2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/15351A crucial test any proposed evolutionary scenario must pass is can the birth rate of the sources we see be sustained by the proposed progenitor population? In this review, I investigate the methods used to determine the birth rates of normal and millisecond radio pulsars and summarise recent results for these two distinct neutron star populations.19 pages, 10 figures, 1 table. uses crckabp.sty, to appear in the proceedings of the NATO ASI "The Neutron Star - Black Hole Connection"Astrophysicstext