Key Vital Rates

Question 1

Replacement fertility rates

Answer 1

The fertility rate can be used as an indicator of future population growth. A fertility rate not 2 means that, on average, each mother will have one daughter to replace herself reproductively in the next generation. This is known as the replacement fertility rate. In reality, the replacement rate is 2.1 because not all girls reach childbearing age.

Question 2

Infant mortality rates

Answer 2

The number of children dying before their first birthday forms start of the death rate statistics but is considered to be a particularly important measure of mortality because

• it is age specific as it relates to one particular group. This group is vulnerable but arguably is the group that society should be taking most of
• it gives an indication of the level of health care available in the population, particularly maternity and post-natal care, as well as the prevalence of disease and ability to combat them
• it gives an indication of the wealth of the country. Higher income countries will be able to afford the health care, medicines, healthy diet and clean water that will keep infants alive
• it will have an impact on fertilitynratr. Families in areas with high infant and child mortality (deaths under the age of five) will tend to have more children to ensure the survival of some of their family into adulthood