Likewise, the death rate indicates the total number of deaths in a population for every 1,000 persons. Turn off the Birth Rate folder and activate the Death Rate folder. Death rates reflect the current mortality situation in a country and can suggest conflict, economic hardships, health crises, and aging populations. The rate of natural increase that we viewed in the Population Growth Rate folder is a calculation based on the difference between birth rate and death rate. Excluding Sub-Saharan Africa, which region has the highest death rates? Hint: Death rates are often higher in countries/regions that have experienced increased economic hardship