The most common are birth, death and unemployment rates. For example, in a community made up of primarily young couples, the birthrate might appear to be high when compared to that of other populations. However, by calculating the standardized birthrates that is by comparing the same age group in other populations), a more realistic picture of childbearing capacity will be developed.^{[citation needed]}

The formula for standardized rates is as follows:^{[citation needed]}

Σ(crude rate for age group × standard population for age group) / Σstandard population

• Mortality ratio

• Medical Biostatistics, Third Edition (MedicalBiostatistics.synthasite.com), A. Indrayan (indrayan.weebly.com), Chapman & Hall/ CRC Press, 2012
• Introduction to Sociology, Bruce J. Cohen and Terri L. Orbuch