The Demographic Transition

The demographic transition model seeks to explain the transformation of countries from having high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates. In developed countries this transition began in the eighteenth century and continues today. Less developed countries began the transition later and are still in the midst of earlier stages of the model.

 CBR & CDR

 The model is based on the change in crude birth rate (CBR) and crude death rate (CDR) over time. Each is expressed per thousand population. 
    The CBR is determined by taking the number of births in one year in a country, dividing it by the country's population, and multiplying the number by 1000. 
    • In 1998, the CBR in the United States is 14 per 1000 (14 births per 1000 people) while in Kenya it is 32 per 1000.
    The CDR is determined by dividing the number of deaths in one year by the population and then multiplying by 1000. 
    • This yields a CDR of 9 in the U.S. and 14 in Kenya.

Stage I

 Prior to the Industrial Revolution, most countries had high CBRs and CDRs. Births were high because more children meant more workers on the farm and with the high death rate, families needed more children to ensure survival of the family. Death rates were high due to disease and a lack of hygiene. The high CBR and CDR were somewhat stable and meant slow growth of a population. Occasional epidemics would dramatically increase the CDR for a few years (represented by the "waves" in Stage I of the model).
 

Stage II

In the mid-18th century, the death rate in Western European countries dropped due to improvement in sanitation and medicine. Out of tradition and practice, the birth rate remained high. This dropping death rate but stable birth rate in the beginning of Stage II contributed to skyrocketing population growth rates. Over time, children became an added expense and were less able to contribute to the wealth of a family. For this reason, along with advances in birth control, the CBR was reduced through the 20th century in developed countries. Populations still grew rapidly but this growth began to slow down.

Many less developed countries are currently in Stage II of the model. For example, Kenya's high CBR of 32 per 1000 but low CDR of 14 per 1000 contribute to a high rate of growth (as in mid-Stage II).
 

Stage III

In the late 20th century, the CBR and CDR in developed countries both leveled off at a low rate. In some cases the CBR is slightly higher than the CDR (as in the U.S. 14 versus 9) while in other countries the CBR is less than the CDR (as in Germany, 9 versus 11). (You can obtain current CBR and CDR data for all countries through the Census Bureau's International Data Base). Becuase of low CBRs and CDRs, immigration from less developed countries now accounts for much of the population growth in developed countries that are in Stage III of the transition. Countries like China, South Korea, Singapore, and Cuba are rapidly approaching Stage III.
 

The Model

As with all models, the demographic transition model has its problems:
  • The model does not provide "guidelines" as to how long it takes a country to get from Stage I to III. Western European countries took centuries through some rapidly developing countries like the Economic Tigers are transforming in mere decades.
  • The model also does not predict that all countries will reach Stage III and have stable low birth and death rates. There are factors, such as religion, that keep some countries' birth rate from dropping.


 Though this version of the demographic transition is composed of three stages, you'll find similar models in texts as well as ones that include four or even five stages. The shape of the graph is consistent but the divisions in time are the only modification.

 An understanding of this model, in any of its forms, will help you to better understand population policies and changes in developed and less developed countries around the world.

For More Information
Read a related feature about Age-Sex Pyramids.

Learn more in the World Population category of Net Links.

This info was originally posted here.