This document discusses the stages of demographic transition and their implications. It describes 5 stages:
Stage 1) Pre-industrial society with high birth and death rates. Children are an economic benefit.
Stage 2) Death rates fall leading to population growth.
Stage 3) Birth rates start to decline bringing populations toward stability.
Stage 4) Populations reach low, stable birth and death rates.
Stage 5) Some populations now have below replacement fertility rates, causing population declines without immigration. Countries like Japan and parts of Europe are in this stage.
