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Population Structure (Demography) |
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This
involves the study of the population of a country, including its size, age
and sex. Size
The
size of the population is dependent of its birth rate, death rate and the
level of migration. Most
developed countries have a stable population, however there are a number of
changes that are taking place at regional level.
For example companies in the Southeast of England have had to react to
an increasing population over the past 25 years as people move into the area
in the hope of finding work. This
means that there are more consumers and therefore a greater potential demand
for products. This will be not
only for highstreet goods, but also for housing, schooling and healthcare. As companies find demand for their products increase, they
may also find that costs increase, for example land becomes more expensive. In
developing countries total population growth does occur.
This ha led to opportunities for domestic companies and foreign
multi-nationals looking for expanding markets. Age
Most
developed countries are experiencing what is known as the population time
bomb; the average age of the population is rising as birth and death rates
fall. In
the UK between 1971 and 1991 the number of people over 65 increased by 16%
and it is forecast to rise by a further 38% by 2031. Older
people require more healthcare related products, while firms that sell baby
products will see a decline in the potential demand for their goods. Sex
The
gender balance only normally change in times of war.
Woman are however becoming more dominant in society, often being the
bread winners in a household and commanding far greater disposable incomes. Culture
This
is the beliefs, attitudes, values and ethics of the people in the society,
they can be summed up by describing them as social trends.
Summary
The
main changes in UK demography have been:
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Further
Reading