Which stage of the DTM is characterized by the highest population growth rate?

Stage 2 of the Demographic Transition Model (DTM) is characterized by the highest population growth rate due to a significant decline in death rates while birth rates remain high. During this stage, improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition lead to lower mortality rates, particularly among infants and children. This reduction in deaths prompts a rapid increase in population as the number of births continues to exceed the number of deaths significantly.

In contrast, Stage 1 features both high birth and death rates, resulting in a stable population with minimal growth. Stage 3 begins to see a decline in birth rates while death rates continue to be low, leading to a slower growth rate compared to Stage 2. Stage 4 stabilizes with both low birth and death rates, resulting in little to no population growth. Thus, Stage 2 clearly stands out as the phase where the population grows at its fastest rate due to the disparity between declining deaths and sustained high births.