birth rate

noun

variants or birthrate
: the ratio between births and individuals in a specified population and time

Examples of birth rate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Oryol oblast in central Russia has made an amendment to an existing government program and will allow schoolgirls to receive payment for becoming pregnant in an effort to boost the country's birth rate, according to a decree signed by Andrei Klychkov, the governor of the region, on March 20. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025 Last year, the national birth rate dipped by 3% compared to the year before, reaching a historic low point, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Mar. 2025 While preliminary data showed a slight uptick last year, analysis by AP found that the overall birth rate rose only for Hispanic women. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025 Having a birth doula is associated with better birth outcomes for mom and babies including higher apgar scores, vaginal birth rate and reports of maternal satisfaction. Carson Meyer, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for birth rate

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of birth rate was in 1856

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Birth rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birth%20rate. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

birthrate

noun
birth·​rate -ˌrāt How to pronounce birthrate (audio)
: the number of births for every hundred or every thousand persons in a given area or group during a given time

Medical Definition

birth rate

noun
variants or birthrate
: the ratio between births and individuals in a specified population and time often expressed as number of live births per hundred or per thousand population per year

called also natality

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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