demographic transition model Flashcards
What does the model show?
It shows birth and death rate patterns across the world and through time. It includes the the main period of a country’s development and shows the links between demographic and economic changes. It is divided into five stages
What was the model originally intended for?
It was designed to explain population change in countries at further stages of development
What does the model now explain?
It has now been used to explain events in all countries, which allows different patterns of demographic and economic development to be compared
What is an example of a Stage 1 society?
Traditional rainforest tribes
What is an example of a Stage 2 society?
Afghanistan
What is an example of a Stage 3 society?
Most countries at lesser stages of development, such as India, Kenya, and Brazil
What is an example of a Stage 4 society?
Most countries at further stages of development, such as the USA, France, and the UK
What is an example of a Stage 5 society?
Italy, Germany, and Japan
What are some characteristics of a Stage 1 society?
- High birth rate
- Hight death rate
- Fluctuation because of disease, famine and war
- Population fairly stable
What are some characteristics of a Stage 2 society?
- Death rate decreases
- Birth rate remains high
- Population grows
What are some characteristics of a Stage 3 society?
- Birth rate drops rapidly
- Death rate continues to decrease but more slowly
- Population still grows, but not quite as fast
What are some characteristics of a Stage 4 society?
- Low birth rate
- Low death rate
- Birth rate tends to fluctuate depending on the economic situation
What are some characteristics of a Stage 5 society?
- Birth rate very low and goes below death rate
- Death rate has increased slightly because of ageing population
- Total population starts to decrease
Why is there high fluctuation in Stage 1?
Because there is little medicine, low life expectancy and no means of birth control
What is the key factor that indicates the change from Stage 1 to Stage 2?
The decrease in death rate
What happens in Stage 2?
The improvements in medicine and hygiene cure some diseases and prevent others, which increases life expectancy. Also the gap between birth rate and death rate results in population growth
What are most economies in Stage 2?
Agriculture
Why do birth rates remain high in Stage 2?
Because the children are needed to work the land, as they can produce more food than they eat
What is the key factor at the start of Stage 3?
The decrease in birth rate, which is often quite rapid
Why does the birth rate decrease in Stage 3?
This is due to both the availability of birth control and economic changes, which mean people benefit from having smaller families
Why are children no longer important, in terms of the economy, in Stage 3?
As a country develops, they become economic costs instead of economic assets. When children have to go to school, they can no longer work and their education may cost the family money
Why does birth rate vary in Stage 4?
It varies depending on the economic situation. When the economy is growing and people have jobs and earn a good living, they are more likely to afford children. In times of unemployment and low wages, people tend to postpone having a family until times are better
Why does death rate rise in Stage 5?
Because the population includes more elderly people
Why does birth rate fall in Stage 5?
Some countries, such as those in Eastern Europe, have uncertain economies which discourage people from having babies. Or, like in Western Europe, the economies give young women so many career opportunities that they decide to be childless or to postpone motherhood
