Demographic Trends in the UK | Change in Size of Family

Why has there been a decline in family size?

• Since 1900 the average size of families has declined due to several different factors

• The fertility rate has dropped from a peak of 2.93 children per woman in 1964 to 1.70 in 2018

• This has resulted in an average family size of 2.4 (adults and children) in the UK in 2019- down from nearly 6 in 1900

What are the reasons for the decrease in family size?

• Increased cost of child-rearing

• Greater geographical mobility of the family

• Changes in gender roles

• Increased contraception

Why is there an increased cost of child-rearing?

• The cost of raising children has risen to between £150,000 and £185,000 from birth to 18

• Increased child-centredness and pester power have contributed to this

• Legislation has made education compulsory for 18- children were economic assets but are now economic burdens

• Impact of child-bearing on careers, particularly for women

Why is there greater geographical mobility of the family?

• The early industrial era saw many members of the extended family living together with the core nuclear family

• Internal migration for employment meant families needed to be more mobile to secure employment in their chosen field

• Globalisation has led to the migration of younger families- leaving elderly relatives behind

• The recent rise in multiple-family households and Beanpole families

What are the changes in gender roles?

• Women’s greater involvement in employment has led to a decline in the fertility rate

• The rise of dual-earner families over the past 40 years as an economic necessity has meant fewer children being born

• Males are more involved in childcare than in previous generations and the movement towards equality in domestic labour has coincided with women’s greater involvement in employment

Why is there increased use of contraception?

• Greater availability and effectiveness of contraception have given women more control over reproductive rights

• Legislation to legalise abortion and make contraception available on prescription in the 1960s led to a decline in fertility rate

• Increased awareness of sexually transmitted diseases and their impacts have led to greater usage of contraception by males

What are the impacts of smaller families?

• Less children being born has led to an ageing population and has the potential to reduce the working population in years to come- dependency ratio

• Children are more unique in society and a change towards child-centredness

• Shift in spending on education and children’s services- the baby boom in the early 2000s led to structural problems in education