Demographic Calculator: Population Growth Rate
Calculate growth percentages based on Crude Birth Rates (CBR) and Crude Death Rates (CDR).
Calculation Results
How to Calculate Population Growth Rate with Crude Birth Rate
Understanding demographic dynamics is essential for urban planning, resource allocation, and economic forecasting. One of the fundamental metrics used in demography is the Population Growth Rate (PGR). While there are complex models for population projection, the most direct method involves the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) and the Crude Death Rate (CDR).
What are Crude Birth and Death Rates?
The term "crude" is used because these rates do not account for the age or sex structure of the population. They are simple aggregate counts derived from the total population.
- Crude Birth Rate (CBR): The total number of live births in a year for every 1,000 people alive in the society.
- Crude Death Rate (CDR): The total number of deaths in a year for every 1,000 people alive in the society.
- Net Migration Rate (NMR): The difference between the number of immigrants (people moving in) and emigrants (people moving out) per 1,000 people.
The Formula for Population Growth
To calculate the growth rate, demographers look at the natural increase (births minus deaths) and adjust it for migration. Since CBR and CDR are expressed per 1,000, and growth rates are typically expressed as a percentage (per 100), we divide the result by 10.
If you are looking strictly for the Rate of Natural Increase (RNI), which excludes migration, the formula is:
Example Calculation
Let's assume a hypothetical country with the following statistics:
- CBR: 25 births per 1,000 people
- CDR: 9 deaths per 1,000 people
- Net Migration: +2 per 1,000 people
Step 1: Calculate the difference.
(25 – 9 + 2) = 18 per 1,000.
Step 2: Convert to percentage.
18 / 10 = 1.8%
This means the population is growing at a rate of 1.8% per year.
Doubling Time (The Rule of 70)
Once you have the growth rate, you can estimate how many years it will take for the population to double in size using the "Rule of 70".
Formula: 70 / Growth Rate (%) = Years to Double
Using the example above (1.8% growth): 70 / 1.8 ≈ 38.9 years to double the population.
Why Is This Important?
Calculating the population growth rate using the Crude Birth Rate is vital for:
- Government Planning: Determining future needs for schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.
- Economic Analysis: Understanding workforce growth and dependency ratios.
- Environmental Impact: Estimating future resource consumption and sustainability requirements.