The term "0.5%" represents a fraction that is equivalent to one-half of one percent. In numerical terms, it can be expressed as 0.005 when converted to a decimal. This percentage is often used in various contexts, such as finance, statistics, and research, to indicate a small portion of a whole. For example, if a population of 1,000 people experiences a 0.5% increase, that would mean an addition of 5 individuals. Similarly, in finance, a 0.5% interest rate on a loan would imply that for every 100 units borrowed, 0.5 units would be paid as interest.