Demographic trap: Difference between revisions

The term '''demographic trap''' applies to a country whose population is growing rapidly due to a high [[birth rate]] and low [[death rate]]. This usually happens when a [[developing country]] moves through the [[demographic transition]] of becoming developed. During the [[Demographic transition#Stage Three|3rd stage]] of demographic transition (called the late transition stage), quality of health care has improved enough that death rates fall into the "accepted" range, which is usually well below 10 per 1000 people. However, birth rates remain high, and the country becomes "trapped" in a self-perpetuating cycle. The country's [[economic growth]] from the transition stage ends up being used to support the needs of the exploding population instead of economic and social development. As a result, the country cannot proceed to the final stage, post-transition, and remains in the 3rd stage. What may happen instead, as predicted indirectly by [[Thomas Malthus]], is a [[Malthusian catastrophe|Malthusian collapse]], in which famine and disease ravage the country's population, lowering numbers dramatically.

 

<!-- This is guesswork based on the data available from the listed articles. If you think these are wrong, or if know better examples, feel free to delete or change. -->

* [[Demographics of the Palestinian territories#Demographics of the Gaza Strip|Gaza Strip]]

==See also==

* [[Demographic window]]

[[Category:Demographics]]

[[Category:Demographic economics]]

[[Category:Demography]]

[[Category:Aging]]

[[Category:Economic problems]]