Childbirth, also called labour or delivery, is the process that concludes an ongoing pregnancy when one or more infants exit the uterus. Birth can occur through the vagina or by Caesarean section, and the term covers the physiological events and medical practices involved in bringing a newborn into the world.
Key facts
- Global frequency: in 2015 there were about 135 million births worldwide.
- Timing: roughly 15 million infants are born before 37 completed weeks (preterm).
- Post-term births (after 42 weeks) occur in an estimated 3–12% of pregnancies.
Why it matters
Patterns in childbirth—how many children are born and when they are delivered—influence public health needs, maternal and newborn care services, and long-term population trends. Birth rates are therefore a central component in projecting population growth and planning healthcare resources.