What is the relationship between total fertility rate and crude birth rate?

The total fertility rate (TFR) and the crude birth rate (CBR) are both important metrics in demography, but they represent different concepts. The total fertility rate measures the average number of children a woman would have during her lifetime based on current birth rates, assuming she were to experience the exact current age-specific birth rates through her lifetime. This statistic reflects potential future population growth and is typically expressed as children per woman.

On the other hand, the crude birth rate measures the number of live births in a given year per 1,000 people in the total population. This calculation does not factor in age distribution or the varying birth rates across different age groups.

Understanding these definitions clarifies that the total fertility rate is a more specific measure focused on women of childbearing age, whereas the crude birth rate pertains to the entire population without adjustment for age distinctions. Therefore, the statement that accurately describes the relationship between the two is that total fertility rate refers to total births on a per woman basis, while crude birth rate is standardized per 1,000 individuals in the population.