In Northern Europe, the most densely populated countries are the United Kingdom and Denmark. As you can tell from the map, the most sparsely populated countries are farther north where it is colder. Agriculture had more difficulty succeeding in these countries which led to settlement mainly in more moderate climates until the industrial revolution. The percent of urbanization vs rural living is 81.2% to 18.8%.
Demographics
Total population: 103,000,000 Birth rate: 12 per 1,000 population Death rate: 9 per 1,000 population Life expectancy: Males- 79 years Females- 83 years Infant mortality rate: 4 Total fertility rate: 1.8 Literacy rate: >99% Rate of natural increase: 0.003% or 3 per 1000
Analysis of Demographics
The population of Northern Europe is relatively low for the vast land that it encompasses when compared to other sub-regions of Europe. Northern Europe has a low birth and death rate which guides it into the "low stationary" or 4th demographic stage. The high life expectancy and literacy rate points to a high standard of living. The total fertility rate is low indicating that more women are pursuing college and a career instead of starting a family early. In Northern Europe, women often decide to continuously work to hold official and managerial positions rather than starting a family. This is one of the factors influencing the low rate of natural increase in the sub-region. One future problem that Northern Europe might face is a declining/aging population which will increase the burden set on the working population supplying social benefits to the population over 65 years of age.
Population Pyramids
Iceland
Current population:332,830 This population pyramid is in the stage late expanding and will very soon be low stationary. The population is increasing in this pyramid and it looks like it is starting to become steady. There isn't a big difference in the amount of males and females but there are more Females in Iceland and there was either a slightly higher infant mortality rate or slightly lower birth rate for those born 15-20 years ago. There might be a slight change in their rate of natural increase as it slows in the low stationary stage. Problems will not arise until the late low stationary stage where the vast population over 65 years of age might put a burden on the people of working age.
Norway
Current population:5,296,462 Norway is currently in the mid-to-late low stationary stage. The population is starting to show signs of decrease without any extreme changes in the trends. There is an equal amount of males and females on the pyramid indicating no war has taken place. The population trend is a decreasing rate of natural increase, but it might start to stabilize again. It is not apparent that there will be any sudden changes in the population pyramid anytime soon.
Sweden
Current population: 9,880,491 This population pyramid is in the mid low stationary stage. The population is starting to increase again after a major decline 15-19 years ago. There isn't a devastating difference in the amount of males and females but there are more females in Sweden and there was either a slightly lower infant mortality rate or slightly higher birth rate for those born 50-54 years ago. There might be a slight change in their rate of natural increase as it slows in the low stationary stage.
Finland
Current population: 5,531,138 This population pyramid is in the stage low stationary. The population is stationary but is decreasing by a little. It starts to decrease and then it evens back out. There isn't a big difference in the amount of males and females but there are more Females in Finland and a there was a slightly lower birth rate 15-19 years ago. There might be a slight change in their rate of natural increase as it gets back to being stationary. There shouldn't be a drastic change in population.
Denmark
Current Population: 5,699,531 This population pyramid is in the stage low stationary. The population is currently decreasing in this pyramid. The pyramid is going at a steady rate. There isn't a big difference in the amount of males and females. The pyramid isn't going to continue to decrease it will being to stabilize again.There might be a slight change in their rate of natural increase as it slows back into the low stationary stage.
Ireland
Current population:4,728,635 This population pyramid is in the stage low stationary. The population is increasing in this pyramid and it should keep increasing in the next couple of years. There isn't a big difference in the amount of males and females. There was either a slightly higher infant mortality rate or slightly lower birth rate for those born 10-20 years ago. There shouldn't be much change in this pyramid besides what seems to be a "baby boom" similar to the one observed 30-40 years ago.
United Kingdom
Current population:65,277,700 This population pyramid is in the stage low stationary. It is currently stable and there aren't any drastic changes. There is a slow decline in the population which seems to have stabilized itself in the past. There doesn't seem to be changes in the pyramid in the near future. The female and male populations are similar, indicating no war took place.
Estonia
Current population:1,307,709 This population pyramid is low stationary. The population had a major increase around 65-69 and it continued to increase until 15-19 when the population decreased drastically. There isn't a big difference in the amount of males and females but for a while there were more females in Estonia then there were males indicating a conflict of some sort which decreased the population 15-20 years ago. Estonia's population is currently increasing. There might be a slight change in their rate of natural increase as the population starts growing again.
Latvia
Current population:1,951,087 This population pyramid is in stage low stationary. The population is currently decreasing in Latvia, but the population fluctuates a lot. There isn't a big difference in the amount of males and females, but for a while there were more Females then there were males, which soon evened out. There might be a slight change in the infant mortality rate while the population evens back out.
Lithuania
Current Population: 2,841,931 This population pyramid is in the stage low stationary.The population increases and then decreases again. There isn't a big difference in the amount of males and females but there was a higher infant mortality rate or slightly lower birth rate for those born 15-19. There wont be many changes in the population pyramid anytime soon.