Which characteristic is associated with the first stage of the demographic transition model?

The first stage of the demographic transition model is characterized by high birth and death rates. In this stage, populations are typically agrarian, with limited access to healthcare, education, and sanitation. As a result, both the death rate and the birth rate are high, leading to a relatively stable population size over time, though it can fluctuate due to epidemics, famine, or other factors impacting mortality.

High birth rates are often a response to high mortality rates, as families tend to have more children to ensure that some survive to adulthood. This balance results in a population that does not experience significant growth. The conditions in this stage reflect the challenges and limitations faced by societies that are primarily dependent on agriculture and lack advanced medical technology.

In later stages of the demographic transition, as countries develop, improvements in healthcare and living standards typically lead to decreases in death rates first, followed by declining birth rates. However, this does not apply in the first stage where both rates remain high.