Demography - Births

Birth Rate: The number of live birthdays per thousand of the population per year.

  • There has been a decline in the number of birth rates since 1900

  • 1990: 28.7

    decreases to…

  • 2014: 12.2

/

THE TOTAL FERTILITY RATE (TFR)

  • The factors that determine birth rates are the proportion of women who are of childbearing and how fertile they are.


TFR: the average number of children women will have during their fertile years

The UK’s TFR has risen but is much lower than in the past.


The changes in fertility and birth rates reflect that:

  1. more women choosing not to have children

  2. the average age of having children is now 30, due to postponing having children.


REASONS FOR THE DECLINE IN THE BIRTH RATE

  1. CHANGES IN WOMEN’S POSITION

    • having the right to vote (legal changes)

    • increased educational opportunities (legal changes

    • more women in paid employment ( legal changes)

    • laws against sex discrimination and unequal pay ( legal changes)

    • changes in attitudes to family life (cultural & social changes)

    • easier access to divorce ( legal changes)

    • access to abortion and reliable contraception


HARPER: the rise in the education of women is the most important reason for the long-term fall in birth and fertility rates.

It has led to a change in mind set of women , resulting into fewer children.

Educated women are now more likely to use family planning as they now see more to life than just the traditional role of a women. Many choose this as they want to now pursue a career.