The line graph demonstrates the fluctuations in the total population of England and Wales within 300 years – from 1700 to 2000 – and shifts in birth and death rates.
Overall, it can be seen that the population of two kingdoms has risen dramatically: from 2 million people in 1700 to 50 million people in 2000. Furthermore, it is evident that total population growth was not significant before 1800 due to high death rate.
Looking first at the period from 1700 to 1800: in the first 50 years population grew rapidly from 2 million to 10 million, but then dropped to approximately 4 million in 1800. To explain that, there is a strong correlation between total population and birth and death rates in these regions: despite the high fertility level (from 30 to 40 per 1000 people), the population fell due to the considerable rise of death rate (from 26 per 1000 people in 1700 to 37 per 1000 people in 1750-1800).
However, the situation changed notably after the year 1800. The total number of people living in England and Wales began to increase steadily as a result of decline in death rate while birth rate remained high – 26 and 32 per 1000 people, respectively. During the next period (until 2000) the population growth remained stable despite all the fluctuations in death and birth rates.