Population

Demographic Transition

The demographic transition is a model of population history based on the experiences of Western Europe. As countries in Western Europe developed, they went through a series of defined stages in terms of birth rates and death rates. The demographic transition model describes these changes in human fertility and mortality related to shifts in economic development. The changes in economic development stem from the industrial revolution and urbanization which took place throughout Western Europe.

The model is comprised of four stages:

Stage 1: High birth rates and a high but fluctuating death rate

Stage 2: Declining death rates (mainly due to the introduction of medical services) and high birth rates

Stage 3: Declining birth rates and death rates

Stage 4: Low death rates with low but fluctuating birth rates (often countries in this stage experience negative growth)

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