Calculate crude birth rate, annual live births, or midyear population using the standard births-per-1,000 population formula.
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Crude Birth Rate Formula
The crude birth rate is the number of live births in a year per 1,000 people in the midyear population.
To solve for total live births:
To solve for total midyear population:
- CBR = crude birth rate, measured as births per 1,000 people
- B = total number of live births during the year
- P = total midyear population
Choose the quantity to solve for and supply the two fields shown. Use the same geographic area and year. Inverse counts are algebraic estimates and may be fractional when the supplied rate is rounded. Zero births and zero rate do not identify a unique population. If you enter births and population, it calculates the crude birth rate. If you enter the crude birth rate and population, it calculates total live births. If you enter births and the crude birth rate, it calculates the midyear population.
Illustrative Crude Birth Rate Ranges
The labels below are informal illustrations, not official World Bank or CDC thresholds and not a quality ranking. World Bank metadata defines the denominator as total population estimated at midyear.
| Crude birth rate | General interpretation |
|---|---|
| Below 10 births per 1,000 people | Low birth rate |
| 10 to below 20 births per 1,000 people | Moderate birth rate |
| 20 to 30 births per 1,000 people | High birth rate |
| Above 30 births per 1,000 people | Very high birth rate |
Values Used in the Calculation
| Input | What to use | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Total live births | Number of live births during the year | Using total pregnancies instead of live births |
| Midyear population | Population around the middle of the year | Using only the female population or only adults |
| Crude birth rate | Births per 1,000 total people | Entering it as a percent instead of per 1,000 people |
Example Calculations
Example 1: Calculate crude birth rate
If a country has 250,000 live births and a midyear population of 12,500,000:
The crude birth rate is 20 births per 1,000 people.
Example 2: Calculate total live births
If the crude birth rate is 14.5 and the midyear population is 3,200,000:
The estimated total number of live births is 46,400.
FAQ
Why is it called a crude birth rate?
It is called “crude” because it uses the total population as the base. It does not adjust for age, sex, fertility age groups, or other demographic differences.
Is crude birth rate the same as fertility rate?
No. Crude birth rate measures live births per 1,000 people in the total population. Fertility rate usually focuses on births among women of childbearing age, so it is more specific.
Can the crude birth rate be a decimal?
Yes. A result such as 12.75 means there are 12.75 live births per 1,000 people. Decimal results are common when the number of births does not divide evenly by the population.
