Greece’s permanent population declines by 3.5% in 2021, compared to decade earlier

Last year’s census in Greece showed a reduction in the population by 3.5 percent compared to 2011, a figure that more-or-less confirms the acute demographic problem in the east Mediterranean country.

Specifically, permanent residents in Greece were calculated at 10,432,481, according to the provision results announced this week by the country’s statistics authority (EL.STAT).

Publication of the results had been significantly delayed, although no specific reason was given. Conversely, EL.STAT called the 2021 census the first digital recording of its kind in the country.

Based on the provisional results, 5,357,232 women are listed; to 5,075,249 men.

The previous census showed a permanent population of just more than 10.81 million people.

The greater Athens area, essentially Attica prefecture, shows a population of 3.792 million. Of the 13 regions in the country, 12 recorded a reduction in population compared to 2011. Only the tourism-dependent south Aegean region, comprised of numerous islands, showed an increase – from 309,000 permanent residents in 2011 to 324,000 today.

Along with the timely phenomenon of “anti-vaxxers” and Covid-19 conspiracy theorists, EL.STAT authorities said the 2021 census in Greece was plagued by a “movement” of “census-deniers”.