The crude death rate is the number of deaths in a given year for every thousand people in a population. Similar to the crude birth rate, it is a basic but widely used measure in demography that provides an overview of the mortality level within a population during a specific year. The crude death rate is calculated by dividing the total number of deaths recorded in a year by the total population (usually the mid-year population) and then multiplying the result by 1,000. This rate is influenced by various factors such as the age structure of the population (populations with a higher proportion of older people tend to have higher crude death rates), levels of healthcare and sanitation, prevalence of diseases, nutritional status, environmental conditions, and socioeconomic factors. A high crude death rate can indicate a population with poor health conditions, high levels of poverty, or a large proportion of elderly individuals, while a low crude death rate may suggest better healthcare, sanitation, and a younger population structure. Like the crude birth rate, the crude death rate is considered "crude" because it does not take into account the age and sex composition of the population, which can significantly affect mortality levels. For instance, a population with a large number of young people might have a lower crude death rate even if the mortality rates for specific age groups are relatively high. Despite this limitation, the crude death rate is a valuable tool for comparing mortality levels across different populations and for monitoring changes in mortality trends over time.