Distilled Demographics: The Birth Rate

The birth rate is one of the most basic and important measures in demography. Birth rates affect public policy and budgeting for education and health systems, and can have major impacts on the wellbeing of a country's population. In this video, PRB senior demographer Carl Haub explains how "crude" birth rates, the total fertility rate, and replacement-level fertility rates are measured, and using examples from various countries, why these measures matter for public health and economic development. By comparing these measures across different countries as examples, we can see how birth rates matter for all of us.