Demographic Transition Model
- The demographic transition model illustrates the five generalised stages that countries pass through as they develop
- It shows how the birth and death rates change and how this affects the overall population as the country
The Demographic Transition Model
Stage 1
- The total population is low
- High birth rates due to lack of contraception/family planning
- High death rates due to poor healthcare, poor diet and famine
- High infant mortality which leads people to have more children so that some children survive to adulthood
Stage 2
- The total population starts to rise rapidly
- Birth rates remain high as people continue to have large families
- Death rates decrease as a result of improved diets, better healthcare, lower infant mortality and increased access to clean water
Stage 3
- The total population continues to increase but the rate of growth slows down
- Birth rate starts to fall rapidly due to increased birth control, family planning, increased cost of raising children and low infant mortality rate
- Death rate still decreasing but at a slower rate as improvements in medicine, hygiene, diet and water quality continue
Stage 4
- The total population is high and is slowly increasing
- Birth rate is low and fluctuating as there is accessible birth control and more women are choosing to have fewer children and delay the age that they start to have children
- Death rate is low and fluctuating
Stage 5
- The total population starts to slowly decline as the death rate exceeds the birth rate
- Birth rate is low and slowly decreasing
- Death rate is low and fluctuating