In the past four centuries, the population of the United States has grown from a recorded 350 people around the Jamestown colony of Virginia in 1610, to an estimated 331 million people in 2020. The pre-colonization populations of the indigenous peoples of the Americas have proven difficult for historians to estimate, as their numbers decreased rapidly following the introduction of European diseases (namely smallpox, plague and influenza). Native Americans were also omitted from most censuses conducted before the twentieth century, therefore the actual population of what we now know as the United States would have been much higher than the official census data from before 1800, but it is unclear by how much. Population growth in the colonies throughout the eighteenth century has primarily been attributed to migration from the British Isles and the Transatlantic slave trade; however it is also difficult to assert the ethnic-makeup of the population in these years as accurate migration records were not kept until after the 1820s, at which point the importation of slaves had also been illegalized. Nineteenth century In the year 1800, it is estimated that the population across the present-day United States was around six million people, with the population in the 16 admitted states numbering at 5.3 million. Migration to the United States began to happen on a large scale in the mid-nineteenth century, with the first major waves coming from Ireland, Britain and Germany. In some aspects, this wave of mass migration balanced out the demographic impacts of the American Civil War, which was the deadliest war in U.S. history with approximately 620 thousand fatalities between 1861 and 1865. The civil war also resulted in the emancipation of around four million slaves across the south; many of whose ancestors would take part in the Great Northern Migration in the early 1900s, which saw around six million black Americans migrate away from the south in one of the largest demographic shifts in U.S. history. By the end of the nineteenth century, improvements in transport technology and increasing economic opportunities saw migration to the United States increase further, particularly from southern and Eastern Europe, and in the first decade of the 1900s the number of migrants to the U.S. exceeded one million people in some years. Twentieth and twenty-first century The U.S. population has grown steadily throughout the past 120 years, reaching one hundred million in the 1910s, two hundred million in the 1960s, and three hundred million in 2007. In the past century, the U.S. established itself as a global superpower, with the world's largest economy (by nominal GDP) and most powerful military. Involvement in foreign wars has resulted in over 620,000 further U.S. fatalities since the Civil War, and migration fell drastically during the World Wars and Great Depression; however the population continuously grew in these years as the total fertility rate remained above two births per woman, and life expectancy increased (except during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918).

Since the Second World War, Latin America has replaced Europe as the most common point of origin for migrants, with Hispanic populations growing rapidly across the south and border states. Because of this, the proportion of non-Hispanic whites, which has been the most dominant ethnicity in the U.S. since records began, has dropped more rapidly in recent decades. Ethnic minorities also have a much higher birth rate than non-Hispanic whites, further contributing to this decline, and the share of non-Hispanic whites is expected to fall below fifty percent of the U.S. population by the mid-2000s. In 2020, the United States has the third-largest population in the world (after China and India), and the population is expected to reach four hundred million in the 2050s.

As recorded by the source, Moroccans ranked as the foreign nationality with more residents in Spain in 2023, closely followed by Romanians. After years of losing its foreign population, Spain’s immigration figures started to pick up in 2015, with the number of people that moved to the Mediterranean country surpassing the number of foreigners that decided to leave.

A matter of balance The net migration rate of Spain changed its course mainly due to the great inflow of foreigners that move to reside in the Mediterranean country. Spain’s immigration flow slowed down after the 2008 financial crisis, albeit the number of foreigners that opted to change their residence saw a significant growth in the last years. In 2022, Colombians ranked first as the foreign nationality that most relocated to Spain, distantly followed by Moroccans and Ukranians.

Spain does not have the highest number of immigrants in Europe In recent years, the European Union confronted a rising number of refugees arriving from the Middle East. Migration figures show that Germany accommodated approximately 15 million foreign-born citizens, ranking it as the country that most hosted immigrants in Europe in 2022. By comparison, Spain’s foreign population stood slightly over seven million, positioning the Western Mediterranean country third on the European list of foreign-born population. Unfortunately, thousands of persons have died ore gone missing trying to reach Spanish territory, as more and more irregular migrants opt to use dangerous maritime routes to arrive at Southern Europe from Africa's coasts.

