5.1.5

Stages of the Demographic Transition Model

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The Demographic Transition Model and Development

Economic development is linked to birth and death rates, and so the stages of the demographic transition model reflect different levels of development:

Stage 1

Stage 1

  • Most low-income countries today are in Stage 2.
  • In Stage 1, birth rates are very high. High infant mortality means that not many children survive to adulthood so people have lots of children. People are also poor and don't have access to contraception like condoms.
  • In Stage 1, death rates are also high. There aren't many doctors, hospitals, and many people may not have been to school and don't understand diseases and how they spread.
Stage 2

Stage 2

  • In Stage 2, the death rate begins to fall. This can be because of improving people's basic understanding of diseases by educating them and by improving health systems. Diets and nutrition are likely to improve as people become less malnourished.
  • Birth rates stay high because people do not yet know that their children are likely to live for longer. Also, Stage 2 nations usually have a lot of jobs in agriculture, so having lots of children is advantageous.
Stage 3

Stage 3

  • In Stage 3, birth rates are falling to the level of death rates.
  • Improved access to contraception, belief that your children will survive to adulthood and increased female education all lead to falling birth rates.
  • Often Stage 3 economies focus on manufacturing (like Vietnam and India), so having lots of children to work on farms dies out.
  • Healthcare systems continue to improve so death rates fall.
Stages 4 and 5

Stages 4 and 5

  • The UK is in Stage 4. Japan and Germany are the only major HICs in Stage 5, with their populations declining.
  • Birth rates are low because of low infant mortality, good access to contraception, and equality of access to education.
  • Death rates are low because of good healthcare systems, high levels of education, and high incomes.
Jump to other topics
1

The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1

Natural Hazards

1.2

Tectonic Hazards

1.3

Weather Hazards

1.4

Climate Change

2

The Living World

2.1

Ecosystems

2.2

Tropical Rainforests

2.3

Hot Deserts

2.4

Tundra & Polar Environments

3

Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1

The UK Physical Landscape

3.2

Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3

River Landscapes in the UK

3.4

Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4

Urban Issues & Challenges

5

The Changing Economic World

5.1

The Changing Economic World

5.2

Economic Development in the UK

6

The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1

Resource Management

6.2

Food

6.3

Water

6.4

Energy

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