Read the following statements about demographic transition theory carefully:
A. The first stage has high fertility and high mortality
B. Fertility remains high in beginning of second stage
C. In the last stage both fertility and mortality declined considerably
D. This theory cannot be used to describe and predict the future population of any area
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A), (B), (C) only
The demographic transition theory explains how the population of a region changes as society moves from rural, farming and illiterate to urban, industrial and literate. Births and deaths both start high and both end low. The change happens in three stages.
(A) The first stage has high fertility and high mortality — Correct. People have many children because many die of epidemics and food is not certain. So both births and deaths are high, and the population grows slowly.
(B) Fertility remains high in beginning of second stage — Correct. Better sanitation and health care bring the death rate down first. Births stay high for some time and fall later, so the gap between them adds many people to the population.
(C) In the last stage both fertility and mortality declined considerably — Correct. In this stage people are urban and literate, and they plan the size of the family. Births and deaths are both low, so the population is stable or grows slowly.
(D) This theory cannot be used to describe and predict the future population of any area — Incorrect. Describing and predicting the future population is the very use of this theory. Knowing the stage a region is in shows how its births, deaths and growth are likely to change next. NTA added the word “cannot” to a book line, and a true line became false. Read every word before you mark the answer.
NCERT (2026-27): “DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION … Demographic transition theory can be used to describe and predict the future population of any area. The theory tells us that population of any region changes from high births and high deaths to low births and low deaths as society progresses from rural agrarian and illiterate to urban industrial and literate society. These changes occur in stages which are collectively known as the demographic cycle.” “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.” “Fertility remains high in the beginning of second stage but it declines with time. This is accompanied by reduced mortality rate. Improvements in sanitation and health conditions lead to decline in mortality. Because of this gap the net addition to population is high.” “In the last stage, both fertility and mortality decline considerably. The population is either stable or grows slowly. The population becomes urbanised, literate and has high technical know-how and deliberately controls the family size.” |