The development of migratory strategies that enable juveniles to survive to recruitment is critical for species that exploit seasonal niches. For animals that forage via breath-hold diving this requires a combination of both physiological and foraging skill development. Here, we assess how migratory and dive behaviour develop over the first months of life for a migratory Arctic top predator, the harp seal, tracked using animal-borne satellite relay data loggers. We reveal similarities in migratory movements and differences in diving behaviour between juveniles from breeding populations in the Northwest Atlantic and Greenland Sea. In both regions, periods of resident and transient behaviour during migration were associated with proxies for food availability; sea ice concentration and water depth. However, while ontogenetic development of dive behaviour was similar for both groups of juveniles over the first 25 days, after this time Greenland Sea animals performed shorter and shallower dives and were more closely associated with sea ice than Northwest Atlantic animals. Together, these results highlight the role of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors in shaping early-life behaviour. Differences in the environmental conditions experienced during early-life may shape how populations respond to the rapid changes occurring in the Arctic ocean ecosystem.

Usage Notes This datafile contains the movement and dive data used by Grecian et al. to examine the drivers of variation in the migratory and diving ontogeny of juvenile harp seals.

The 'dive_summaries.csv' file contains 6 hour summary data transmitted by SMRU satellite relay data loggers. The 'individual_dives.csv' file contains the individual dive metrics transmitted by SMRU satellite relay data loggers. The 'move_persistence.csv' file contains the movement paths of 22 animals equiped with either SMRU satellite relay data loggers or Wildlife Computer SPOT or SPLASH tags. These paths have been regularised to 12 hour time steps using a continous-time state space model.

For details of the regularisation procedure see: Jonsen, I.D., Patterson, T.A., Costa, D.P. et al. A continuous-time state-space model for rapid quality control of argos locations from animal-borne tags. Mov Ecol 8, 31 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-020-00217-7 For details of the SMRU dive data see: http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/protected/specs/DatabaseFieldDescriptions.pdf R code to analyse these data are supplied on GitHub here:

This project examined factors shaping civil society engagement with migration and forms of bordering through comparative international case studies exploring how social boundary activation mechanisms are articulated by civil society groups. In-depth interviews were carried out with state-civil society border workers at selected case study sites within Civil Society Organisations with national country wide remits. Case study areas were Czech Republic, Greece and the UK. Within the UK, some of the Civil Society Organisations were specific to Wales. Interviews address themes of boundaries, categorisation, discretion, civil society mobilisation and civil society/state interaction.

WISERD celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Over time it has grown into an international research institute that develops the next generation of research leaders. Our research brings together different disciplines (geographers, economists, sociologists, data scientists, political scientists) to address important issues for civil society at national and international levels. Our social science core provides a strong foundation for working with other disciplines including environmental science, engineering and medicine to transform our understanding and approaches to key areas of public concern. Our aim is to provide evidence that informs and changes policy and practice. This Centre will build on all previous WISERD research activities to undertake an ambitious new research programme. Our focus will be on the concept of civic stratification. This is a way of looking at divisions in society by focusing on the rights and obligations and practices of citizens and the role of civil society organisations in addressing inequalities in those rights and obligations. We will examine and analyse instances where people do not have the same rights as others (for example people who are migrants or refugees). We will also look at examples of people and groups working together within civil society to win new rights; this is referred to as civic expansion. Examples might include campaigns for animal rights or concerns about robots and Artificial Intelligence. We will investigate situations where people have the same rights but experience differences in their ability to access those rights; sometimes referred to as civic gain and civic loss (for example some people are better able to access legal services than others). Lastly, we will explore how individuals and groups come together to overcome deficits in their rights and citizenship; sometimes referred to as forms of civil repair. This might include ways in which people are looking at alternative forms of economic organisation, at local sustainability and at using new technologies (platforms and software) to organise and campaign for their rights. Our centre will deliver across four key areas of activity. First our research programme will focus on themes that address the different aspects of civic stratification. We will examine trends in polarization of economic, political and social rights, looking at how campaigns for rights are changing and undertaking case studies of attempts to repair the fabric of civil life. Second, we will extend and deepen our international and civil society research partnerships and networks and by doing so strengthen our foundations for developing further joint research in the future. Third, we will implement an exciting and accessible 'knowledge exchange' programme to enable our research and evidence to reach, involve and influence as many people as possible. Fourth, we will expand the capacity of social science research and nurture future research leaders. All our research projects will be jointly undertaken with key partners including civil society organisations, such as charities, and local communities. The research programme is broad and will include the collection of new data, the exploitation of existing data sources and linking existing sets of data. The data will range from local detailed studies to large cross-national comparisons. We will make the most of our skills and abilities to work with major RCUK research investments. We have an outstanding track record in maximising research impact, in applying a wide range of research methods to real world problems. This exciting and challenging research programme is based on a unique, long standing and supportive relationship between five core universities in Wales and our partnerships with universities and research institutes in the UK and internationally. It addresses priority areas identified by the ESRC and by governments and is informed by our continued close links with civil society organisations.

