How is the crude death rate defined?

The crude death rate is defined as the number of deaths per 1,000 members of the population in a given year. This metric provides a way to quantify the mortality of a population and is typically expressed as a ratio, allowing for comparisons across different regions or time periods while controlling for the total population size. By using a per 1,000 basis, the crude death rate standardizes the measure, making it easier to understand the health dynamics of a population.

The other options represent different concepts: the total number of deaths refers to a raw figure that does not consider the population size, making it less useful for demographic analysis. Reporting deaths over a decade provides a time frame but fails to offer a standardized rate, which is critical for comparative analysis. Finally, the average lifespan of citizens relates to longevity but does not directly measure mortality in the same standardized way that the crude death rate does.