Population Growth in Britain 1880s onwards

The Census Census- a periodical official count of the people who live in a country. Government count of the population, carried out every ten years since Since the 1960s, the details have been computerised

British Growth Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million

Scottish Population Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million

Why did the population rise? There was a fall in the birth rate at this time. So what other factors explain the rise? Larger fall in the death rate.

Life Expectancy Men 46 years old (1900) 69 years old (1978) Women 52 years old (1900) 76 years old (1978)

Why did the Death Rate Fall? Better working conditions resulted in better health for workers Improvements in the living conditions –Demolition of slums –New council and private housing –Cleaner streets –Fresh water –Public sewers

Improvements in public health made cities cleaner –Councils cleaning up streets. Medical care and medicines were better and cheaper –Antibiotics –Diseases treated more effectively –NHS created in 1948 People were more aware of the importance of Personal Hygiene

A better diet was available –Cheap food was imported from abroad –Better transport meant that fresh food was widely available

Reasons for the fall in Birth Rate In the 1880s, many couples married young and had large families. In the 1900s, this trend changed Improved educational and career opportunities led to some marrying later in life. Attitudes have generally changed in favour of a smaller family. Some young people emigrated to other countries Women working rather than housewife

Average fell from 6 children in the 1880s 2.2 children in the 1980s Other factors –Birth control

Question In what ways did Britain’s population change between 1880 and You should try to have one or two paragraphs for each of the two reasons Birth Rate Death Rate