Quick facts
Romania population overview
Romania is the 9th most populous of 50 countries and territories in Europe. The United Nations put the population at 18,855,775 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of -0.6% the live estimate on this page falls by roughly 299 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 177,244 births (9.4 per 1,000 people) and 256,439 deaths (13.6 per 1,000), and net emigration of roughly 28,284 people. The infant mortality rate is 4.8 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 18,406,905 in 1960 to 19,020,271 in 2025 — a change of +3.3%, or +0.1% per year on average. It peaked at 23,201,835 in 1990 and has declined 19.1% since.
Demographically, the median age is 43.5 years; life expectancy at birth is 76.4 years; women have on average 1.4 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 15.6% of residents are under 15 and 20.1% are 65 or older (2025); 52.2% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Bucharest. Romania covers 238,400 km², giving a population density of about 78.7 people per km². GDP was $428.68B in 2025 — about $22,538 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
Romania population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #70 of 238 → | 18,768,237 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 18,855,775 |
| World rank | #69 of 238 |
| Rank in Europe | #9 of 50 |
| Share of world population | 0.2% |
| Annual growth rate #213 of 238 → | -0.6% |
| Births per year est. | 177,244 |
| Deaths per year est. | 256,439 |
| Net migration per year est. · #170 of 238 → | -28,284 |
| Birth rate #197 of 216 → | 9.4 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #13 of 216 → | 13.6 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #165 of 238 → | 4.8 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #195 of 238 → | 93.9 males per 100 females |
| Median age #35 of 238 → | 43.5 years |
| Life expectancy #93 of 216 → | 76.4 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #179 of 216 → | 1.4 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #150 of 216 → | 52.2% |
| Surface area 2023 · #82 of 215 → | 238,400 km² |
| Population density #122 of 215 → | 78.7 per km² |
| Capital | Bucharest |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #38 of 212 → | $428.68B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #70 of 212 → | $22,538 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
Romania population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 18,768,237 | – | – |
| 2025 | 19,020,271 | -31,533 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 19,051,804 | -9,258 | 0% |
| 2023 | 19,061,062 | +12,560 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 19,048,502 | -73,557 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 19,122,059 | -143,191 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 19,265,250 | -550,366 | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 19,815,616 | -431,255 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 20,246,871 | -1,072,814 | -1% |
| 2005 | 21,319,685 | -1,123,286 | -1% |
| 2000 | 22,442,971 | -241,299 | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 22,684,270 | -517,565 | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 23,201,835 | +468,836 | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 22,732,999 | +525,717 | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 22,207,282 | +913,699 | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 21,293,583 | +1,043,185 | +1% |
| 1970 | 20,250,398 | +1,218,822 | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 19,031,576 | +624,671 | +0.7% |
| 1960 | 18,406,905 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Romania
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bucharest Capital | 1,877,155 | 10% |
| 2 | Iaşi | 378,954 | 2% |
| 3 | Constanţa | 317,832 | 1.7% |
| 4 | Cluj-Napoca | 286,598 | 1.5% |
| 5 | Braşov | 253,200 | 1.3% |
| 6 | Timişoara | 250,849 | 1.3% |
| 7 | Craiova | 234,140 | 1.2% |
| 8 | Galaţi | 217,851 | 1.2% |
Bucharest is the largest city with 1,877,155 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Romania cities →
About Romania
Population over time
- From 18,406,905 in 1960 to 18,768,237 today — up 2%.
- Population peaked at 23,201,835 in 1990 and is down 19.1% since.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: -0.4% per year.
- World rank: Population #70 of 238 · Population growth rate #213 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 76.5 years (2024), up 10.6 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.4 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #93 of 216 · Fertility rate #179 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 7.5 births vs 12.8 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Deaths outnumber births — natural decrease of 5.3 per 1,000 a year.
- World rank: Birth rate #197 of 216 · Death rate #13 of 216.
Age structure
- 15.6% of the population is under 15 and 20.1% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 6.9% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #173 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #37 of 216 · Median age #35 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 70.88 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 216.4 Mt in 1988 — down 67.2% since.
- Per person: 3.72 t in 2024, vs 6.17 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #47 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #78 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 1,600.6 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), down 40.1% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 23.6% of final energy in 2021 (+20.2 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #69 of 150 · Renewable energy share #97 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 30.1% of land area (2023).
- Net afforestation: cover grew from 27.8% to 30.1% since 1990 — roughly 5,572 km² of forest gained.
- World rank: Forest area #109 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 52.2% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 34.4% in 1960 (+17.8 points).
- Became majority-urban around 1981.
- World rank: Urban population #150 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low–medium — freshwater withdrawals are 19.2% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 2,225 m³ in 2022, down 2.6% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #99 of 183 · Water stress #61 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $428.68B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 141% since 2015.
- That works out to $22,538 per person.
- World rank: GDP #38 of 212 · GDP per capita #70 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 6% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 7.2% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #75 of 186 · Inflation rate #38 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 91.3% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 119.8 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #52 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #91 of 210.
Romania in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Romania in 2026?
As of October 2026, Romania has an estimated population of 18,768,237. The United Nations estimated 18,855,775 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the -0.6% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Romania growing or shrinking?
It is shrinking at -0.6% per year — roughly 299 fewer people every day. Each year there are about 177,244 births and 256,439 deaths, with net migration of -28,284.
What is the population density of Romania?
About 78.7 people per square kilometre: 18,768,237 people living on 238,400 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Romania?
The median age is 43.5 years, and life expectancy at birth is 76.4 years. 15.6% of the population is under 15 and 20.1% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Romania rank by population?
Romania is the 69th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 9th in Europe, with 0.2% of the global population.
How has the population of Romania changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 18,406,905; by 2025 it had grown to 19,020,271 (+3.3%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). Romania Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/romania/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/romania/">Romania Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (-0.6%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.