Which of the following is NOT one of the four stages of demographic transition?

• A. Agricultural
• B. Postindustrial
• C. Transitional
• D. Industrial

Answer: (A)

Demographic transition tracks how birth and death rates change as societies develop, moving through four stages: a pre-industrial stage with high birth and death rates, a transitional stage where death rates fall while births stay high, an industrial stage where birth rates begin to fall, and a postindustrial stage where both birth and death rates are low. The terms Transitional, Industrial, and Postindustrial are standard labels for three of these stages. Agricultural, however, describes a mode of economic activity rather than a stage in demographic transition, so it does not fit as part of the four stages. Therefore, Agricultural is the correct choice.