Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Demographic transition
(2,110 words)

1. Definition and course

The concept of the Demographic Transition is of central importance in the history of population. It serves to describe the long-term decline in both mortality and fertility, and the concomitant growth in population, seen in the various societies of Europe from the late 18th century. The essence of the concept can be summarized in two points [2. 2]. First, it depends on the assumption that, during the transition to modernity, ever…

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Ehmer, Josef, “Demographic transition”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_018233>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20170626



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