Southampton population experts assess jump in numbers living in England and Wales

A baby boom, longer life expectancy and new migrant settlers over the past decade have cited as reasons for the increase, and means that England and Wales is home to 3.7 million more people than a decade ago.

The University of Southampton’s School of Social Sciences is home to some of the UK’s leading experts on population. Professor Jane Falkingham is the director of the UK’s first nationally funded Centre for Population Change, dedicated to research in this area.

This week, Professor Falkingham was asked to assess the results of the census for both the Independent and BBC Radio Five Live. She explained that the increase in overall numbers had implications for housing, and that the changing age structure has a knock-on effect for health and education. “In general the migrant numbers just mean we are becoming a more diverse and dynamic culture, with people bringing their skills to the UK,” she said.
“But there are some local areas which have seen dramatic transformations of their ethnic mix and the further breakdown of data we get from the ONS later this year will help local authorities to see whether they are providing the right services for their population.”

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Centre explores the issues surrounding migration, fertility and ageing including the implications for society of migration both within and beyond national borders.

It was established in January 2009 and brings together expertise from the Universities of Southampton, St. Andrews, Edinburgh, Strathclyde and Stirling as well as the National Records of Scotland and The Office for National Statistics.

For the Centre for Population Change visit the site here