1. Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
AP Human Geography
Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

2. 2.1/ 2.2 Review Where are the major population clusters?
Why do people live and not live in certain areas?
What are the different types of population densities?
What are CBR, CDR, NIR, TFR, IMR, life expectancy, doubling time?

3. A note on “Models”
In this class, we will discuss a variety of different models.
Models are examples that help us better understand a major concept or idea.
Models are NOT exact and are flexible.
Models are NOT perfect.
Models might look different in reality than the do in theory.

4. Example: Christaller’s Model
The model
The reality

5. What is the Demographic Transition Model (DTM)?
DTM examines the change in the population within a country over time.
DTM is broken down into 4 stages.
Rates of growth/ decline vary from country to country.
DTM is primarily affected by CBR and CDR.
All countries are in some stage of the DTM.

6. Demographic Transition Model

7. Population Growth over time

8. DTM: Stage 1- Low Growth WHAT? WHY?
Low population growth rate (NIR)
High birth rates
High death rates
WHY?
Epidemics and plagues keep death rates high
Food sources are uncertain (hunting and gathering, basic farming)
Humans have spent most of history in Stage 1 (400,000 B.C. to 1800 A.D.)
No countries are currently in Stage 1

9. Demographic Transition Model

10. DTM: Stage 2- High Growth
WHAT?
Death rates decline rapidly
Birth rates remain the same
This leads to rapid population growth
WHY?
People are still accounting for high death rates and making lots o’ babies!
Increase in wealth leads to better sanitation, technology (farming), better overall health…people live longer!
First countries entered Stage 2 during the Industrial Revolution (late 1700’s, early 1800’s)
Europe/ N. America enter Stage ’s but does not reach Africa, Asia, Latin America until the 1950’s (Medical Revolution)
Currently, most of sub- Saharan Africa is Stage 2.

11. Demographic Transition Model

12. DTM: Stage 3- Moderate Growth
WHAT?
CBR drops rapidly, gets closer to CDR
Population still grows, but much less rapidly
TFR above 2.1
WHY?
People decide not to have as many children (lower IMR, children are liabilities, not assets)
European/ N. American countries moved from Stage 2 to 3 in the 1950’s
Some Asian/ Latin American countries moved from Stage 2 to 3 recently. (1980’s/ 1990’s)

13. Demographic Transition Model

14. DTM: Stage 4- Low Growth WHAT? WHY?
Death Rate and Birth Rate are very close/
NIR close to 0 (zero population growth)
TFR around 2.1
WHY?
Women enter labor force
Birth control
Increased income/ leisure time
Most European/ NA countries have reached Stage 4.

15. Demographic Transition Model

16. Possible 5th Stage
WHAT?
Higher death rates than birth rates, irreversible population decline.
TFR below 2.1

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