Demographic Indicators: Definitions and Factors
Demographic Indicators
Natural balance: Births – Deaths
Net migration: Immigrants – Emigrants
Birth rate: Births that occur in a population per thousand inhabitants in a given year
(2010) [Number of births / total population] x 1000
Death rate: Deaths that occur in a population per thousand inhabitants in a given year
(2010) [Number of deaths / total population] x 1000
Fertility rate: Average number of children women have in a population throughout their reproductive years (15-49)
[Number of births / women (15-49)] x 1000
Infant mortality rate: Number of deaths among children aged 0 to 1 year per thousand live births in a given year
(2010) [Number of deaths (0-1) / total live births] x 1000
Life expectancy at birth: Average number of years individuals of a population are expected to live in a given year
Sex ratio: Number of men per 100 women in a population
Dependency ratio: Ratio of economically active population (which is of working age) and dependent population (children and retirees)
Types of Population Pyramid
Progressive (or Eiffel Tower): High dependency ratio (large population <15)
Regressive (or Funeral urn): High rate of negative dependence (much older population)
Natality
Reproductive performance of women: Varies by country (poor/rich or rural/urban)
Factors influencing natality:
- University study and women’s work -> less desire to have children (- fertility)
- Role of women in the home -> active (keeps house and rearing children -> + natality) or passive (dual-income family -> – natality)
- Access to information -> contraceptive use -> Family Planning
- State policies and incentives
Mortality
Quality of Life:
- Health and sanitation coverage
- Power
Infant mortality
Life expectancy and an aging population: (+ deaths)
Household and Poverty
Household: Group of people living under one roof and sharing living expenses
Homeless: Individuals or households who fail to meet basic food needs
Basic Food Basket (BFB): A set of food products that a company considers essential to life. It has a certain price and varies by age and sex
Basic Basket Total (BBT): BFB + basic expenses -> transportation, clothing, health, education, home services, etc.
Poor: Individuals or households who fail to meet the BBT
Poverty Criteria in Europe
- Entry criteria: Not having a minimum level (threshold) of money to cover basic household needs
- Basic Needs (UBN): Deprivation of individuals and households in relation to the material and the space available and the level of schooling and its relationship with type of work that serves
Structural Poverty (long term)
Housing: Overcrowding (+ 3 people per room) and provision of water and sewer
Access to education: Home with children not attending school
Affordability: Household with 4 or more members per working person and a low level of education
Population Types
Urban Population: Population concentrated in agglomerations of > 2000 inhabitants (standard French)
Rural Population: Population dispersed or concentrated in clusters of < 2000 inhabitants