Лекция: Population

With 57 million people, the United Kingdom ranks about fifteenth in the world in terms of population, with England (46 million) by far the most populous part (followed by Scotland 5 million, Wales 2.8 million and Northern Ireland 1.5 million). Although there are about 6% more male than female births, the higher mortality of men at all ages means that there are more females than males (29 million as against 27.6 million).

The average population density in Britain is about 239 per sq. km, compared with, for example, 190 per sq. km in Italy. The highest densities are to be found in conurbations, which are groups of once separate towns that have grown to form a single community. Although Britain is short of housing, planners like to keep a belt of undeveloped land around cities known as a green belt to reduce pollution and provide open spaces for leisure. The industrial area in these purpose-built towns is separate from housing and there are more green, open spaces. New towns have partially failed, however, especially since many are near enough to conurbations for people to use them as dormitory towns (towns where a large percentage of the population commutes daily to work in a conurbation ) and recent government policy has been to expand existing towns like Telford and Milton Keynes (formed from the amalgamation of a group of villages), which is cheaper than creation an entirely new town.