Both indicators provide a quantitative measurement of the demographic changes in the period of reference.

The “Population Change” indicator measures the difference between the size of the population at the start and at the end of the period under consideration. A positive population change represents population growth, while a negative change represents its reduction. Population change has two components: the natural changes in the population (births and deaths) and the phenomenon of migration. The crude rates have been multiplied by 1,000 to facilitate their presentation, so that the result is expressed per 1,000 inhabitants (of the average population). The crude rates are presented for the total population (where both natural changes – births and deaths – and migratory movements are counted) and only for the migration phenomenon. This allows the effect of migration on population change to be seen.