International definition
The adolescent birth rate measures the annual number of births to women 15 to 19 years of age per 1,000 women in that age group. It represents the risk of childbearing among adolescent women 15 to 19 years of age.
Calculation of estimates for MDG monitoring
The adolescent birth rate is generally computed as a ratio, which is then multiplied by 1,000. The numerator is the number of live births to women 15 to 19 years of age, and the denominator an estimate of exposure to childbearing by women 15 to 19 years of age.
In the case of civil registration the numerator is the registered number of live-births born to women 15 to 19 years of age during a given year, and the denominator is the estimated or enumerated population of women aged 15 to 19.
In the case of survey data, the numerator typically refers to births to women that were 15 to 19 years of age at the time of the birth during a reference period before the interview, and the denominator to person-years lived between the ages of 15 and 19 by the interviewed women during the same reference period.
In the case of census data, the adolescent birth rate is generally computed based on the date of last birth or the number of births in the 12 months preceding the enumeration.
Process used by international agencies for obtaining data from national sources
Civil registration data are obtained from country-reported data compiled by the United Nations Statistics Division or regional Statistics Divisions or statistical units. Additional data is also obtained from nationally sponsored surveys, and directly from census reports. Population figures are obtained from the UN Population Division.
National data sources
Data is obtained from civil registration systems;surveys such as the Demographic Health Surveys, the CDC-assisted Reproductive Health Surveys, MICS and other nationally sponsored surveys; and censuses.
Explanation of most common discrepancies between national and international coverage estimates
1)The use of different denominators when calculating the ratio
2)The inclusion of births to women under 15 years of age
3)For survey data, there may be discrepancies on the dating and the actual figure if a different reference period is being used
Comparison of national and international data
National data Data available at UN Population Division
Year / Data / Data source / Discrepancies? Causes? / Data sources / Estimates / Year1990 / After 2000, there are minor differences in the data, probably due to differences in population estimates.
NSO considers the data prior to 2000 as unreliable. The administrative state ceased to exist due to the collapse of the Soviet Union and an earthquake in 1988.
FOLLOW UP:
Why the 2008 national data has not yet reached UNSD? / Registration UNSD & WPP2008 / 74.6 / 1990
1991 / 84.6 / 1991
1992 / 93.8 / 1992
1993 / 89.3 / 1993
1994 / 79.9 / 1994
1995 / 66.6 / 1995
1996 / 63.5 / 1996
1997 / 51.9 / 1997
1998 / 41.3 / 1998
1999 / 35.7 / 1999
2000 / 31.6 / NSO / 32.8 / 2000
2001 / 27.7 / Registration EuroStat / 23.4 / 2001
2002 / 27.6 / Registration UNSD & WPP2008 / 28.1 / 2002
2003 / 29.3 / 29.2 / 2003
2004 / 29.8 / 29.5 / 2004
2005 / 26.8 / Registration National Statistics / 26.8 / 2005
2006 / 25.4 / Registration UNSD & WPP2008 / 25.7 / 2006
2007 / 25.5 / 26.4 / 2007
2008 / 25.7 / 2008
2009 / 2009
National definition
Other data on file at the UN Population Division but not taken into account for MDG monitoring
Data source / Reason for exclusion for MDG monitoringData used at national level but not included in the MDG monitoring by the UN Population Division
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How to submit missing or new survey or census data for international monitoring to UN Population Division?
Data from new nationally representative household surveys and censuses, as well as from nationally representative surveys not listed in this document can be send to: Ann Biddlecom, UN Population Division, e-mail: .
Remarks
If there are any errors or omissions in this document, thank you for returning acorrected copy of this file by email to: and
UNSD and ECEWorkshop, Geneva, November 2010