The first stage of Demographic transition theory is characterised by:
A. High fertility and high mortality
B. Population growth is high
C. Life expectancy is low
D. Low level of technology
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → A, C and D only
A. High fertility and high mortality Correct. Many people die of epidemics and a variable food supply, so people reproduce more to make up for these deaths; in a farming society large families are also an asset. High mortality keeps fertility high.
B. Population growth is high Incorrect. High deaths cancel the high births, so growth is slow; it becomes high only in the second stage.
C. Life expectancy is low Correct. Epidemics and an uncertain food supply kill many people early in life, so on average people do not live long; life expectancy is low.
D. Low level of technology Correct. People are mostly illiterate farmers with low levels of technology. With little means to control disease or secure food, they cannot bring the death rate down, which keeps the society in this stage; two hundred years ago every country was in it.
NCERT (2025-26): “Demographic Transition … Fig. 2.2 explains the three-staged model of Demographic Transition Theory: The first stage has high fertility and high mortality because people reproduce more to compensate for the deaths due to epidemics and variable food supply. The population growth is slow and most of the people are engaged in agriculture where large families are an asset. Life expectancy is low, people are mostly illiterate and have low levels of technology. Two hundred years ago all the countries of the world were in this stage.” |