The term refers to a statistic reflecting the number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births in a given year. This metric serves as a key indicator of a population’s overall health and well-being. For instance, a figure of 5 indicates that for every 1,000 babies born alive, 5 will die before reaching their first birthday.
This value provides critical insights into healthcare access, sanitation levels, nutritional adequacy, and the prevalence of infectious diseases within a society. Historically, regions with limited access to quality medical care and inadequate resources exhibit significantly higher values, highlighting disparities in global development and socioeconomic conditions.