Crossword Genius

Rally with shocking population base (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

demographic

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'base' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are adjectives, I can't understand how they can define each other.

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

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(Other definitions for demographic that I've seen before include "(Statistic) relating to the study of human populations" , "Relating to the structure of populations" , "Relating to the statistical study of populations" , "Relating to the make-up of human populations" , "one section of population" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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