Variation between Settlements
- In the UK, there are similar numbers of males (49%) and females (51%) for most ethnic groups
- The exceptions are Chinese, Black Caribbean and Other White ethnic groups, where females represent 53% of the population (2021 census)
- Settlements vary in their population characteristics (gender and ethnicity)
- Some urban areas have more males than females due to the industries located there
- E.g. the offshore oil industry in Aberdeen is dominated by male employees
- Rural areas have more single men than women (103 males for every 100 females) as women are more likely to move to urban areas for job opportunities
- Coastal areas, especially the south coast and east coast of England, have higher rates of elderly people
- On average, women live longer than men, so these coastal retirement locations tend to have more older women
- There are more male international economic migrants than females as male immigrants are more likely to get a job compared to females
- This often leads to inner city areas having more young male immigrants
- The ethnic diversity of a place increases too
- Urban areas attract more international migrants as they cater for a wider range of cultural needs e.g. places of worship for religious practice
- The population pyramids for Liverpool (an urban area) and Shetland (a rural area) show differences e.g.
- Liverpool has a larger proportion of younger, working-age people, whilst Shetland has more of an ageing population
IMAGE
Population pyramid for Liverpool (2019)
Image
Population pyramid for Shetland (2019)
- There are significant variations in population characteristics within larger urban settlements (towns and cities)
- The inner city areas has a larger proportion of younger working age people, whilst the suburbs are dominated by families
- The inner city attracts higher numbers of university students and graduates (internal migration), compared to the suburbs
- The inner city has higher levels of international migrants, due to social clustering, than the suburbs
- The population of inner cities has a wider ethnic diversity than the suburbs
Worked example
Study the population pyramids below and suggest one reason why the population structures of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Northumberland differ
[3 marks]
- A starter reason is required, which is then extended for a further two points
- The answer needs to be based on the population pyramids shown in the resource
- There should be a link to the resource in the answer
- It doesn't have to be a direct quote or use of data
- It could be an idea or example triggered by the two contrasting population pyramids
- Try to select a broader starter reason (e.g. migration) as this is then easier to extend the answer by a further two marks
Answer:
Internal migration has led to a key difference in the population pyramids. The population pyramid of Newcastle has a much higher percentage of people in the 18-25 year old category compared to Northumberland. This is because young people are migrating to Newcastle for education opportunities at Newcastle University, whilst older people are migrating to rural areas, like Northumberland, for the peace and quiet.