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 rural societies are characterised by 

High birth and high death rate

Rural societies are characterised by high birth and high death rates as they are agrarian and illiterate, and most people were engaged in agriculture where large families are an asset and have high death rate because of poor medical facilities.