Which population characteristic is typical in stage one of the demographic transition model?

In stage one of the demographic transition model, high fertility rates coincide with high mortality rates, leading to a stable population size over time. This characteristic is typical because societies in this stage are largely agrarian and face numerous challenges such as diseases, famine, and lack of access to healthcare, which contribute to high mortality rates.

At the same time, families tend to have many children to ensure that some survive to adulthood, resulting in high fertility rates. Because both birth and death rates are high, the overall population tends to remain relatively stable, without significant growth. This stage is often characterized by a balance of births and deaths, keeping the population from expanding rapidly.

The other options do not align with stage one characteristics; for instance, rapid population growth occurs in later stages when mortality rates drop, and decreased life expectancy typically occurs due to specific crises rather than being a normative feature of this early stage. Population stability can occur but is more accurately described as the balance achieved between high births and deaths rather than true stability seen in later stages of transition.