Judging by the demographic patterns of recent years, we can surmise that the principal reason for declining natural increase rates in less developed countries today is (1 point) Responses increasing crude birth rates. increasing crude birth rates. declining crude birth rates. declining crude birth rates. increasing crude death rates. increasing crude death rates. declining crude death rates. declining crude death rates. balanced natural increase rates.

The principal reason for declining natural increase rates in less developed countries today is declining crude birth rates.

The principal reason for declining natural increase rates in less developed countries today is declining crude birth rates.

To determine the principal reason for declining natural increase rates in less developed countries, we can analyze the given options by eliminating the duplicated choices:

1. Increasing crude birth rates
2. Declining crude birth rates
3. Increasing crude death rates
4. Declining crude death rates
5. Balanced natural increase rates

To understand the impact of these factors on natural increase rates, we need to consider their definitions:

- Crude birth rate: The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population per year.
- Crude death rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population per year.
- Natural increase rate: The difference between the crude birth rate and the crude death rate.

Based on these definitions, we can determine that a decline in natural increase rates can be caused by either declining crude birth rates or increasing crude death rates.

To determine the principal reason, we should look for patterns in recent demographic data. However, this information is not given in the question. Therefore, we cannot conclusively determine the principal reason for declining natural increase rates in less developed countries without additional information.