demographic change

Demography

The study of populations.

Birth rate

The number of live births per 1000 of the population per year.

Fertility rate

The average number of children per adult woman.

Completed family size

The average number of children for a woman born in a particular year.

Infant mortality rate

The number of deaths of children under the age of 1 per 1000 live births per year.

Mortality rate

The number of deaths per 1000 of the population per year.

Net migration

The number of people moving into a country minus the number of people moving away.

Life expectancy

The average length of time someone today is expected to live; the average age a new-born baby born today would reach, assuming mortality rates remain the same as they are now.

Demographic transition model

A model that explains the lag before birth rates adapt to reflect new infant mortality rates.

Public health improvements

Factors attributed to the dramatic fall in mortality/death rate since 1900.

Tranter's dispute (1996)

Disputed that about three quarters of the fall in the death rate between 1850 and 1970 was due to the elimination of preventable diseases.

Baby boom

A period of increased birth rates following the two World Wars.

UK net migration trends

Net migration in the UK increased significantly in the second half of the 20th century.

Population increase factors

Historically high birth rates were due to parents having insurance children because of high infant mortality rates.

Fluctuations in migration

There are times when immigration and emigration are higher or lower, impacting net migration.

Fertility rate decline

The fertility rate has decreased slowly for the last few years, reaching 1.81 in 2016.

Historical fertility rates

The fertility rate has been lower in both the 1970s and the late 1990s.

Infant mortality rate decline

The infant mortality rate has fallen dramatically since the 19th century.

Mortality rate decline

The mortality/death rate has fallen dramatically over the years since 1900.

Net Emigration

Years of net emigration have occurred, with the most recent being 1992 and the most statistically significant being the 1970s and early 1980s.

Immigration Waves

Increased immigration has happened in a number of waves in the post-war period.

Commonwealth Immigration

Immediately following the Second World War, the government encouraged immigration from Commonwealth countries to work in various industries.

Asylum Seekers

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was an increase in the number of people claiming asylum in the UK from a wide range of international conflicts.

EU Immigration

From 2004, there was a significant increase in immigration from within the European Union, particularly from former Eastern bloc countries.

Life Expectancy

Current life expectancy is 79.2 for males and 83.1 for females.

Historical Life Expectancy

In 1901, the life expectancy was 48.5 for males and 52.4 for females.

Ageing Population

The ageing population is a result of falling birth rates and fertility rates, as well as declining death rates.

Replacement Level

The total fertility rate needs to be 2.1 in order to replace the existing population.

Demographic Shift

The UK's population is ageing, leading to concerns about how to sustain a growing group of older adults.

Baby Boomers

Baby boomers are those born shortly after the Second World War, and their ageing poses challenges for society.

Dependency Ratio

The ageing population increases the dependency ratio, making it difficult for society and families to meet older people's needs.

Health and Social Care

The ageing population raises problems relating to health and social care and the costs associated with it.

Social Construction of Old Age

Peter Townsend argues that old age is a social construction developed through a state-imposed age for retirement.

Older Adults' Health Issues

Older people tend to have more health problems and must change their working patterns or retire.

Pension Contributions

Hirsch argues that to support an ageing population, people will need to work longer or pay more in taxes and pension contributions.

Age Pyramid

The UK's age pyramid does not resemble a pyramid anymore but rather more like a pillar with a slight bulge in the middle.

Perception of Older Adults

There is a perception that older members of the population are a burden on society.

Care in the Community

An approach proposed by the Griffiths Report of 1988, emphasizing care for the elderly administered by local councils and largely self-funded.

Dependency Ratio

A demographic measure that compares the number of dependents (young and elderly) to the working-age population.

Net Migration

The movement of people into a country that can help reduce the impact of an ageing population on the dependency ratio by providing a supply of working-age migrants.

Pensioner Poverty

A condition largely confined to those who were in poverty or on comparably low incomes before retirement.

Baby Boomers

A generation of people born during the post-World War II baby boom, often described as a prosperous section of society.

Demographic Change

A shift in the population structure, such as changes in birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns.

Griffiths Report

A 1988 report that proposed reforms for elderly care, leading to the Care in the Community approach.

Social Policy Decisions

Government strategies that influence social welfare, which can affect the problems associated with an ageing population.

Postmodern Society

A societal framework characterized by a shift in values, where older adults are valued as consumers rather than just contributors to production.

Fertility Rate

The average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime; recent migrant women have a higher fertility rate than the overall population average.

Asset Rich

A term describing individuals, particularly older adults, who own valuable properties or investments but may not have liquid cash.

Consumer Society

A society where the economy is driven by the consumption of goods and services, with older adults being an important demographic.

Gender and Social Class Inequality

Disparities in income and opportunities based on gender and social class that can impact pension sizes and retirement security.

Leisure Time

Free time available to individuals, which older adults often have more of during retirement.

Disposable Income

The amount of money that households have available for spending and saving after income taxes have been accounted for.

Housing Market Impact

The phenomenon where older adults remaining in their homes longer increases demand and prices for family homes, affecting younger families.

Childcare Role of Grandparents

The traditional role of grandparents in extended families to assist with childcare, which has shifted due to increased life expectancy.

Migrant Workers

Individuals who move to another country for work, which can influence the dependency ratio depending on their family situation.

Ageing Population

A demographic trend characterized by an increasing proportion of older individuals in the population, leading to various social and economic challenges.

Social Policy Mitigation

The process of implementing policies aimed at reducing the negative effects of demographic changes, such as those related to an ageing population.