Who Lives Here



Introduction
It is important to understand the population make-up of an area as different groups have different impacts on public services. Birmingham is a relatively young and diverse city, and an area in which population growth is a relatively new phenomenon. Between 1982 and the turn of the century Birmingham’s population declined, mainly caused by the closing down of automotive and other manufacturing industries which caused people to move out of the city. However since 2001 Birmingham’s resident population has begun to grow to a city of over a million people.

Key Facts and Statistics
 Birmingham has a population of around 1,036,900  There are 227,800 children aged 0-15  There are 158,600 people of pensionable age  Over half of people are aged under 35  Population is expected to increase by nearly 13% by 2025 The ethnic make-up of Birmingham is significantly more diverse than the UK as a whole  Estimated that by 2024 that as a proportion of the Birmingham population the white population will fall below 50% 

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Demographic Analysis
Age Breakdowns

The population pyramid below (click to expand) shows the age profile of Birmingham and compares it with the UK as a whole.

<ul> Birmingham has a diverse and constantly changing population of just over one million residents, with over half of people aged under 35. </li> 30.6% of the population in the city are aged between 16 and 35, compared to 25.2% of the UK </li> Birmingham has a slightly smaller proportion of people of retirement age than the UK </li> </ul>

It is also clear that different age groups are concentrated in different areas of the city.



Children and Young People within Birmingham

The map to the right indicates that the inner city and more deprived areas of Birmingham have the highest concentration of children.

Older People within Birmingham

Conversely the map left indicates that while being more diffused around the city, higher proportions of older people seem to reside in the more suburban and less deprived areas of the Birmingham. The map, which shows the concentration of people of retirement age (Over 65 for men, 60 for women) suggests that there are more people of this age in areas such as Sutton Coldfield in the north, parts of Edgbaston and Selly Oak in the West and South; and Yardley in the East.

Population Projections

As the chart below illustrates the population in Birmingham is expected to continue to increase in future years. However population projections from Experian suggest that while Birmingham’s population will increase by nearly 13% by 2025, this rate is not as significant as the increased expected in total UK population.



Birmingham’s population is far from stable, so the rate of growth for various age groups varies widely. As the chart below indicates, by 2019 Birmingham is expected to see an above average growth in the number of people under 10 and between 25 and 25. The population over 65 is not expected to increase as much as other areas, although the number of people over 85 is expected to increase by over 25% by 2019.



Ethnicity in Birmingham

Understanding the ethnic diversity of communities is important as different groups have different demands on public services. For example certain communities are more likely to live in deprived areas of the city and may be more susceptible to certain types of health problems.

The table below provides a breakdown of the ethnic make-up both in this ward and in the city as a whole:

<ul> The data suggests that the ethnic make-up of Birmingham is significantly more diverse that the UK as whole. </li> It is predominantly a white area, although there are other sizeable communities from different ethnic minority backgrounds </li> </ul>