Demographic Transition Theory Expository Essay

Introduction

Human beings’ population around the globe has experienced many changes. The population of an area can exhibit either an increase or a decrease. The two major aspects relating to the development of the demographic transition theory are birth and death rates. These two determine the population of a given place over a given period; therefore, they form the basis for the demographic transition theory. Statisticians express it in terms of the birth and death rates per 1000 people in a population.

Modernization and Demography

The demographic transition theory represents the changes from high death and birth rates to significantly low rates over a given period. The demographic transition model shows the stages that are involved in the reduction of these rates.

It is important to note that the rate at which these changes occur is dependant on the level of industrialization that a give geographical area has experienced (Cadwell and Schindlmayr 418).This brings in the concept of modernization. The concept asserts that human beings will always put efforts to better their life situations.

A good example is the development of automobiles to enhance transport and the invention of medicine to cure some of the diseases that affect humans. It is obvious that different parts of the world differ as far as industrialization and civilization are concerned. Putting this into consideration, the demographic transition theory/model gives the stages that populations pass through as the birth and death rates pass during their decline.

The model has five major stages. The first stage is associated with a low population growth and an equal rate of births and deaths. All human populations were at this stage until the 18^th century when industrialization began in Western Europe. The rates were above 30 per 1000 people. The second stage involves a decrease in death rates while the birth rates remain high which results to population increase. This stage represents the period immediately after the Agricultural Revolution of the 18^th century.

During this period, there was increased food and water supply in most regions of the world especially in the West. The revolution enhanced the improvement of the living standards of the people hence the decrease in death rates. The third stage is the part of the model whereby the population moves towards stability whereby, the birth rates decrease as opposed to the second stage. Owing to this, both the birth and death rates are low at this stage.

With respect to modernization, this stage came into being towards the end of the 19^th century. During this period, technological advancements brought in birth control systems. Women in the society also became educated coupled with propagated urbanization amongst other changes. In the fourth stage, populations attain stability.

One of the cities in America that exhibited almost all these stages is Chicago. Up to the 18^th century, Chicago’s population was in the first stage of the demography model. In the mid-nineteenth century, the population increased tremendously. The birth rate then was 50 births per 1000 people per year.

This is approximately triple the rate of live births exhibited today in Chicago. The current rate is 14-15 live births per 1000 people per year with decreased death rates (Nugent 6). For instance, tuberculosis mortality exhibited a significant drop; between 1892 and 1920, the prevalence of tuberculosis and associated deaths reduced by half. This was due to the improvements in the health sector that included vaccinations, provision of hygiene lessons in schools and pasteurizations.

Conclusion

The demography transition theory helps in explaining the transitions of populations. It asserts that a population goes through four major stages based on the level of modernization. Different populations in the world are at different stages depending on their level of industrialization and civilization.

Works Cited

Cadwell, John, and Schindlmayr, Thomas. Demographic Transition Theory.

Netherlands: Springer, 2006.

Nugent, Walter. “Demography.” Chicago as a modern World City 2.1(2004): 6-8.