A recent measurement of thee+/(e++e−) ratio in cosmic rays between 5 and 50 GeV (HEAT experiment), is consistent with positron production theories via primary cosmic radiation interactions in the interstellar medium. This paper will show that atmospheric corrections result in a 50% level of uncertainty in thee+/(e++e−) ratio measurements carried out with balloon-borne experiments. In light of the current theories on electron-positron production in neutron stars and by using different calculations for atmospheric corrections, a lower limit on Milky Way pulsar birthrate of 30–60 years can be set on the basis of recent observations of the positron fraction in cosmic rays.