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:

Illustrative background for Stage 1Illustrative background for Stage 1 ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for Stage 2Illustrative background for Stage 2 ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for Stage 3Illustrative background for Stage 3 ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for Stages 4 and 5Illustrative background for Stages 4 and 5 ?? "content

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

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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