Romania Population
Europe & Central Asia · 69th most populous · High income
Population right now (estimate)
18,882,202
The population of Romania is about 18,882,202 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 18.9 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.23% of the world's people.
Romania is ranked 69th of 217 by population. The population is shrinking, by about 0.55% a year. It peaked around 1990 at 23.2 million and is projected to fall to 16.1 million by 2050. Since 1960 (18.4 million) it has grown by 3%. Population density is 82 people per square kilometre. 52% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
18.9 million
Yearly change
−0.55%
World rank
69th
Share of world
0.23%
Density
82/km²
Land area
230,080 km²
Life expectancy
76.5 yrs
Births per woman
1.39
GDP per capita
$22,538
GDP
$428.7B
Population of Romania, 1960–2050
Romania population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 18,406,905 | — | 80 |
| 1970 | 20,250,398 | +1.21% | 88 |
| 1980 | 22,207,282 | +0.53% | 97 |
| 1990 | 23,201,835 | +0.17% | 101 |
| 2000 | 22,442,971 | −0.13% | 98 |
| 2010 | 20,246,871 | −0.59% | 88 |
| 2020 | 19,265,250 | −0.55% | 84 |
| 2024 | 19,051,804 | −0.05% | 83 |
| 2026proj. | 18,914,836 | −0.55% | 82 |
| 2030proj. | 18,477,848 | −0.61% | 80 |
| 2040proj. | 17,270,432 | −0.68% | 75 |
| 2050proj. | 16,112,463 | −0.76% | 70 |
Romania vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 9.4 times as many people as Romania. Bangladesh is 16.6 times more densely populated.
Romania population: questions and answers
What is the population of Romania in 2026?
About 18,914,836 (18.9 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Romania's population growing?
No — it is falling by about 0.55% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Romania?
About 82 people per km², with a land area of 230,080 km².
What will the population of Romania be in 2050?
About 16.1 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Romania?
Bucharest.
What is the life expectancy in Romania?
76.5 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.