When people say that a country has a high infant mortality rate they mean?

When people say that a country has a high Infant Mortality Rate, they refer to the number of infants who die before reaching one year of age, usually expressed per 1,000 live births in a given year. A high rate indicates significant challenges in healthcare, maternal health, nutrition, and overall living conditions. It often reflects systemic issues such as poverty, lack of access to medical care, and inadequate public health infrastructure. This metric is a critical indicator of a country's overall health and development.