth rate has fallen (11.1 in 2018- lowest since records began) Total fertility rate has fallen (1.8 in 2018 vs 2.95 in 1694)

Most women are remaining childless, women are having children later (average age is 30)

Reasons: Changes in the position of women, Increase in child-centredness and increase in effectiveness/availability of contraception

Effects: Family- smaller family size and freedom for women

Society- Increase in dependency ratio and less demand for children's services.

Changes in family size

Trends: Family sizes have decreased (1.8 children on average)

Lone-parent increasing

Reasons: Fewer children- position of women, contraception

Nuclear- privatised, isolated, industrialisation

Changes in life expecatancy

Trends: Life expectancy has increased (79 for men, 83 for women)

Reasons: Medical improvements and improved geriatric care

Effects: Ageing population and increase in dependency ration.

An ageing population: effects on family structures

Multigenerational extended families/beanpole families

Increase in one person households

Women adopt expressive role

An ageing population: positive effects

Supporting dual worker families/ providing childcare

Volunteerism- benefits society - increased retirement period

An ageing population: negative effects

Struggle to meet cost demands, burden on the NHS

Increased dependency ratio-older retirement age

Increased burden on women- beanpole families/sandwich generation (middle-aged adults who care for both their children and their parents).

Total fertility rate

This means the number of children who would be born per woman (or per 1,000 woman) if she/they were to pass through the childbearing years bearing children according to a current schedule of age-specific fertility rates.

General fertility rate

This represents the number of live births in a year per 1,000 women of childbearing age (usually ages 15-49). It provides insight into the reproductive behavior of a population.

Birth rate

This means the number of live births per thousand of population per year.

Average family size

This is defined in terms of the number of children in the household.

Average household size

This is defined by the number of people residing in a single residence.

Role of women

Many women now want to have a career of their own rather than care for a large family, compared to before when women’s role was to do so. Also by putting her career first a woman will leave having children till later in life, that average age of first child is 30 years old, meaning they have less time to have more children.

Infant mortality rate

Fewer people die in their childhood than ever before, this means that fewer families are compensating by having more children in the hope that 1 or 2 will survive infancy. In 1900 22.5% of live births would die before their 5th birthday whereas in 2015 it was 0.5%.

Geographic mobility

The modern labour force needs to be very mobile. This is an incentive for smaller families because it makes it easier to just pack up and move elsewhere.

Changing values

Parenthood is a lifelong, stressful commitment, many couples are now deciding that they do not want children, whereas before this would have been a bad thing, it is now accepted in society.

Economic factors

The cost of raising a child is rising ever year with the current estimate at around £235,000 from birth to 18 and rising to £271,000 if going to 21 and including university education. This can influence couples who choose to only have 1 child as they cannot afford a second.