CAPF AC 2021 Q34: Geography – Population & Demography
Broadly both birth and death rates are low in which one of the following stages of demographic transition model?
- (a) High stationary stage
- (b) Early expanding stage
- (c) Late expanding stage
- (d) Low stationary stage
Answer: (d) Low stationary stage
Explanation
Demographic transition model
How to think: the model starts with both rates high and ends with both rates low.
In between, the death rate falls first and the birth rate follows later.
The names tell you the rest: stationary means the population hardly changes.
| Stage | Birth rate | Death rate | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| High stationary | High | High | Stable and small |
| Early expanding | High | Falling fast | Grows rapidly |
| Late expanding | Falling | Low | Growth slows |
| Low stationary | Low | Low | Stable and large |
So both rates are low in the last stage, the low stationary stage.
Answer: (d) Low stationary stage.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. In the high stationary stage both birth and death rates are high.
- (b) Incorrect. In the early expanding stage the birth rate stays high while the death rate falls.
- (c) Incorrect. In the late expanding stage the birth rate is still coming down.
- (d) CORRECT. In the low stationary stage both birth and death rates are low.
Key point
Demographic transition: high birth and death rates → death rate falls → birth rate falls → both low. Population is stable at both ends and grows fastest in the middle.
Remember
Low stationary = low births, low deaths.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up high stationary (both high) with low stationary (both low).
- Thinking a stable population always means low birth and death rates.
- Forgetting that the death rate falls first, which causes the population explosion.
Exam tip
Educated guess: the question says both rates are low and the answer option itself carries the word low. Stationary means the two rates are equal.
Sources
- NCERT Class XII Geography — Fundamentals of Human Geography (The World Population: demographic transition)
- NCERT Class XII Geography — India: People and Economy (Population: distribution, density, growth and composition)