The term "birth rate" refers to the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population within a specific time period. It is an important measure of fertility and population growth, as it indicates how many children are being born relative to the size of the population. A higher birth rate means that more babies are being born compared to deaths, which can lead to population growth over time. Conversely, a lower birth rate may indicate that there are fewer newborns than those who pass away, leading to a decline in population numbers.