Romania's total resident population started decreasing after 1990, when it peaked at 23.2 million people. By January 1, 2024, it totaled 19.06 million people, representing an increase for the first time since 1990 of 9.9 thousand people compared to the previous year. One of the biggest drops was registered from 2007 to 2008 when Romania's resident population dropped by approximately 500,000 people in one year.

Key information about Romania population

• The Romania population reached 19.0 million people in Dec 2024, compared with the previously reported figure of 19.1 million people in Dec 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 23.2 million people in Dec 1989 and a record low of 14.1 million people in Dec 1930

• In the latest reports, Romania Unemployment Rate remained the same at 5.9 % in Sep 2025
• Monthly earnings of the Romania population was 2,099.9 USD in Sep 2025
• Romania Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 51.6 % in Jun 2025

In 1889 Romania had just achieved full independence and was enjoying a period of stability and progress. The numbers of men and women remain similar, between 1889 and 1912, however there are 100,000 more men in 1889 and 100,000 more women in 1919. This demographic change came as a result of migration and international conflict.

Between 1912 and 1930 the population of Romania grows by over 10 million people. The main reason for this is the huge territories gained by Romania in the aftermath of the First World War. During the war Romania remained neutral for the first two years, after which it joined the allies, however it was very quickly defeated and overrun by the Central Powers, and in total it lost over 600,000 people as a direct result of the war. With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires after the war, Romania gained almost double it's territory, which caused the population to soar to 18.1 million in 1930. The population then decreases by 1941 and again by1948, as Romania seceded territory to neighboring countries and lost approximately half a million lives (mostly men) during the war. From 1948 onwards the population begins to grow again, and the difference in the number of men and women falls from 530 thousand in 1948 to 330 thousand in 1990.

Like many other Eastern European countries, there was very limited freedom of movement from Romania during the Cold War, and communist rule was difficult for the Romanian people. The Romanian Revolution in 1898 ended communist rule in the country and the country transitioned to a free-market society and movement from the country was allowed. Since then the population has fallen each year as more and more Romanians move abroad in search of work and opportunities. The number of men is decreasing at a faster rate than the number of women, and by 2020 it is forecasted there will be 530 thousand more women in Romania than men.

Romania - Active population, aged 15-64 was 8219.00 Thousand in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Romania - Active population, aged 15-64 - last updated from the EUROSTAT on November of 2025. Historically, Romania - Active population, aged 15-64 reached a record high of 10466.00 Thousand in December of 1998 and a record low of 7842.00 Thousand in December of 2011.

Romania Population: Mid Year: Age: From 20 to 24 data was reported at 1,040,547.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,063,780.000 Person for 2016. Romania Population: Mid Year: Age: From 20 to 24 data is updated yearly, averaging 1,688,232.500 Person from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,089,307.000 Person in 1991 and a record low of 1,040,547.000 Person in 2017. Romania Population: Mid Year: Age: From 20 to 24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.G002: Population: Mid Year.

Romania Population: Mid Year: Age: From 40 to 44 data was reported at 1,527,846.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,516,890.000 Person for 2016. Romania Population: Mid Year: Age: From 40 to 44 data is updated yearly, averaging 1,576,408.000 Person from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,752,638.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 1,399,577.000 Person in 2004. Romania Population: Mid Year: Age: From 40 to 44 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.G002: Population: Mid Year.

Romania Population: Mid Year: Age: From 30 to 34 data was reported at 1,303,755.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,299,178.000 Person for 2016. Romania Population: Mid Year: Age: From 30 to 34 data is updated yearly, averaging 1,531,791.000 Person from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,945,710.000 Person in 2001 and a record low of 1,253,426.000 Person in 1996. Romania Population: Mid Year: Age: From 30 to 34 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.G002: Population: Mid Year.

Romania: Population density, people per square km: The latest value from 2021 is 83 people per square km, a decline from 84 people per square km in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 456 people per square km, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Romania from 1961 to 2021 is 92 people per square km. The minimum value, 81 people per square km, was reached in 1961 while the maximum of 101 people per square km was recorded in 1989.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for Romania (SPPOP65UPTOZSROU) from 1960 to 2024 about Romania, 65-years +, and population.

