In the , Argentina had a population of 36,260,130 inhabitants, and preliminary results from the census were of 40,117,096 inhabitants. Argentina ranks third in South America in total population and 33rd globally. The population density is 15 persons per square kilometer, well below the world average of 50 persons. The population growth rate in 2008 was estimated to be 0.92% annually, with a birth rate of 16.32 live births per 1,000 inhabitants and a mortality rate of 7.54 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants.