For the past ten years, a region has had a stable birth and death rate. The population is about 300,000 individuals. Last year the birth rate was 33 births per 1,000 people. During the same year, 25,546 individuals died. What prediction can be made for this region?

a. The population will decrease because the death rate is the same as the birth rate.
b. The population will stay the same because the death rate is the same as the birth rate.
c. The population will decrease because the death rate is higher than the birth rate.
d. The population will increase because the death rate is higher than the birth rate.