In 2001, the population of the UK was about 59 million. By 2015, the population had increased to just over 65 million. Population has increased each year since 2001 but growth rate has decreased since 2011.
By comparing population pyramids, the changing structure of the UK population can be seen:
- In 2001 the highest number of people were in the 30-39 age group. This is partly due to high birth rates in the 1960s (baby boom) .
- By 2015 the highest number of people were were in the 40-49 age group as the baby boom generation got older.
- Between 2001 and 2015, the proportion of 20-29 increased due to increasing numbers of young migrants.
- The proportion of people aged 0-39 increased by 3% between 2001 and 2015. The number of people over 39 increased by 18%, showing that the UK’s population is getting older.
The UK is in stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.
- Birth rate and death rate have fallen over the past 300 years and it has moved through stages 1-3 of the DTM (stage 1: before 1760, stage 2: 1760 -1870, stage 3: 1870-1950).
- Birth rates are now low (12 per 1000 people) and death rates are as well (9 per 1000 people) meaning that population growth is still occuring but slowly.
- The UK hasn’t yet reached stage 5, when birth rates are lower than death rates, and population starts to decrease.