Slide 17 of 37
Notes:
During the past two centuries, most countries in what we now call the developed world underwent a demographic transition, with a major decline in first the death rate and then the birth rate and family size. Because the birth rate lags the death rate the population rises during the transition, but tends to level off after it is complete. The underlying causes of this phenomenon are somewhat controversial, but it seems to be associated with the country achieving a sufficient standard of living and of education of women. In poor societies, children are often regarded as insurance to take care of their parents in their old age. Furthermore, child mortality is high, so more are conceived in the hope that enough will survive. In wealthier societies, such considerations are less important, and better educated adults have a wider range of choices, particularly if family planning services are widely available.
In recent years there are signs that in some, though not all, developing countries, fertility rates are decreasing and population growth is slowing down. Religious beliefs are clearly relevant, but at least as relevant is the extent to which women are educated to a level comparable to that of men. These are sensitive issues, but with recent, well publicized, United Nations Conferences on Population international discussion is becoming more open.