Birth Rate – The number of births in a year per 1000 of the total population

To remember the meaning of the term Birth Rate, use the following mnemonic:

At birth the baby's weight (birth rate) was just 1.0kg, or 1000 grammes (per thousand population). But the doctors were certain she would be up to normal weight quite soon.

The birth rate along with the mortality and migration rates are used to calculate population growth.

Average global birth rates:

What is interesting is that the more developed a country is, the lower the birth rate is.

There is a whole community of social scientists studying the reasons for this. Some say it's because of:

• Education
• Lack of care facilities for children
• Access to contraceptives
• Women in work
• Less children = More prosperity