In 2023, the annual population growth in the United Kingdom decreased by 0.3 percentage points (-26.55 percent) compared to 2022. Population growth refers to the annual change in population, and is based on the balance between birth and death rates, as well as migration.

In 2020, about 82.66 percent of the total population in the United States lived in cities and urban areas. As the United States was one of the earliest nations to industrialize, it has had a comparatively high rate of urbanization over the past two centuries. The urban population became larger than the rural population during the 1910s, and by the middle of the century it is expected that almost 90 percent of the population will live in an urban setting. Regional development of urbanization in the U.S. The United States began to urbanize on a larger scale in the 1830s, as technological advancements reduced the labor demand in agriculture, and as European migration began to rise. One major difference between early urbanization in the U.S. and other industrializing economies, such as the UK or Germany, was population distribution. Throughout the 1800s, the Northeastern U.S. became the most industrious and urban region of the country, as this was the main point of arrival for migrants. Disparities in industrialization and urbanization was a key contributor to the Union's victory in the Civil War, not only due to population sizes, but also through production capabilities and transport infrastructure. The Northeast's population reached an urban majority in the 1870s, whereas this did not occur in the South until the 1950s. As more people moved westward in the late 1800s, not only did their population growth increase, but the share of the urban population also rose, with an urban majority established in both the West and Midwest regions in the 1910s. The West would eventually become the most urbanized region in the 1960s, and over 90 percent of the West's population is urbanized today. Urbanization today New York City is the most populous city in the United States, with a population of 8.3 million, while California has the largest urban population of any state. California also has the highest urbanization rate, although the District of Columbia is considered 100 percent urban. Only four U.S. states still have a rural majority, these are Maine, Mississippi, Montana, and West Virginia.

Among countries with the highest number of overseas Chinese on each continent, the largest Chinese diaspora community is living in Indonesia, numbering more than ten million people. Most of these people are descendants from migrants born in China, who have moved to Indonesia a long time ago. On the contrary, a large part of overseas Chinese living in Canada and Australia have arrived in these countries only during the last two decades. China as an emigration country Many Chinese people have emigrated from their home country in search of better living conditions and educational chances. The increasing number of Chinese emigrants has benefited from loosened migration policies. On the one hand, the attitude of the Chinese government towards emigration has changed significantly. Overseas Chinese are considered to be strong supporters for the overall strength of Chinese culture and international influence. On the other hand, migration policies in the United States and Canada are changing with time, expanding migration opportunities for non-European immigrants. As a result, China has become one of the world’s largest emigration countries as well as the country with the highest outflows of high net worth individuals. However, the mass emigration is causing a severe loss of homegrown talents and assets. The problem of talent and wealth outflow has raised pressing questions to the Chinese government, and a solution to this issue is yet to be determined. Popular destinations among Chinese emigrants Over the last decades, English speaking developed countries have been popular destinations for Chinese emigrants. In 2022 alone, the number of people from China naturalized as U.S. citizens had amounted to over 27,000 people, while nearly 68,000 had obtained legal permanent resident status as “green card” recipients. Among other popular immigration destinations for Chinese riches are Canada, Australia, Europe, and Singapore.

