📜 A long story
United Kingdom, 1800 → today
The United Kingdom grew from 10.8 million in 1800 to 68.7 million; a newborn can expect 41.3 more years of life than in 1803, and output per person is 11× its 1800 level, adjusted for inflation.
Told with long-run reconstructions, not the yearly series used elsewhere on the site: each chapter names its source. Scroll to move through the years.
☺ Chapter 1 · Population
How many people live there?
1800
In 1800, about 10.8 million people lived in the United Kingdom.
1900
41.1 million people.
3.8× the 1800 level
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1822.
1950
50.1 million people.
1.2× the 1900 level
2023
68.7 million people, the latest year in this series.
1.4× the 1950 level
Reached 5 times the 1800 level in 1964.
Long-run series: before 1950, reconstructions by HYDE and Gapminder, filled in between benchmark years by those sources. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
✚ Chapter 2 · Life expectancy
How long do people live?
1803
In 1803, a newborn in the United Kingdom could expect to live 40 years, on average.
1900
45.6 years.
+5.6 years since 1803
1950
68.6 years.
+23 years since 1900
Passed 50 years in 1907.
Passed 60 years in 1930.
The sharpest fall in the data: down 7 years between 1912 and 1918 (54.3 years → 47.3 years).
2023
81.3 years, the latest year in this series.
+13 years since 1950
Passed 70 years in 1954.
Passed 80 years in 2009.
Long-run series: before 1950, historical estimates (Riley, Clio Infra, Human Mortality Database), only for years they cover. Dashed stretches are years without data.
◎ Chapter 3 · GDP per person (PPP)
How much is produced per person?
1800
In 1800, the United Kingdom produced about Int$3,340 per person, in 2011 prices.
1900
Int$7,590.
2.3× the 1800 level
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1889.
1950
Int$11,100.
1.5× the 1900 level
The sharpest fall in the data: down 22% between 1916 and 1921 (Int$8,700 → Int$6,790).
2022
Int$38,400, the latest year in this series.
3.5× the 1950 level
Reached 5 times the 1800 level in 1969.
Reached 10 times the 1800 level in 2003.
Long-run series (Maddison Project) in 2011 international dollars: adjusted for inflation, so not the same unit as today’s PPP figure. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
❦ Chapter 4 · CO₂ per person
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
1800
In 1800, fossil fuels and industry in the United Kingdom emitted about 2.9 t of CO₂ per person.
1900
10.2 t.
3.5× the 1800 level
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1861.
1950
10 t.
about the same as in 1900
The sharpest fall in the data: down 46% between 1924 and 1926 (10.5 t → 5.7 t).
2024
4.5 t, the latest year in this series.
55% lower than in 1950
Long-run series: fossil CO₂ emitted within each country’s borders (Global Carbon Budget); early estimates are less certain. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
☕ Chapter 5 · Years of schooling
How long do people go to school?
1870
In 1870, people aged 15–64 in the United Kingdom had spent 0.9 years in school, on average.
1900
2.6 years.
+1.6 years since 1870
Passed 2 years in 1895.
1950
6.5 years.
+3.9 years since 1900
Passed 4 years in 1915.
Passed 6 years in 1940.
2015
12.7 years, the latest year in this series.
+6.2 years since 1950
Passed 8 years in 1970.
Passed 10 years in 2005.
Passed 12 years in 2010.
Long-run series (Lee & Lee, Barro & Lee) for people aged 15–64, every 5 years until 2015: a different age group than today’s figure (25 and older).