Global Variations in Economic Development - DTM (OCR GCSE Geography A (Geographical Themes)): Revision Notes

5.1.2 Global Variations in Economic Development - DTM

Development and the DTM

• Level of Development: Indicates economic, social, cultural, or technological advancement.
• Demographic Transition Model (DTM): Shows population changes over time through five stages, linked to development levels.

Key Points:

• Changing Birth and Death Rates:
  • Affects population growth.
  • Higher birth rates than death rates lead to population growth (natural increase).
  • Birth and death rates vary by country, impacting growth speed, especially in LICs.
• Economic Development:
  • Linked to changing birth and death rates.
  • Population growth changes within a country as it develops.

5 Stages of the DTM:

Stage 1: High Fluctuating

• Birth Rate: High
• Death Rate: High
• Population: Low and fluctuating
• Characteristics**:**
• Little healthcare, low life expectancy, no birth control.
• Population fluctuations due to disease, famine, war.

Stage 2: Early Expanding LIC

• Birth Rate: High
• Death Rate**:** Rapidly decreasing
• Population: Rapidly increasing
• Characteristics:
• Improved living standards, hygiene, healthcare reduce death rates.
• Increased life expectancy.
• High natural increase due to birth-death rate gap.

Stage 3: Late Expanding NEE

• Birth Rate: Rapidly decreasing
• Death Rate: Slowly decreasing
• Population: Slowly increasing
• Characteristics:
• Continued fall in death rates.
• Rapid fall in birth rates due to birth control.
• Smaller families become beneficial and more common.

Stage 4: Fluctuating HIC

• Birth Rate: Low
• Death Rate: Low
• Population: High
• Characteristics:
• Low birth and death rates with stable population.
• Birth rates fluctuate with economic conditions.

Stage 5: Population's Decreasing HIC

• Birth Rate: Slowly decreasing
• Death Rate: Slowly increasing
• Population**:** Slowly falling
• Characteristics:
  • Increased death rates due to ageing population.
  • Declining birth rates as careers and economic uncertainty impact family size decisions.