Eco-evolutionary responses to environmentally-induced selection fundamentally depend on magnitudes of genetic variation underlying traits that facilitate population persistence. Additive genetic variances and associated heritabilities can vary across environmental conditions, especially for labile phenotypic traits expressed through early life. However, short-term seasonal dynamics of genetic variances are rarely quantified in wild populations, precluding inference on eco-evolutionary outcomes in seasonally dynamic systems. This limitation applies to seasonal migration versus residence, constituting one key trait where rapid micro-evolution could rescue partially migratory populations from changing seasonal environments. We fitted novel quantitative genetic ‘capture-recapture animal models’ to multi-generational pedigree and year-round resighting data from 11 cohorts of European shags (Gulosus aristotelis), to estimate season-specific additive genetic variances in liabilities to migrate, and in resulting expression of migration, in juveniles’ first autumn and winter. We demonstrate non-negligible genetic variation underlying early-life migration, with twice as large additive genetic variances and heritabilities in autumn than winter. Since early-life survival selection on migration typically occurs in winter, highest genetic variation and strongest selection are seasonally desynchronised. Our results reveal complex within-year and among-year dynamics of early-life genetic and phenotypic variation, demonstrating that adequate inference of eco-evolutionary outcomes requires quantifying micro-evolutionary potential on appropriate scales and seasonal timeframes. Methods We utilised a pedigreed partially migratory population of European shags (Gulosus aristotelis) breeding on Isle of May National Nature Reserve (hereafter ‘IoM’), Scotland (56°11′N, 2°33′W). Data Collection Each breeding season (April-July) since 1997, all breeding attempts on IoM were systematically monitored (223-1068 per year). Chicks reaching approximately 3 weeks old were individually marked with uniquely coded metal and colour rings readable from ≤150m with a telescope (559-1143 chicks ringed per year, mean 863, recently comprising >95% of fledglings). Ringed breeding adults were identified, or caught and colour-ringed if initially unringed, with sexes inferred through behaviour, vocalizations and/or genotyping. During 2010-2022, we undertook large-scale non-breeding season (August-March) resighting surveys to locate colour-ringed individuals, and thereby assign juveniles as seasonal migrant or resident. Regular (approximately biweekly) surveys were undertaken on IoM and adjacent day roost sites known to be used by IoM residents, and at focal roost sites spanning the north-east UK coast (ca. 100-500 km from IoM), comprising the relevant autumn-winter range. These core surveys were complemented by ad hoc resightings at other non-focal sites (spanning ca. 800km), including substantial citizen science contributions. Data processing Encounter histories Resightings of 9,359 juvenile shags fledged and ringed in 11 cohorts (fledged 2010–2020) were used to build individual ‘encounter histories’ for the five first-year occasions. A sixth ‘ever after’ occasion, comprising resightings of individuals from age one year onwards, was included to account for surviving individuals that were not observed during their first autumn and winter. From a total of 84,234 post-fledging resightings, multiple resightings within each occasion were condensed to one of four possible events: observed as R (i.e. on or near IoM), observed as M1 (i.e. at a regularly surveyed migratory site), observed as M2 (i.e. at an irregularly surveyed migratory site), or not observed. Here, the fundamental biological distinction is that individuals observed on IoM and adjacent daily foraging sites were categorized as current residents, while individuals observed outside of these locations, and hence that do not roost at night on IoM, were categorized as current migrants at M1 or M2. When an individual was observed in more than one state within an occasion (<1%), its latest observation was used. In the ‘ever after’ occasion 6, individuals were solely classified as observed or not, independent of their location. (Please see associated manuscript and electronic supplementary materials for details about resighting locations and state attributions) Pedigree and relatedness We assembled a social pedigree using breeding data collected on IoM during 1984–2021. The pedigree contained 15,974 ringed chicks from 7,306 breeding events with at least one identified social parent (N=3,749 identified parents, mean identified parents per chick = 1.65), spanning up to six generations and totalling 20,859 individuals. We used this pedigree to compute the A matrix comprising twice the pairwise coefficient of kinship between individuals. (Please see associated manuscript and electronic supplementary materials for details about pedigree assemblage) To create the final encounter history and matrix datasets, we included only individuals that were phenotypically and genetically informative, totalling 8,598 individuals (out of 9,359 colour-ringed chicks: 744 excluded due to no pedigree information, 17 excluded due to no known relatedness with other resighted individuals).

In 2022, the highest and lowest rates of economic inactivity were in the combined Pakistani and Bangladeshi (33%) and white 'other’ (15%) ethnic groups.