Which country's 2021 census recorded 6,519,789 people?

Bulgaria’s 2021 census recorded 6,519,789 people.

The census was held on 7 September 2021 by Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute. It was conducted during a period of continuing demographic decline, and the result was 844,781 fewer people than the 2011 census total of 7,364,570.

Bulgaria’s population has fallen substantially since its late-1980s peak of nearly 9 million. Emigration, low birth rates and an ageing population have all contributed to the long-term decrease. The 2021 census found that 72.5% of residents lived in urban areas, with Sofia the country’s largest population centre.

The number is a total population count, not an ethnic-group count. Among residents who reported an ethnicity, Bulgarians formed the largest group, followed by Turks and Roma. Another possible source of confusion is that estimates for years after 2021 are lower than the census figure because deaths, births and migration continue to change the population between censuses.