Final answer:
The term that accurately describes the vital statistics of a population is 'demographics,' which falls under the study of demography.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes the vital statistics of a population, including factors such as birth rates, death rates, and life expectancies, is demographics.
Demography is the statistical study of population changes over time, which is essential for understanding the dynamics of a population. Through the use of life tables and survivorship curves, ecologists can calculate important demographic measures such as the birth rate, death rate, fertility rate, and use these to assess the health of a population.