| Aim of the method/technique |
Birth rate measures the ratio of live births to resident population. Mortality rate measures the number of deaths to resident population.
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| Scale – spatial and temporal |
Birth rate is measured on average resident population (the average of population figures at the beginning and end of a set time frame, for example a year). Birth rate can also be measured for world population and a continent’s, a nation’s, a region’s or a municipality’s population (or even individual townships). Same applies to mortality rate. |
| Brief description |
Birth rate is calculated on the number of live births to average resident population. The value obtained is then generally converted by multiplication (times 100 or 1000) (ISTAT, Glossary). Like the majority of demographic rates, birth rate is influenced by a number of social factors. For example, it can be vary according to local knowledge of anti-contraceptives, social class, economic situation, and life-style or for religious or cultural reasons. Mortality rate is calculated on the number of deaths in a year against average resident population. The value obtained is then generally converted by multiplication (times 100 or 1000) (ISTAT, Glossary). |
| Data requirements |
The data needed to measure birth rate are the number of live births and the average resident population, both figures taken from the same time frame under study. The average resident population is calculated on the mean of population count at the beginning and end of the time frame under study. The data needed to measure mortality rate are number of deaths and resident population in the study area. Average resident population is calculated as above. Usually these figures are calculated and provided by the national statistical services. |
| Main applications in cropland, grazing land and forests & shrubland regions |
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| Strengths and weaknesses |
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