Which expression correctly defines the Natural Increase Rate?

Which expression correctly defines the Natural Increase Rate?

• A. death rate minus birth rate
• B. birth rate minus death rate
• C. net migration rate
• D. population growth rate

Answer: (B)

Natural Increase Rate measures how many people are added to a population from within a country, based on births and deaths in a given period. It is calculated by subtracting the death rate from the birth rate. Birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people per year, and the death rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 people per year. Subtracting deaths from births shows the net gain (or loss) due to natural factors alone. Migration isn’t part of this measure, which is why population growth rate combines natural increase with net migration to show overall change. If births exceed deaths, natural increase is positive; if deaths exceed births, it’s negative.