England's demographic transition, 1700-2000

Demographic Transition: England 1700-2000

The objective of this study is to conduct an examination of demographic transition in England for the time period beginning in 1700 and ending in 2000.

Population total of an area is reported as the balance between "two forces of change" and this includes increases that are natural and those due to migration. Natural increase is described as the balance between "birth rates and death rates." (Slideshare, 2014, p. 4) The following chart shows the annual average growth rate for the entire global population.

Slideshare (2014)

England Demographic Transition

It is reported that the Industrial Revolution occurred in England from 1760 to 1800 and that this was characterized by a large population growth in England that occurred very quickly with the demographic transition pinpointed to the year 1890 meaning there was a 110 gap in between the Industrial Revolution and the Demographic Transition in England. (Clark, 2010, paraphrased)

There is reported to have been a significant decline in net fertility in England among wealthy men in the 1760s when rich men with fertility of more than four children changed to one of three or less however, this change resulted in the fertility rate being no different than the general population. (Clark, 2010, paraphrased)

It is reported that there was a fertility transition between the years of 1880 and 1910 in that the net fertility of the poor grew higher than the net fertility of the rich. These reports are derived from the examination of the Last Will and Testament of millions of men in England after the year In fact, during the years 1640 through 1851; a substantial decline in fertility among the rich is evidenced along with a significant growth in fertility rates among the poorer in the society of England. (Clark 2010, paraphrased) During the late 19th century a decline in net fertility rates in England is reported. (Clark, 2010, paraphrased)

The following chart illustrates the Demographic Transition in the Population in England between the years beginning in 1700 and ending in 2000.

Figure 2

Demographic Transition in England 1700-2000

Sources: (Clark, 2010; and Slideshare, 2014)

5. Death Rate in England

The death rate in England rose in the first half of the 1700s decade and dropped significantly until 1800 when the death rate rose sharply and leveled out pretty much until about 1850 rising again steadily for about 15 years and since that time steadily declining.

6. Population Rate in England

The population rate in England has risen steadily since the 1700s as illustrated the demographic transition chart in this study and this is despite the fertility or birth rate rising or falling and despite the rising or falling of the death rate in England.

7. Summary and Conclusion

The birth rate or fertility rates in England fell sharply in the early 1800s and rise again in the mid-1800s followed by a sharp and steady decline until the 1970s when it rose again slightly but has since that time declined steadily. The death rate in England while rising during the first fifty years of the 1700s decade begin a significant decline for the next fifty years when the death rate rose sharply then leveled out for the next fifty years. In 1850 the death rate in England rose steadily for approximately 15 years and has since that time steadily declined. Despite the rising and falling of the birth rate in England and the Death rate the population in England has experienced steady growth since 1700 until the present.