A rate matching apparatus is capable of improving the bit error rate characteristic at a data receiving end. A rate matching part (106) , which serves as a rate 5 matching apparatus, generates, from a first encoded block corresponding to N symbols (where N is an integer equal to or greater than one), a second encoded block corresponding to N + K symbols (where K is an integer equal to or greater than one) . In the rate matching part (106) , 10 a to-be-dividedbit-group extracting part (122) extracts, from the first encoded block, a first bit group corresponding to any of the N symbols. A dividing part (124) divides the extracted first bit group into L divided bit groups corresponding to L symbol s (whereLisaninteger 15 equal to or greater than two but equal to or smaller than K +1) , thereby providing the second encoded block.
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