The crude birth rate is the number of live births in a given year for every thousand people in a population. It is a fundamental measure in demography, providing a snapshot of the reproductive activity within a population during a specific time period, typically a year. This rate is calculated by taking the total number of live births in a year, dividing it by the total population (usually the mid-year population), and then multiplying the result by 1,000. The crude birth rate is influenced by a variety of social, economic, and cultural factors, including the age and sex structure of the population, levels of education (especially among women), access to contraception and family planning services, cultural norms and religious beliefs about family size, and economic conditions such as levels of development and urbanisation. A high crude birth rate generally indicates a younger population with high fertility levels, while a low crude birth rate may suggest an aging population or lower fertility rates due to factors like increased access to education and contraception, or changing societal norms. It is considered "crude" because it includes all people in the population in the denominator, regardless of their age or sex, and does not specifically account for the number of women of childbearing age, which is a more refined measure of fertility. Nevertheless, the crude birth rate is a widely used and easily understood indicator of population change and is essential for making comparisons across different populations and tracking demographic trends over time.