The mortality- fertility ratio: a useful measure for describing demographic change in the United States, 1940-1975.

G. A. Schnell, M. S. Monmonier

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A mortality-fertility index is used to measure the relative importance of mortality and fertility upon natural increase and, by extension, upon population growth or decline. The US in the period 1940-75 is used as the case study. The index is found to provide in a single figure as useful indicator of a population's ability to sustain itself through reproduction: a ratio of 1 reflects no natural increase; a ratio of more than 1 indicates mortality in excess of fertility and a ratio of less than unity signifies positive reproductive change. At a time of zero population growth this index provides a basis for concise effective thematic maps of vital aspects of population change and is likely to be of greater utility in the future. -R.H.Johnson

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)21-30
Number of pages10
JournalGeographical survey
Volume8
Issue number2
StatePublished - 1979

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences
  • General Medicine

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