In this paper, we introduce and examine a fractional linear birth--death process $N_ν(t)$, $t>0$, whose fractionality is obtained by replacing the time derivative with a fractional derivative in the system of difference-differential equations governing the state probabilities $p_k^ν(t)$, $t>0$, $k\geq0$. We present a subordination relationship connecting $N_ν(t)$, $t>0$, with the classical birth--death process $N(t)$, $t>0$, by means of the time process $T_{2ν}(t)$, $t>0$, whose distribution is related to a time-fractional diffusion equation. We obtain explicit formulas for the extinction probability $p_0^ν(t)$ and the state probabilities $p_k^ν(t)$, $t>0$, $k\geq1$, in the three relevant cases $λ>μ$, $λ<μ$, $λ=μ$ (where $λ$ and $μ$ are, respectively, the birth and death rates) and discuss their behaviour in specific situations. We highlight the connection of the fractional linear birth--death process with the fractional pure birth process. Finally, the mean values $\mathbb{E}N_ν(t)$ and $\operatorname {\mathbb{V}ar}N_ν(t)$ are derived and analyzed.