The number of deaths in a year per 1 000 of the population, as measured at mid-year. This is a crude rate—no allowance is made for different distributions of age and sex. For example, in 2003, Sri Lanka had a crude death rate of 5.9%, compared with 10.2% in the UK, 2004. The low rate for Sri Lanka is a reflection of the youth of its population—24.3% are under 14, as opposed to 17.2% in the UK. A standardized death rate compares the rate with a real or assumed population which is chosen as standard.