Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Infant Mortality
One of the leading measures of the condition of a coun-
try's population is the
infant mortality rate
(IMR). Infant
mortality is recorded as a baby's death during the fi rst year
following its birth (unlike child mortality, which records
death between ages 1 and 5). Infant mortality is normally
given as the number of cases per thousand, that is, per
thousand live births.
Infant and child mortality refl ect the overall health
of a society. High infant mortality has a variety of causes,
HOW DOES THE GEOGRAPHY OF HEALTH
INFLUENCE POPULATION DYNAMICS?
The condition of a country's population requires much
more than simply knowing the total population or the growth
rate. Also of signifi cance is the welfare of the country's people
across regions, ethnicities, or social classes. Among the most
important infl uences on population dynamics are geographical
differences in sanitation, the prevalence of diseases, and the
availability of health care.
GREENLAND
10
U.S.
(Alaska)
6
0
°
CANADA
5
40°
40°
UNITED STATES
6
ATLANTIC
3
BERMUDA
OC E A N
BAHAMAS
CUBA
14
MEXICO
Tropic of Cancer
17
DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC
PUERTO
RICO
20°
5
20°
20°
JAMAICA
54
22
8
15
BELIZE
U.S.
(Hawaii)
22
HAITI
HONDURAS
NICARAGUA
26
20
BARBADOS
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
GUATEMALA
20
23
12
EL SALVADOR
28
10
PACIFIC
COSTA RICA
PANAMA
12
VENEZUELA
COLOMBIA
SURINAME
21
37
18
FRENCH GUIANA
GUYANA
16
Equator
0°
ECUADOR
20
OCEAN
PERU
BRAZIL
22
21
WORLD INFANT
MORTALITY
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
BOLIVIA
42
20°
20°
20°
PARAGUAY
Tropic of Capricorn
23
100 or more
ARGENTINA
11
10
CHILE
URUGUAY
7
45-99
40°
40°
40°
40°
15-44
Below 15
Data not available
160°
140°
120°
80°
60°
40°
60°
60°
60°
60°
SOUTHERN
OCEAN
0
1000
2000
3000 Kilometers
0
1000
2000 Miles
Figure 2.18
Infant Mortality Rate, 2011.
Data from:
CIA World Fact book, 2011 estimate.
