The death rates in a country have come down, but birth rates continue to be high. Which of the following situations will this give rise to?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Population Explosion
When death rates decrease but birth rates remain high, the population grows rapidly, leading to a population explosion. This situation results in a sharp increase in the total population, as more people are being born while fewer are dying.
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Population Stagnation: This occurs when birth rates and death rates are roughly equal, leading to little to no population growth.
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Population Momentum: This refers to the tendency for a population to continue growing for some time even after fertility rates have declined to replacement level, due to a large number of young people in the population who are yet to enter their reproductive years. While a high birth rate/low death rate scenario might contribute to future momentum, the immediate outcome is explosion.
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Population Decline: This happens when death rates exceed birth rates, or when both are very low and below replacement levels, leading to a shrinking population.