Population Growth and Demographic Transition

Abstract

Population growth is made up of three variables: the number of births, the number of deaths, and the extent of migration, i.e. of net migration. There are very different possibilities of combination (leaving migration aside for the moment): high fertility can go along with high mortality, resulting in medium natural population growth. High fertility can also occur with low mortality; in this case the natural population growth would be highest. Low fertility can be combined with low mortality, in which case natural population growth would also be medium. Finally, low fertility can be combined with high mortality, in which case natural population growth would be lowest.