Demographic Transition

The process by which a country’s population structure changes over time is described as demographic transition. It is usually explained in five stages. It starts with high birth and death rates and progresses to low birth and death rates. In the initial stage, the population grows slowly. This is because high fertility is offset by high mortality. With improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and food supply, mortality rates decrease. This results in rapid population growth. But later, birth rates begin to decline due to education, urbanization, and family planning. In the final stage, both birth and death rates remain low. As a result, they often appear stable. This model helps explain historical population trends. It is particularly influential in European countries. The current world is facing challenges such as aging populations, low fertility, and the pressures of economic and social change in different parts of the world.