The Changing UK Population and Migration
The UK is diverse and always changing. Learn how its population is shifting, the different reasons people migrate, and how the law and shared values help everyone live together.
Revise this, the fun way
Play it interactively, earn XP and build a streak, free.
Start revising freeWhat you'll cover
A changing UK 🇬🇧
The United Kingdom is a **diverse** society, and it is always changing. Its population shifts in **age**, **ethnicity**, **religion** and **disability**. Two clear trends: the population is **ageing** (more older people), and it is becoming more **diverse** in ethnicity and religion. Understanding this is the start of "living together".
How it is changing
Which statement best describes how the UK population is changing?
- It is ageing and becoming more diverse in ethnicity and religion
- It is getting younger and less diverse
- It is not changing at all
- Everyone now shares a single religion
Why people migrate 🌍
People move to and from the UK for many reasons, often **push factors** (like war or poverty) and **pull factors** (like jobs or safety). There are different types of migrant: - An **economic migrant** moves mainly to find work. - A **refugee** has fled danger and been granted protection to stay. - An **asylum seeker** is seeking protection and is awaiting a decision.
Match each type of migrant to its meaning
- Economic migrant
- Refugee
- Asylum seeker
- Someone who moves mainly to find work
- Someone who fled danger and has been granted protection to stay
- Someone seeking protection who is awaiting a decision
Which migrant is which?
An interactive activity.
A benefit and a challenge ⚖️
Migration is often seen as **both a benefit and a challenge**, and a balanced answer covers both: - **Benefits**: filling job vacancies (such as in the NHS), bringing skills and cultural diversity, and paying taxes that fund services. - **Challenges**: pressure on housing and public services, and the need to help people integrate. Since 1945, migrants have come from **Commonwealth** countries and, more recently, from **Europe**.
The benefits side
Select ALL THREE that are BENEFITS migration can bring to the UK.
- Filling job vacancies and shortages, for example in the NHS
- Bringing new skills and cultural diversity
- Paying taxes that help fund public services
- Putting pressure on housing and services
- Reducing the variety of cultures
- Meaning fewer people work
Living together 🤝
A diverse society works when people show **mutual respect**. Inequality and **discrimination** (treating people unfairly because of who they are) harm that. The **Equality Act 2010** is the law that protects people from discrimination, for example because of race, religion or disability. Shared ideas of **diversity, integration and community cohesion** help everyone feel they belong.
Match each term to its meaning
- Diversity
- Integration
- Community cohesion
- Discrimination
- The variety of different people and cultures in society
- Different groups coming together and taking part in shared life
- People from different backgrounds getting along and feeling they belong
- Treating someone unfairly because of who they are
The law against discrimination
What is the main purpose of the Equality Act 2010?
- To protect people from discrimination, for example because of race, religion or disability
- To stop all migration to the UK
- To set the country's tax rates
- To choose the government
Living together summary
The UK population is ageing and growing more _____. People migrate for reasons like work or safety: an economic migrant moves for _____, while a _____ has fled danger and been granted protection. The Equality Act _____ protects people from discrimination.