Question

Explain birth rate - what it is and the importance of it.

Answer 1

BIRTH RATE

The ratio of total live births to total population in a specified community or area over a given  period of time.

The birth rate is also expressed as the number of live births per 1000 of the population per year.

Birth rates ranging from 10 - 20 births per 1000 are considered as low and rates from 40 - 50 per are considered high.

Birth rate = number of live births / average population

IMPORTANCE OF BIRTH RATE

The birth rate is one of the most basic and important measures in demography. But its relevance is not limited to just demographers.Birth rates affect public policy and budgeting for education and health system, and can have a major impact on the well being of a country's population.

The rate of natural increase of a population depends on birth and death rates, which are strongly influenced by the population age structure.The birth rate (along with mortality and migration rates) is used to calculate population growth and an important parameter for measuring economic growth.