What is often a consequence of a declining death rate during stage two of the demographic transition?

A declining death rate during stage two of the demographic transition typically leads to a rapid increase in population size. This is due to improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition, which significantly reduce mortality rates, especially among infants and children. As the death rates fall, more individuals survive to adulthood, leading to a population boom.

During this stage, while birth rates may remain high, the gap between birth and death rates widens, resulting in a net increase in population. The rapid growth that occurs can have various socioeconomic implications, such as increased demand for resources, challenges in education and employment, and pressure on infrastructure.

Other factors, such as a decrease in birth rates or stable population growth, usually happen later in the demographic transition, while an increase in the dependency ratio typically does not occur until the population structure shifts due to changes in birth and death rates. Hence, the correct interpretation of the effect of a declining death rate in this stage is indeed a rapid population increase.