What is a key feature of Stage 3 in the demographic transition model?

A key feature of Stage 3 in the demographic transition model is characterized by decreasing mortality rates alongside an aging population. During this stage, countries typically transition from high birth and death rates to lower birth and death rates. As healthcare improves, mortality rates decline significantly due to better living conditions, medical advancements, and improved public health initiatives.

While fertility rates do begin to decline in this stage compared to earlier stages, they are often still relatively high but begin to trend downwards as social norms shift towards smaller families. This shift often results from increased urbanization, economic development, and women's education, leading to delayed childbearing and the adoption of family planning methods.

As a result, the population begins to grow but at a slower rate than in the previous stages, leading to an aging population as life expectancy increases. These factors contribute to a demographic profile that is marked by a steady expansion of the population, but not an immediate decline as seen in later stages of the model.