birth-rate

The birth-rate in the region has been steadily increasing.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Demographic measure: "birth-rate" refers to the number of live births per thousand of population per year in a specific area or group.

Usage Examples

• (The number of births per thousand people has gone down.)
• (A large number of births relative to population size.)
• (They take actions to change how many babies are born.)

Advanced Usage

• "crude birth-rate": the total number of live births per 1,000 people in a given year, without adjusting for age or sex distribution.
  • The crude birth-rate does not account for the proportion of women of childbearing age. (It is a basic, unadjusted rate.)
• "fertility rate" vs. "birth-rate": "fertility rate" usually refers to births per woman, while "birth-rate" is per population.
  • Although the birth-rate is low, the fertility rate remains above replacement level. (The two terms measure different aspects.)

Variants and Related Words

• Birth (n): the act of being born.
  • She gave birth to twins. (She delivered two babies.)
• Rate (n): a measure, quantity, or frequency, usually per unit of something.
  • The unemployment rate rose last month. (The proportion of people without jobs.)

Synonyms

• Natality: the ratio of births to the population (formal, less common).
• Fertility rate: often used interchangeably but technically distinct (see Advanced Usage).

Related Idioms

• "Birth-rate explosion": a rapid increase in the number of births, often associated with population growth.
  • The post-war period saw a birth-rate explosion in many countries. (A sudden, large increase in births.)

Notes on Usage

• "Birth-rate" is typically used in formal, statistical, or demographic contexts. It is not commonly used in casual conversation about individual families. Instead, one might say "the number of babies being born" or "how many children people are having."