What does the demographic transition model describe?

The demographic transition model describes the changes in birth rates, death rates, and population size as countries develop. This model outlines a typical pattern that societies undergo as they transition from pre-industrial to industrial economies. It consists of several phases, beginning with a pre-transition stage characterized by high birth and death rates, leading to stable population sizes. As a country develops, it typically experiences a decline in death rates due to improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition, which often precedes a decline in birth rates as social factors such as education, urbanization, and access to family planning improve.

In the later stages of the model, birth rates drop significantly, resulting in slower population growth, and eventually, the population may stabilize or even decline if birth rates fall below death rates. This model is crucial for understanding how demographic shifts relate to economic development and social changes, allowing policymakers to make informed decisions about resource allocation, healthcare, and infrastructure development in corresponding to population trends.