OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) · UK in the 21st Century
Mini-Lesson
UK in the 21st Century
This mini-lesson covers the OCR UK in the 21st Century topic: the UK's physical and human characteristics, its changing population and economy, and its place in the world politically and culturally.
Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Press Start when you're ready.
Physical & human UK
The UK today
OCR wants an overview of the UK's human and physical geography:
Relief & rainfall: higher, wetter uplands in the north and west (Scotland, Wales); flatter, drier lowlands in the south and east.
Population density: highest in cities (London, the South East); lowest in the rural uplands.
Land use: farming, cities, forests and moorland.
Issues: the drier, crowded South East faces water stress and housing shortages, while the wetter north/west has surplus water — hence water-transfer schemes.
Population
A changing population
The UK's population is growing and ageing:
The UK is in Stage 4/5 of the Demographic Transition Model — low birth and death rates.
People are living longer, so there is a growing proportion of elderly people (an ageing population).
Migration adds to the population and increases ethnic diversity, especially in cities.
Ageing population effects: more pressure on pensions, the NHS and social care; a smaller working-age population to support them. Responses include raising the pension age and encouraging migration.
Quick check
An ageing population
?Which is a direct consequence of the UK having an ageing population?
Economy
The UK's changing economy
The UK economy has shifted between employment sectors:
Primary (farming, mining) — now a small share of jobs.
Tertiary (services) and quaternary (research, IT, finance) — now dominate.
Economic activity clusters in hubs such as the City of London (finance) and the "M4 corridor" and Cambridge (tech/research).
Match it
Match the job to its sector
Tap a job on the left, then tap its correct sector on the right.
Quick check
Which sector is growing?
?Which employment sectors have grown most in the UK in the 21st century?
Place in the world
The UK's global significance
OCR asks whether the UK is losing its global influence. Its role includes:
Political — membership of international organisations such as the UN Security Council (permanent member), NATO, the Commonwealth and the G7.
Cultural — global media exports (BBC, film, music), the English language, sport and fashion.
Diversity — migrant communities contribute to UK food, media and fashion.
As new superpowers (China, India) rise, some question whether the UK's relative influence is declining — but its "soft power" (culture, media) remains strong.
Explain it
Your turn — cultural influence
✎Explain how the UK maintains global cultural influence ("soft power"). Use the words media, language and exports.
Model answer
The UK produces globally popular media — the BBC, films, TV and music — that are watched and heard worldwide.
The English language is spoken and taught across the world, spreading UK culture and making its exports easy to consume.
Together these give the UK "soft power" — influence through culture rather than force — helping it stay globally significant even as new powers rise.
Data skills
Population density
∑A region has a population of 3,000,000 people living in an area of 1,500 km². Calculate the population density in people per km².
/km²
Population density = total population ÷ area. 3,000,000 ÷ 1,500.
Sort it
Upland north/west or lowland south/east?
Which part of the UK does each feature best describe?
⛰️ Upland N/W
🏟️ Lowland S/E
Sort it
Growing or declining sector?
Has each sector grown or declined in the 21st-century UK?
Quick check
Where the rain falls
?Which part of the UK generally has the highest rainfall and most rugged relief?
Quick check
A permanent seat
?The UK is one of five permanent members of which international body, showing its global political role?
Recap
The key ideas to know
Physical/human UK: wetter upland N/W, drier lowland S/E; water stress & housing in the SE.