The Demographic Transition Model attempts to explain the cycles that a population can go through. It is based on what has happened in the United Kingdom.

Stage 1

This is where the birth rate is high and the death rate is high.

The population remains stable at this point

Very few countries are now at this stage

Stage 2

This is where the birth rates are high but the death rates begin to fall.

This results in the population increasing.

Lots of countries in the developing world are at this stage, due to improved medical care, but poor education.

Stage 3

This is where the birth rate starts to fall. The growth of the population begins to slow down. Today many LEDC’s are at this stage as they are beginning to educate their people about birth control and more women are keen to go to work instead of having large families.

Stage 4

Low birth rate and low death rates.

Low birth rate and low death rates. At this point the population total begins to stabilise and most MEDC’s are at this stage.

Stage 5?

It is thought that some MEDC countries are now going through a stage 5 where the population has begun to decline. This leads to an aging population as people are not dying due to good medical care, but babies are also not being born due to good access to contraception and a stronger desire amongst women to work. In some countries such as the UK, the death rate is now higher than the birth rate due to unhealthy diets, pollution and lack of exercise.