Population in India — Economics STD 11 Commerce / Arts — Question

The theory of demographic transition (birth rate and death rate related changes) given by Coale and Hoover explains that every country passes through three stages of demographic transition. It explains the changes taking place from high to low birth and death rates.

• First Stage: During the first stage, the country is at a low level of economic development. Agriculture is said to be the main occupation, people are illiterate and are ruled by old customs and beliefs. Hence in this stage, the country experiences a high birth rate and high death rate, and the actual growth of the population is low.
• Second Stage: Due to the improvement in economic development, the death rate starts falling rapidly, but the birth rate remains almost stable. This leads to widening the difference between the two, resulting in a very fast rise in the growth of population. Developing countries including India experiences this stage.
• Third Stage: As economic development continues, the structure of the economy changes, people shift from rural to urban areas, literacy rate improves, and in this stage, both birth rate and death rate fall, and there is low but stable population growth. Developed countries experience this stage.