Another population tool is the Demographic transition model. It demonstrates the typical stages a country goes through when transitioning from non-industrial to industrial (LDC to MDC). It is a great tool in showing the country’s process from a developing to a developed country.There are four stages in a demographic transition model.

1. Stage 1:

The first stage has a high death rate due to poor sanitation, medical care, and food supplies. The population than compensates for this by having more children, therefore a higher birth rate. Both rates are usually equal with slight fluctuations which results in little population growth. Most countries are out of this stage today.

2.  Stage 2:

The second stage in the demographic transition model has relatively high birth rates and decreasing death rates because of more disease control, more food production better, jobs, and improved medical care and sanitation. The total population starts to increase at a rapid rate.

3. Stage 3:

The third stage in the demographic transition model is the industrial stage, with an increasing population with declining birth rates and low death rates. The death rates remain stable and low during this stage due to an improved the standard of living during the previous stage. Birth rates decline because people realize that they no longer have to produce large numbers of offspring because the children have a higher chance of surviving to adulthood. Nicaragua is at this stage. Even though there are still facing issues, they are on the right track to improving their country economically.

4. Stage 4

The low birth rate and death rates barely fluctuate. The population growth is small, and the fertility rate continues to fall. This is a result of a change in most personal lifestyles. For example, more women are in the work force, therefore less couples are having kids, but sorting out their careers first.