In the demographic transition, which stage is characterized by falling birth rates?

In the demographic transition, which stage is characterized by falling birth rates?

• A. Stage 2
• B. Stage 4
• C. Stage 3: falling birth rates.
• D. Stage 1

Answer: (C)

In the demographic transition, birth and death rates change as societies industrialize and modernize. Early on, both birth and death rates are high. Then death rates fall while birth rates remain high, causing a surge in population. Later, birth rates begin to fall as people adopt smaller family norms, urban life, education, and access to contraception, while death rates stay low. That period when births start to decline is Stage 3. So, Stage 3 is the stage characterized by falling birth rates, while Stage 4 would have low birth and low death rates, and Stage 2 features falling death rates with still-high birth rates.

In the demographic transition, birth and death rates change as societies industrialize and modernize. Early on, both birth and death rates are high. Then death rates fall while birth rates remain high, causing a surge in population. Later, birth rates begin to fall as people adopt smaller family norms, urban life, education, and access to contraception, while death rates stay low. That period when births start to decline is Stage 3. So, Stage 3 is the stage characterized by falling birth rates, while Stage 4 would have low birth and low death rates, and Stage 2 features falling death rates with still-high birth rates.