More Notes on Demographic Transition

      There are four stages in demographic transition that help explain rising and falling RNI's over time in a country. No country has ever reverted back to a previous stage. The first stage is called low growth, and in this stage there are high birth and death rates, as well as no long term natural increase. Currently there are no countries at this stage in the world. Stage two is known as high growth, this stage is marked by rapidly declining death rates and extremely high birth rates. This stage has a high natural increase rate, and Europe and North America reached this stage during the Industrial Revolution. Stage three is called moderate growth, in this stage there is a rapid decline in birth rates, and a slower decline in death rate. The RNI of a country during this stage is moderate, and the population grows. European and North American countries reached this stage during the first half of the twentieth century. Stage four is known as low growth, and in this stage the birth and death rates are very low. A country at this stage has zero population growth, and the population mostly changes from immigration.