A demographer examines the population pyramid of a country and notes a broad base with rapidly tapering upper bars, indicating high birth rates and a large proportion of children. This pyramid shape corresponds to which stage of the demographic cycle?

• A Declining stage
• B Stationary stage
• C Early expanding stage ✓
• D Low fluctuating (late expanding) stage

Explanation

C broad-based, sharply tapering pyramid reflects high birth rates and falling or high death rates with a large young population, characteristic of the early expanding stage (Stage 2) of the demographic cycle. In the stationary stage the pyramid becomes bell shaped with equal numbers in each age group, and in the declining stage it narrows at the base because birth rates fall below death rates. The late expanding stage shows an intermediate shape, not the markedly triangular form described here.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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