How do you calculate mortality rate?

The mortality rate is calculated by taking all the deaths that occurred during a particular time period and dividing that number by the total size of the population during the same time frame. The resulting decimal is then multiplied by 1,000 or 100,000 to give a whole number.

Mortality rates are usually calculated over the period of one year. As the size of a population may change significantly, the mid-year point is usually taken as a rough guide. Mortality rates are always displayed in the form of a whole number, usually in the hundreds, per 1,000 or 100,000 people. For example, a typical mortality rate is 896 deaths per 100,000 people.