UIC - Newcastle - urban growth

Impacts of national and international migration on the growth and character of the city

Newcastle’s population is growing over time, after a period of decline up to 1991.  The city is recovering from deindustrialisation and is developing a whole new wave of modern industries, as it becomes a post-industrial city with a more knowledge-based economy. Newcastle sits at the heart of Tyneside and the Tyne and Wear County region

CAUSES OF GROWTH
The graph below shows that there are 3 factors at play influencing the overall size and rate of growth of Newcastle upon Tyne’s population;
1. Internal (within the UK) migration has been negative; that is the numbers of people moving out of Newcastle upon Tyne has been greater than the number of UK residents moving in.  The balance is a loss of 965 people per year.  This is despite a gain of students that come for the universities.  The city loses people starting out on their careers between the ages of 20 and 35.
2. International net migration has always been positive during the time shown, so there have always been more born abroad people moving into Newcastle upon Tyne than out of it.  In the year shown this gain was 3,648 people.
3. Natural Change has been positive, so births have been above deaths and this has boosted the population size by almost 900 people per year

When the balance is taken between these 3 factors it can be seen that Newcastle upon Tyne’s population has had a POSITIVE BALANCE year on year.

Internal migrants into Newcastle upon Tyne tend to be in the age groups 15 to 19, whilst those who tend to leave are 20 to 35.  This means that generally people migrate into Newcastle upon Tyne for their studies; and leave when they start having careers.

Migration in particular has changed the CHARACTER of Newcastle upon Tyne.  It has become increasingly multicultural over time with many different races, cultures and languages in evidence throughout the city. the net change over time can be seen on the graph below;

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