Which of the following is a defining characteristic of Stage 1 of the demographic transition?

Stage 1 of the demographic transition is characterized by high fertility and mortality rates. This stage typically reflects a pre-industrial society where both the birth rate and death rate are elevated. Communities in this stage often face challenges such as limited access to healthcare, high prevalence of disease, and insufficient sanitation, leading to high mortality rates.

At the same time, high fertility rates are sustained as families tend to have more children, partly due to the lack of family planning and the need for labor in agricultural societies. The combination of these high birth and death rates results in a relatively stable population size, as the number of births is balanced by the number of deaths.

As societies progress through the demographic transition, they usually move into Stage 2, where improvements in healthcare and living conditions lead to reduced mortality rates while birth rates remain high, resulting in population growth.