Health and housingPopulation change

The population of Great Britain increased rapidly during the 1800s, with cities like London seeing a sharp rise in the number of people living there. The rapid growth was accompanied by overcrowding and associated medical issues.

Part ofHistoryChanging Britain (1760-1914)

Population change

  • In 1811 the population of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland was 18 million.
  • By 1851 this had increased to 27 million.
  • London had grown in size from around 1.5 million to 2.5 million people. At the same time the number of people emigrating from Britain grew hugely from 2,000 to 300,000.
  • By 1850 more than half the British population lived in towns and cities and worked in factories and mines.
  • Many cities such as Liverpool, Glasgow and Manchester had grown in size.
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Living conditions in cities

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