What does a demographic transition model illustrate?

A demographic transition model illustrates the progression of a country's population growth as it transitions from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates. This model typically comprises several stages, each representing distinct patterns in fertility and mortality, which directly influence the overall population growth.

Initially, in the earlier stages, both birth rates and death rates are high, resulting in a relatively stable population. As a country develops, improvements in healthcare and sanitation lead to a decline in death rates while birth rates remain high, causing a population boom. Over time, as societies become more urbanized and access to education increases, particularly among women, birth rates begin to decline, leading to a balance between birth and death rates, and eventually stabilizing the population at a lower growth rate.

The demographic transition model is crucial for understanding how populations evolve over time in response to social, economic, and environmental changes, making it a pivotal concept in demography and geography.