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
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
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