title: Estimating the intrinsic rate of increase of a population from the average numbers of younger and older sisters.
abstract: Based on stable population theory, a mathematical relationship is developed between the intrinsic rate of increase (r) of a population and the ratio (Z) of the average number of younger sisters ever born to the average number of older sisters ever born, for a random sample of women in the population. This mathematical formula is then converted into a technique for estimating r from data on numbers of sisters. The extent to which the technique may be generalizable to actual populations is discussed.
mesh_terms: D001723:Birth Rate; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011158:Population Growth