Demographic transition in small countries

Half of the world's 200 countries have less than 3.37 million inhabitants, and many of these small countries are often assumed to experience rapid demographic transition. This is true of many of the small island populations of the developing world, especially those with largely immigrant and pluralistic populations, unusual family structures, and rapid economic development. Smallness of population alone, however, is not sufficient to ensure rapid demographic transition and many small countries of mainland Africa have experienced little transition.