Romania - Population was 19067576.00 in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Romania - Population - last updated from the EUROSTAT on November of 2025. Historically, Romania - Population reached a record high of 23211395.00 in December of 1990 and a record low of 18319210.00 in December of 1960.

Overall, the forecast for Romania's population is to drop from 19.28 million inhabitants in 2020 to 15.5 million in 2050. The only country expected to have an increase in population by 2050 was Ilfov.

Actual value and historical data chart for Romania Population Male Percent Of Total

In 1844, Romania had a population of just 3.6 million people. During the early entries in this data, Romania's borders were very different and much smaller than today, and control of this area often switched hands between the Austrian, Ottoman and Russian empires. The populations during this time are based on estimates made for incomplete census data, and they show that the population grows from 3.6 million in 1844, doubling to 7.2 million in 1912, part of this growth is due to a high natural birth rate during this period, but also partly due to the changing of Romania's borders and annexation of new lands. During this time Romania gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire as a result of the Russo-Turkish War in 1878, and experienced a period of increased stability and progress.

Between 1912 and 1930 the population of Romania grew by over 10 million people. The main reason for this is the huge territories gained by Romania in the aftermath of the First World War. During the war Romania remained neutral for the first two years, after which it joined the allies; however, it was very quickly defeated and overrun by the Central Powers, and in total it lost over 600 thousand people as a direct result of the war. With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires after the war, Romania gained almost double it's territory, which caused the population to soar to 18.1 million in 1930. The population then decreases by 1941 and again by 1948, as Romania seceded territory to neighboring countries and lost approximately half a million people during the Second World War. From 1948 onwards the population begins to grow again, reaching it's peak at 23.5 million people in 1990.

Like many other Eastern European countries, there was very limited freedom of movement from Romania during the Cold War, and communist rule was difficult for the Romanian people. The Romanian Revolution in 1989 ended communist rule in the country, Romania transitioned to a free-market society and movement from the country was allowed. Since then the population has fallen each year as more and more Romanians move abroad in search of work and opportunities. The population is expected to fall to 19.2 million in 2020, which is over 4 million fewer people than it had in 1990.

Analysis unit

Persons and households

UNITS IDENTIFIED: - Dwellings: no - Vacant Units: Not available in microdata sample - Households: yes - Individuals: yes - Group quarters: no

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS: - Dwellings: Built unit generally endowed with annexes (kitchen, bathroom), functionally independent, with separate entrance - Households: Persons living together, generally relatives, with a common income and expenditure budget - Group quarters: One or more distinct building inhabited by many persons united for joint purposes and interests and who share some spaces and facilities

Universe

Population did not include Romanian citizens with a legal residence in Romania who left the country more than one year ago, but it included foreign citizens who established their usual residence in Romania more than one year ago.

Kind of data

Population and Housing Census [hh/popcen]

Sampling procedure

MICRODATA SOURCE: National Institute of Statistics (NIS)

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): 2137967.

SAMPLE DESIGN: Systematic; every tenth household after a random start

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

PL - Persons, private dwelling; PC - Persons living in collective units - hostel type; PH - Persons in collective units - hotel type

Historical dataset showing total population for Romania by year from 1950 to 2025.

Actual value and historical data chart for Romania Population Density People Per Sq Km

Actual value and historical data chart for Romania Population Growth Annual Percent

Romania: Population growth, percent: The latest value from 2023 is 0.05 percent, an increase from -0.39 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 1.15 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Romania from 1961 to 2023 is 0.05 percent. The minimum value, -1.83 percent, was reached in 2002 while the maximum of 1.65 percent was recorded in 1967.

Historical dataset showing Romania population growth rate by year from 1961 to 2023.

Romania Population Density: Mid Year data was reported at 82.200 Person/sq km in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 82.600 Person/sq km for 2016. Romania Population Density: Mid Year data is updated yearly, averaging 85.300 Person/sq km from Jun 1930 (Median) to 2017, with 83 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 97.700 Person/sq km in 1990 and a record low of 59.500 Person/sq km in 1930. Romania Population Density: Mid Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.G002: Population: Mid Year.