…is a process with several stages. It charts the stages at which a nation moves from a rural, agricultural society with high birth rates and death rates to an urban, industrial society in which death rates decline first and birth rates decline later.

Stage 1—Low Growth Stage 2—High Growth Stage 3—Moderate Growth Stage 4—Low Growth

Low Growth Hunting and Gathering Societies No Countries in Stage 1 Now Fluctuations in CBR and CDR (when CBR high, CDR low…etc.) First Agricultural Revolution happened during Stage 1

High Growth Agricultural Societies—usually subsistence farmers trying to feed families, children are valued as an asset, infant mortality is high, not uncommon for families to have 10 or more children! Children often seen as a source of security. Birth rates are high and death rates decline sharply as a result of food stabilization and medical advances Industrial Revolution propelled places out of Stage 1

Many African countries are still in Stage 2 In a stage 2 country both CBR and CDR are higher than world averages(21 & 9) The S-Curve of Demographic Transition Model develops at this stage

Moderate Growth Industrial Societies Reliance on children decreases and they become more of a liability than an asset Development of the economy leads more people to be involved in manufacturing jobs in urban areas Many Central and South American countries are in stage 3 CBR and CDR are around world averages

Low Growth Service-based society (tertiary) CBR and CDR are almost equal (when they become equal, zero population growth) Many European countries are in Stage 4 TFR below world average Often countries offer incentives for children in this stage Population may be high, but there is no growth