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Crude birth rate represents the childbirths per 1,000 people each year. This is a common measure of fertility for a given population. Statisticians use the crude birth rate in population geography and demography because it is a useful indicator in studies of population around the world.

It is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. To calculate the rate of population change, the crude death rate is subtracted from the crude birth rate. This calculation does not take migration into account. The birth rate is referred to as crude because it does not take into account age or sex differences amongst the population.