SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile's population is a lower-than-expected 16.5 million people because of a falling birth rate.
The 2012 census had been expected to find a population of 17 million.
But Chile's National Statistics Institute says the population grew only about 10 percent since the last census a decade ago and cites a slowing of the birth rate.
The agency's preliminary numbers say Chile has about 8.5 million females and 8.059 million males. Its official census figures will be released next year.
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