Crude Birth Rate (CBR) Key Notes for UPSC
The crude birth rate (CBR) is a demographic statistic that measures the number of live births in a population during a given year per 1,000 individuals. It serves as a basic indicator of population growth and fertility trends within a specific area.
Here’s a breakdown of the key points regarding CBR:
Formula:
CBR = (Number of live births in a year / Mid-year population) × 1,000
Interpretation:
- A higher CBR indicates a higher rate of population growth due to births.
- A lower CBR suggests slower population growth or even decline.
Factors affecting CBR:
- Age structure: Populations with a larger proportion of women in childbearing age (15-49 years) tend to have higher CBRs.
- Fertility rates: Factors like access to healthcare, education, economic conditions, cultural norms, and family planning policies influence individual choices about having children, impacting overall fertility rates and consequently CBR.
- Mortality rates: In some cases, high infant mortality rates can prompt couples to have more children to ensure survival of some offspring, potentially affecting CBR.
Limitations of CBR:
- CBR is a crude measure and doesn’t account for age or other characteristics of the population that might influence fertility.
- It doesn’t distinguish between births to residents and non-residents.
- CBR doesn’t provide information about the underlying causes of changes in birth rates.
Applications of CBR:
- Monitoring population growth trends.
- Identifying areas with high or low fertility rates for targeted interventions.
- Analyzing demographic shifts and their potential impact on social and economic planning.
