Question

define the major fertility and mortality indicators. briefly explain their significance in economic planning

Answer 1

 

FERTILITY AND MORTALITY. Fertility and mortality in a population depend on sociocultural history, sanitary conditions, and biological factors. Although the last element is generally similar in all human communities, sociocultural and sanitary factors vary considerably.

FERTILITY

Fertility is measured by a combination of four classical parameters: birthrate (number of births per 1,000 total population); fertility rate (birthrate per 1,000 women fifteen to forty-nine years old), reproduction rate (average number of girls born per woman), and actual fertility (average total number of births per woman). The Persian fertility rate a half-century ago was equivalent to maximum natural growth. Such natural growth rates were established for Persia and several comparable countries between the years 1950 and 1955, before the broad introduction of birth control

MORTALITY

, the number of deaths per 1,000 population, has declined rapidly in Persia since the early 20th century, a significant factor in overall population growth. In contrast to birthrates, death rates are difficult to establish, for they are much less fully registered, so that estimates of the various relevant measures play a much more important role. A study of historic trends in Persian mortality since 1900 reveals a high rate (36-41) for the first quarter-century, owing to epidemics, famines, natural catastrophes, and local conflicts and war, events also characteristic of Persian life before 1900 (Amani, 1982, pp. 176-77). A United Nations (1990, p. 398) estimate put the mortality rate for the period 1950-55 at 22, approximately the same as that estimated for the preceding five years.