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.
The rising cost of housing is one of the main drivers behind the United States' falling birth rate between the 2000s and the 2010s, a new study shows. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025 Countries like Sweden, Norway and Finland offer paid parental leave and subsidized childcare but the birth rate remains low. Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025 Amidst widespread concern over the country’s falling birth rate, a growing chorus of conservative voices is telling American women to step back from work outside the home and focus on motherhood. Stephanie Psaki, Time, 29 Oct. 2025 In September, the Greek government announced new tax incentives designed to address the birth rate decline. Sarah McCammon, NPR, 29 Oct. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Birth rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birth%20rate. Accessed 18 Nov. 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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