The correct option is 2 only.
Explanation
The Demographic Transition Theory explains the transformation of countries from having high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as they develop economically. The model typically outlines a progression through specific stages based on trends in fertility and mortality.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. In Stage I (High Fluctuating), birth rates are already extremely high. The transition to Stage II is not driven by an increase in birth rates; rather, birth rates remain high and stable while other factors change.
- Statement 2 is Correct. The defining feature of the transition to Stage II (Early Expanding) is a significant decline in mortality rates due to improvements in medical care, sanitation, and food security. While death rates fall, fertility rates remain high due to cultural lag, creating a surplus of births over deaths.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect. In Stage I, population growth is stagnant because high birth rates are offset by high death rates. However, during the transition to Stage II, the widening gap between high birth rates and falling death rates causes the rate of natural increase to rise sharply. This leads to rapid population growth (population explosion), not stagnation.
Key Takeaway:
The transition from Stage I to Stage II in the Demographic Transition Model is characterized by a sharp reduction in mortality while fertility remains high, leading to accelerating population growth.