Need a reminder of the definition of BIRTH RATE?

As you saw in the previous activity, the birth rate of a country can vary widely depending on many different factors. We will now explore a little more about the factors that influence birth rates.

The birth rate is calculated by taking the total number of live births in a year, dividing it by the total population and multiplying the result by 1000.

For example, in 2009, there were 4,245,671 live births in the United States. The estimated population of the United States in 2009 was 307,212,123 people. If we put this into the birth rate equation, it looks like this:

Activity

Visit this website to see a map of the world indicating the birth rates of each country below. Move your mouse over a country on the map to see the name of the country and its birth rate.

In your notes, record the birth rates of the following countries:

• United States
• Mexico
• United Kingdom
• China
• Sudan

Check Your Answers

United States - 13.82
Mexico - 19.71
United Kingdom - 10.65
China - 14
Sudan - 33.74

Which of the following continents has the highest birth rate?

• Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

  North America

  Incorrect. The countries of North America have significantly lower birth rates than that of Africa and South Asia.
• Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

  Asia

  Incorrect. Although the countries of South Asia have higher birth rates than that of Europe and North America, the continent as a whole does not have a high birth rate average.
• Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

  Europe

  Incorrect. European countries have some of the lowest birth rates in the world.
• Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

  Africa

  Correct! You will notice that the majority of the countries in Africa have birth rates above 30%.

Why do you think that is? What is it about the countries in Africa that make their birth rates so high compared to the rest of the world?

Let's explore the different factors that contribute to the birth rate. Click on each picture below: