7 - The Human Population and Wildlife in Britain and Western Europe

Summary

The global human population has increased hugely since the mid-nineteenth century and stands at almost 8 billion at the time of writing. This trend is mirrored in Britain, especially in England, with a total UK population of almost 68 million in 2020. Predictions imply that global increases will slow down, perhaps peaking at around 10 billion by 2100. Three factors contribute to changes in population size. In Britain, the reproductive rate has been below the replacement level of around 2.1 children per couple for several decades. The ongoing increase in human numbers has been dictated primarily by the other two factors. Longevity has increased steadily; people are living longer. However, the most significant driver by far in recent decades has been the high level of net immigration into Britain. Wildlife declines are statistically related to human population density across Western Europe at least with respect to two well-studied taxonomic groups, amphibians and birds.