Typically seen in less developed countries where birth rates are high but a large number of people die of preventable causes leading to a stable population.

Death rates fall steeply as deaths from preventable causes are reduced by better food supply and improved public health, but birth rates remain high due to high fertility, poor social development and limited access to health and contraceptive services. This often leads to a spurt in population.

Birth rates fall but population continues to grow because there are a large number of people in the reproductive age group due to the high fertility of the previous generations.

Countries achieve a stable population once again with low birth and low death rates but at a higher level of social and economic development. Population is stable but higher than in stage one.