Architects to Population Ratio in the UK

This essay examines the numerical relationships between the total number of registered architect and the total population in the UK. It uses data from the RIBA, ARB, UK Census, and business and professional sources.

The events related to architecture, the number of architects per year, the total population of the UK and the architects as a percentage of the total population for each year are examined. Conclusions are then drawn.

1834

RIBA established

1835

The total number of architects in the RIBA register was 82

Source: RIBA

The total population of UK was 16,540,000 people

Source: http://www.1911census.org.uk/1831.htm

Architects as a % of population 0.0005%

1900

The total number of architects in the RIBA register was 1,633

Source: RIBA

The total population of UK was 32,000,000 people

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_Census_1901

Architects as a % of population 0.005%

1931

Architects Registration Act

1935

The total number of architects in the RIBA register was 7,419

Source: RIBA

The total population of UK was 39,900,000 people

Source: http://www.1911census.org.uk/1931.htm

Architects as a % of population 0.02%

1964

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 20,911

Source: Architectural Knowledge: The Idea of a Profession By Francis Duffy, Les Hutton

The total population of UK was 54,000,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.03%

1970’s

The total number of architects in the RIBA register was 21,500

Source: RIBA

The total population of UK was 55,900,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.04%

1990

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 32,004

Source: Architectural Knowledge: The Idea of a Profession By Francis Duffy, Les Hutton

The total population of UK was 57,250,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

1991

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 31,346

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202000.pdf

The total population of UK was 57,420,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

1992

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 31,093

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202000.pdf

The total population of UK was 57,580,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

1993

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,560

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202000.pdf

The total population of UK was 57,720,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

1994

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,478

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202000.pdf

The total population of UK was 57,870,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

1995

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,500.

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202005.pdf

The total population of UK was 58,170,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

1996

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,748.

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202005.pdf

The total population of UK was 58,020,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

1997

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,553.

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202005.pdf

The total population of UK was 58,320,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

1997

Architects Act of 1997.

Architects Registration Board (ARB) created.

1998

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,646.

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202005.pdf

The total population of UK was 58,490,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

1999

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 29,829.

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202005.pdf

The total population of UK was 58,680,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2000

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 29,905

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202006.pdf

The total population of UK was 58,890,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2001

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,239.

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202005.pdf

The total population of UK was 59,120,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2002

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,275.

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202005.pdf

The total population of UK was 59,370,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2003

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,399.

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202005.pdf

The total population of UK was 59,650,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2004

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,563.

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202005.pdf

The total population of UK was 59,990,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2005

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 30,924.

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202005.pdf

The total population of UK was 60,400,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2006

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 31,552

Source: http://www.arb.org.uk/files/files/ARB%20Annual%20Report%202006.pdf

The total population of UK was 60,850,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2007

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 32,221

Source: ARB Annual Report 2011

The total population of UK was 61,320,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2008

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 32,713

Source: ARB Annual Report 2011

The total population of UK was 61,810,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2009

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 32,939

Source: ARB Annual Report 2011

The total population of UK was 62,280,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2010

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 33,065

Source: ARB Annual Report 2011

The total population of UK was 62,770,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2011

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 33,456

Source: ARB Annual Report 2011

The total population of UK was 63,260,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2012

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 34,074

Source: ARB Annual Report 2012

The total population of UK was 63,700,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2013

The total number of architects on the ARB register was 34,266

Source: ARB Annual Report 2013

The total population of UK was 64,100,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2014

There are 34,000 architects registered in the UK.

Source: Architects Journal ‘ARB kicks 2,000 architects off register for non-payment’ 7 January, 2014

The total population of UK was 63,742,000

Source: World Bank

Architects as a % of population 0.05%

2015

The total number of architects in the RIBA register is 40,410

Source: RIBA

The total population of UK was 63,489,234.

Source: Worldometers

Architects as a % of population 0.06%

Architecture as a business in 2013

On average, practices worked on 42 projects, for 26 different clients.

Source: RIBA Business Benchmarking 2012/13 Executive summary

Conclusions

Architecture in Britain is a recently recognised profession.

It can be said to have only professionally existed since 1834 and to have been under consolidated statutes since 1931.

This makes the profession only 181 years old.

In 1835 architects constituted only 0.0005% of the total population. This number continued to rise up to 1990. Post 1990 the numbers of architects in the UK has remained at about 0.05% of the total population.

This gives a ratio of the number of architects to the number of the population at 1 per 1571 in 2015.

The actual average number of clients from architects data is nearer to 1 architect to 26 clients.

The profession has therefore been, and is, isolated in terms of contact with the total population.

Ian K Whittaker

Websites:

https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles

Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com

23/06/2015

14/10/2020

1280 words over 5 pages