Demographic Transition Model Quiz

Demographic Transition Model

• The model shows the change from high birth rate and death rate to low birth rate and death rate over time
• Typical of less developed countries: high proportion of children, high death rate, and short life expectancy
• Factors contributing to high birth rate and death rate: lack of access to birth control and healthcare, limited knowledge about preventing or curing diseases, and poor sanitation and hygiene

Stages of the Demographic Transition Model

• Stage 1: High birth rate and death rate, typical of less developed countries
• Stage 2: Shrinking population pyramid, lower numbers of younger people, more ageing people, and long life expectancy, typical of very developed countries

Differences in Development Around the World

• More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs) have higher literacy levels and lower infant mortality rates
• Social measures: life expectancy, death rate, infant mortality rate, percentage of population undernourished, and percentage of country's budget spent on healthcare

Environmental Indicators

• Measure the extent of human impact on the environment
• Examples: percentage of polluting gases in the atmosphere, quality of water, and drop in fish stocks in the sea

Human Development Index (HDI)

• Adopted in 2010 as a more reliable indicator than GDP
• Takes three indicators into account: life expectancy, adult literacy, and GDP
• Does not consider environmental factors
• Ranks 187 countries, with Norway, Australia, and Switzerland being the top three in 2014

Population Characteristics and Development

• Population growth: increase in a country's population during a year, expressed as a percentage of the population
• Calculated as the difference between birth rate and death rate
• Birth rate: number of births per 1000 population in a year
• Death rate: number of deaths per 1000 population in a year