Hampshire GA/RGS Southern Region Lecture by Prof. David Martin Nov 2009

1. Measuring and
mapping p p
pp g population
From national to local scales
David Martin
University of Southampton
y p
RGS/GA lecture, Peter Symonds
College, 3 November 2009

2. A few introductions…
• School of Geography,
University of
Southampton
S th t
• Economic and Social
Research Council (ESRC)
• Census programme
• Census.ac.uk
C k

3. Measuring and mapping
population
•UK population – in the news
•What are the key trends?
•How do we know?
•Why does geography matter?
•Next challenges in counting the
Next
population?
•How can I use the information to
o a u o a o o
support my own learning?

4. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

5. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

6. What are the key trends?
•Population growth
•Migration more important than
balance of births and deaths
1997-2008
•Ageing population esp “oldest of
population, esp. oldest
the old”
•More, smaller households
More,
•Geographical variation

7. Population growth
http://ww
ww.statistic
cs.gov.uk/c
cci/nugget.asp?ID=9
950

8. Source: http://ons.gov.co.uk
International migration

9. Population structure
Population Estimates
D=6
UK population grows to
k/cci/nugget.asp?ID
61.4 million
tics.gov.uk
www.statist
http://w

10. Source: http://ons.gov.co.uk
Household structure

11. How do we know?
•2001 Census
•Birth and death registrations
•International passenger survey
•NHS registered patient numbers
•Population projections
•Counting the population is getting
increasingly difficult

12. What is a census?
• 10-yearly d
l data collection
ll
• Questionnaire delivered
to
t every household
h h ld
• Legal obligation: 96%
coverage
• Multiple uses and users
s.gov.uk
• Single
Si l most important
ti t t
Source: ons
social data source for
small areas

13. Census topics
• Age, sex, marital status,
l
household structure
• C
Country of bi th/ th i it
t f birth/ethnicity
• Health/disability
• Economic status
• Housing, amenities
• Travel to work and cars
Sourc ons.gov.uk
• Qualifications
ce:

14. 2011 census
• Largely similar content to 2001
• Mail-out and mail-back, internet
questionnaire available
• Concentration of effort on hardest
to count areas
• Major effort on listing addresses
and estimating missing persons
d ti ti i i

15. Why does geography matter?
•Demographic and economic
patterns are strongly
geographically clustered
•Communities, neighbourhoods and
local areas are key foci of
government policy and service
delivery
•The census is unique in its ability
to provide small area data
p

16. Policy focus on neighbourhoods
•Recognition that social exclusion is
geographically clustered
•Persistence and growth of patterns
of deprivation and inequality
•Advantages of small-area focus to
small area
policies aimed at alleviation of
social exclusion

18. Next challenges in counting
the population
•Treasury sub Committee report
sub-Committee
2008
•2011 probably the last
“conventional” census
•Need much better migration
information
•Greater focus on the use of
Greater
administrative records
•Societal concerns

19. How can I use the information to
support my own learning?
•A brief visit to Boscombe
•Freely available data from the
Neighbourhood Statistics Service
http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk
•Searches based on Boscombe and
Searches
postcode BH1 3AH (because my
Mum stayed in a hotel there!)
y )

20. How does it differ from
other places?
What is
Boscombe How much
like? variation is
there within
Boscombe?

31. Practical suggestions
•Explore y
p your neighbourhood
g
•Consider/question:
—Definition of neighbourhood
boundaries
—Socioeconomic structures
—Explore social pattern, scale
—Compare with national and
regional levels
—Consider change over time

32. Summary
•Population g g p y addresses
p geography
some of the key challenges facing
UK society
•We need the best possible
information to inform policy
•We need new methods for
counting the population
•Lots of scope to enhance your
geographical understanding!