An article compared the United Kingdom with other European countries (and a range of other nations) in respect of statistical trends in fertility, mortality, ageing, migration, and population density.
Source: Jil Matheson, 'The UK population: how does it compare?', Population Trends 142, Winter 2010, Office for National Statistics
Links: Article | Telegraph report
Date: 2010-Dec
The number of households in England was projected to grow to 27.5 million in 2033, an increase of 5.8 million (27 per cent) over 2008. Population growth was the main driver of household growth, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the increase. One-person households were projected to increase by 159,000 per year: by 2033, 19 per cent of the household population was projected to be living alone, compared with 14 per cent in 2008.
Source: Household Projections, 2008 to 2033, England, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Report | CPRE press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2010-Nov
An article provided population projections to 2056 and beyond of 12 ethnic groups. Given certain assumptions, the minority-ethnic populations (including the 'other white') would increase from 13 per cent of the population in 2006 to 28 per cent by 2031, and 44 per cent by 2056 – and to about one-half of the 0-4 age group in 2056.
Source: David Coleman, 'Projections of the ethnic minority populations of the United Kingdom 2006-2056', Population and Development Review, Volume 36 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
An article compared official population projections with Bayesian time series forecasts for England and Wales.
Source: Guy Abel, Jakub Bijak and James Raymer, 'A comparison of official population projections with Bayesian time series forecasts for England and Wales', Population Trends 141, Winter 2010, Office for National Statistics
Links: Article
Date: 2010-Sep
A paper said that the ethnic make-up of the United Kingdom would change dramatically over the following 40 years, with the country becoming far more ethnically diverse and geographically integrated. Ethnic minorities would make up one-fifth of the population by 2051 (compared with 8 per cent in 2001), with the mixed ethnic population expected to treble in size.
Source: Pia Wohland, Phil Rees, Paul Norman, Peter Boden and Martyna Jasinska, Ethnic Population Projections for the UK and Local Areas, 2001-2051, Working Paper 10/02, School of Geography/University of Leeds
Links: Paper | Leeds University press release | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Jul
A report estimated the ethnic make-up of the future population of older people in England and Wales. By 2051 there would be 3.8 million black and minority-ethnic people aged over 65, compared with only 500,000 in 2001.
Source: Nat Lievesley, The Future Ageing of the Ethnic Minority Population of England and Wales, Runnymede Trust/Centre for Policy on Ageing
Links: Report | CPA press release
Date: 2010-Jul
The population of the United Kingdom was 61.8 million in mid-2009, up by 394,000 (0.6 per cent) on the previous year and an increase of 2.7 million compared with mid-2001.
Source: Population Estimates: June 2010, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report | ONS press release | Home Office press release | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jun
An article examined the rehearsal for the 2011 Census held in October 2009 – highlighting the successes, the areas requiring improvement, and the improvements planned for 2011 as a result.
Source: Neil Townsend, 'Evaluation of the 2009 rehearsal and lessons learned for the 2011 Census', Population Trends 140, Summer 2010, Office for National Statistics
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2010-Jun
A report by a committee of MPs said that preparations for the 2011 Census risked a repeat of the difficulties of the 2001 Census, in which the population of several London boroughs was seriously undercounted.
Source: London's Population and the 2011 Census, First Report (Session 2009-10), HC 349, House of Commons London Regional Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Mar
A report said that the 2001 Census had left London with a flawed baseline of population data, and set out what should be done to ensure that the 2011 Census delivered an accurate result.
Source: Counting the Cost: Improving the accuracy of population figures, London Councils
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Mar
The government began consultation on proposed changes to the methods used for official household projections, designed to inform the 2008-based and subsequent projections. A linked research report tested the impacts of the proposed changes.
Source: Consultation on Proposed Changes to the National Statistics on Household Projections, Department for Communities and Local Government | Testing Methodological Changes to the Household Projections Model: Research report, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Consultation document | Research report
Date: 2010-Mar
An article examined how satisfactorily the analytical categories for people of mixed race used in the 2001 Census captured self-ascribed cultural affiliation – based on the criteria of validity, reliability, and utility of the data for public services. It considered whether there was a need for a Census question on ethnic origin/ancestry in addition to – or instead of – ethnic group, or whether 'multi-ticking' or a focus on family origins might give more useful public policy data and better measure the population's ethnic diversity.
Source: Peter Aspinall, 'Does the British state's categorisation of "mixed race" meet public policy needs?', Social Policy and Society, Volume 9 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Jan