How Well Does Population Change in China Fit with the Demographic Transition Model (DTM) - Akshaya
Prior to 1949 China had experienced a century of imperial decline, natural disasters, foreign invasion and civil unrest. This resulted in life expectancy being as low as 36 years; during this period of time China was in stage one of the demographic transition model with high birth and death rates , resulting in a relatively steady population size, fluctuating due to epidemics and baby booms. China then entered the second stage in 1949 when the communists took over, as they began to modernise China. This shift to economic development led to a 10% annual growth rate in the economy between 1949 and 1958. Death rate and infant mortality fell due to a very successful healthcare programme and better nutrition. However, birth rate remains high (34.03 per 1000 in 1957) due to the traditional view of more children being needed to work the land and guarantee the parents security in old age remaining; this is characteristic of countries in stage two of the DTM. This led to rapid natural incr...