1. The Classic Stages of Demographic Transition
Women worldwide are having fewer children in their lifetimes, from an average of five children born per woman in the 1950s to below three in 2000.
All of the most recent projections put forth by the UN assume that levels of childbearing will continue to decline in the next century.
Note: Natural increase is produced from the excess of births over deaths.

2. Pre-transition Fluctuating high birth rate and death rates
Very high fertility (+8 kids) due to high infant mortality rates
Natural increase is stable
Births=deaths (stable population)
Pre-industrial phase (agricultural based economy, low level of technology (hunter/gatherer))
Low life expectancy
Population is mainly rural
No countries are here anymore (core countries – pre 1800’s, periphery pre-1950)

3. Early-transition Birth rate still very high, but declining (5-6+ kids)
Sharp decline in death rate
large natural increase leads to population explosion
Start of death control
Death rates drop due to acceptance of germ theory - small lifestyle changes can prevent disease: personal sanitation (handwashing), clean drinking water, pest control (mosquito nets), waste/sewage disposal
Increase in life expectancy due to healthier lifestyle
Agriculture still dominant economic activity/rural population
Core countries early 1800’s, periphery early 1900’s

4. Late-transition
sharp decline in birth rates; fertility rates drop to 3-4
low death rates continue
natural increase declines (therefore population explosion tapers off at end of late-transition when BR and DR come closer to one another)
Start of birth control
Shift from agricultural to industrial based economy
More people now living in urban areas (fewer needed on farms due to shift in economy – urban boom starts)
Life expectancy continues to increase
Core late 1800’s/early 1900’s, and periphery mid-late 1900’s

5. Post-transition Low but equal birth and death rates
Fertility rates are at or slightly above replacement rates (2.1)
Natural increase stable or starting to decline
Stable population with low birth/death rates
Post-industrial service based economy
Majority of people live in cities
Core 1970’s onward, periphery not here yet

6. Stage 5 Post-Post transition??
Declining population
Death rate is higher than birth rate
Fertility below 2.1
Great many older people (and some big problems in the future)