Calculate general, age-specific, or total fertility rates from annual birth and population data, with results per 1,000 women or children per woman.

Use births and the midyear population of women ages 15–44 from the same place and year.

General Fertility Rate Formula

The following two example problems outline the steps and information needed to calculate the General Fertility Rate.

FR = LB / P * 1000
  • Where FR is the General Fertility Rate (births per 1000 women)
  • LB is the number of live births 
  • P is the female population ages 15-44 

To calculate the general fertility rate, divide the number of liver births by the female population ages 15-44, then multiply by 1000.

How to Calculate General Fertility Rate?

The following example problems outline how to calculate General Fertility Rate.

Example Problem #1:

  1. First, determine the number of live births.
    • The number of live births is given as: 100,000.
  2. Next, determine the female population ages 15-44.
    • The female population ages 15-44 is provided as: 2,000,000.
  3. Finally, calculate the General Fertility Rate using the equation above: 

FR = LB / P * 1000

The values provided above are inserted into the equation below and computed.

FR = 100,000 / 2,000,000 * 1000 = 50 (births per 1000 women)

Example Problem #2: 

For this problem, the variables required are provided below:

number of live births = 150,000

female population ages 15-44 = 3,000,000

Test your knowledge using the equation and check your answer with the calculator..

FR = LB / P * 1000 = ?