Crude Mortality Rate

Crude mortality rate (CMR) refers to the number of people who die per 1,000 persons in a population in a specific amount of time, usually one year. In a country such as Canada, CMR is approximately seven deaths per 1,000 population per year.

CMR is a simple measure and a relatively easy health statistic to gather and calculate. It is used to gauge health status in developing countries, particularly in emergency situations, when other data are not available. CMR data may be gathered from burial site surveillance, population surveys, or other hospital or administrative records.

In emergency situations, CMR is usually expressed in deaths per 10,000 population per day. The baseline CMR in developed countries is approximately 0.25 deaths per 10,000 population per day, whereas in the least developed countries, it is 0.38, and in sub-Saharan Africa, it is 0.44 deaths per 10,000 per day. CMR is a useful measure in describing and evaluating the conditions of populations of refugees or internally displaced persons, and measuring the success of interventions. Generally, a doubling of the baseline CMR indicates a health emergency. When the baseline rate is not known, CMR exceeding one death per 10,000 population per day it is considered a humanitarian emergency. For example, in Goma, Zaire, CMR ranged from 27 to 50 among refugees fleeing the violence in Rwanda in the first month after their arrival. The rate decreased dramatically once the population movement ceased and relief became available and organized. Increased CMR can reflect the poor condition of refugees, availability of food in a refuge camp, violence, or other factors. Relief efforts are usually aimed at reducing CMR to less than one or to less than twice the baseline rate documented for the population prior to the disaster.