birthrate

American  

[burth-reyt] / ˈbɜrθˌreɪt /

noun

1. the proportion of births to the total population in a place in a given time, usually expressed as a quantity per 1000 of population.

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Etymology

Origin of birthrate

First recorded in 1855–60; birth + rate ¹

Explanation

A birthrate is the number of babies born during a specific time period within a certain population. When experts calculate how much a country or region's population is growing or shrinking, they compare the birthrate with rates of deaths and migration. This usually means determining the number of live births for every population of 1,000. Birthrate is figured using census data and a worldwide registration system that records new births. From the 1950s to the 2020s, the average global birthrate has significantly and consistently declined, though the global population has greatly increased.

Example Sentences

Since 2007, the birthrate for 15- to 19-year-olds has fallen 72% in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Beijing’s support could help stabilize sentiment in formula, nutrition, and baby-care categories that have been shrinking with the birthrate.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The birthrate in the U.S. reached record lows in recent years as Americans in higher income brackets have fewer children.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

The falling birthrate is giving education policymakers a headache.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

That higher birthrate of food producers, together with their ability to feed more people per acre, lets them achieve much higher population densities than hunter-gatherers.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond