This key facts covers Key Statistics — The Changing UK within A Changing UK for GCSE Geography. Revise A Changing UK in The UK in the 21st Century for GCSE Geography with 15 exam-style questions and 20 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 8 of 15 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

📋 Key Statistics — The Changing UK

UK population 2024: ~68 million (up from 50 million in 1950)

Net migration 2022: 745,000 (ONS all-time record)

UK fertility rate 2022: 1.49 children per woman (replacement level = 2.1)

Population aged 65+: 18% (2024); projected 25% by 2045

London GDP per capita: £55,000+ vs North East ~£20,000

Life expectancy gap: Kensington & Chelsea 83.3 years vs Blackpool 74.3 years

Consett Steelworks: closed 1980; 3,500 jobs lost in a town of 30,000

MediaCityUK: 10,000+ jobs; 250+ companies; £1 billion+ investment since 2011

BBC North relocation: 1,500 staff moved from London to Salford 2011

London house prices: ~£520,000 average (2024) vs ~£160,000 North East

London diversity: ~40% of population born abroad; 300+ languages spoken

HS2 Phase 2 (northern legs): cancelled October 2023

UK superfast broadband: 97% of premises (2024)

Practice questions for A Changing UK

Which of the following best describes why the UK's population is aging?

A. Birth rates are rising rapidly and people are having more children
B. People are living longer and birth rates have been declining
C. Young migrants are leaving the UK in large numbers
D. The NHS has reduced life expectancy through funding cuts

1 markfoundation

Define the term 'aging population' and give one consequence for the UK.

2 marksstandard

Quick recall flashcards

What is a brownfield site?

Previously developed land (e.g. a former factory or derelict industrial estate) that can be redeveloped — without using up open countryside.

What is the green belt?

Designated land around major UK cities where most development is prohibited, to prevent urban sprawl and preserve countryside.

Key Statistics — The Changing UK