Romania Population Pyramid (2026)
Romania has a population of 18,800,604 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 69th-largest population in the world and 0.23% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 15.4% of the population and people aged 65 and over 20.2%, with 93.9 males for every 100 females.
Romania Demographics
Romania has 18.8 million people in 2026, down 6.1% from 20.0 million in 1970.
Deaths outnumber births by 79,733 (UN projection for 2026).
Median age 43.5 — the 21st-highest of 194 countries.
65+ share 20.2% — the 32nd-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen X — 24.7% (4,640,621)
All generations in Romania →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Romania's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Romania has 93.9 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 590,844 (3.1% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:9,104,880
- Percentage:48.4%
Female Statistics
- Population:9,695,724
- Percentage:51.6%
- Ratio Format:1:1.065
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Romania indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 176,198 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 187,162 | 9.7 | 1.72 | estimate |
| 2022 | 183,845 | 9.6 | 1.72 | estimate |
| 2023 | 183,623 | 9.6 | 1.71 | estimate |
| 2024 | 180,942 | 9.5 | 1.71 | projection |
| 2025 | 178,474 | 9.4 | 1.71 | projection |
| 2026 | 176,198 | 9.4 | 1.71 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (176,198 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Romania's median age is 43.5 years
Half the population is younger than 43.5 years, half is older — indicating a middle-aged society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 898,047 | 4.8% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 994,619 | 5.3% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 1,009,612 | 5.4% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 1,082,096 | 5.8% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 1,021,830 | 5.4% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 991,520 | 5.3% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 1,018,141 | 5.4% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 1,307,661 | 7.0% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 1,219,944 | 6.5% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 1,459,904 | 7.8% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 1,449,716 | 7.7% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 1,576,332 | 8.4% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 966,473 | 5.1% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 1,080,325 | 5.7% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 1,087,514 | 5.8% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 805,028 | 4.3% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 442,744 | 2.4% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 280,187 | 1.5% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 94,020 | 0.5% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 13,870 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 100+ | 1,019 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 5 (natural decrease): deaths outnumber births — 9.4 births and 13.6 deaths per 1,000 people in 2026. Read more about Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Romania Total Fertility Rate: 1.71 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.72 | 9.7 | |
| 2022 | 1.72 | 9.6 | 0.00 |
| 2023 | 1.71 | 9.6 | ↓0.01 |
| 2024 | 1.71 | 9.5 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 1.71 | 9.4 | 0.00 |
| 2026 | 1.71 | 9.4 | 0.00 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.70
Romania's total fertility rate is 1.71 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. Romania ranks 118 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −44.5% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Romania's population has increased by 14.7%.
The median age has increased from 25.3 in 1950 to 43.5 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Romania's Demographics
Romania has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 15.4% of the population and people aged 65 and over 20.2%.
The largest five-year age band is 55–59, at 8.4% of the population, compared with 4.8% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Romania's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
Romania's working-age share peaked in 2006 at 69.1% and is 64.3% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
Romania is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.71 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Romania's median age changed by +2.9 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 18,800,604 |
| Male Population | 9,104,880(48.4%) |
| Female Population | 9,695,724(51.6%) |
| Median Age | 43.5 years |
| Sex Ratio | 93.9 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 2,902,278(15.4%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 12,093,619(64.3%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 3,804,707(20.2%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 55.5 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 24.0 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 31.5 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Romania
How long the average person in Romania is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Romania is projected to shrink to 16.0 million people by 2050 (−14.8% from 2026).
The median age rises from 43.5 in 2026 to 46.2 by 2050.
Romania's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 10.7%, growing from 20.0 million in 1970 to 22.2 million by 1980
The youth population share expanded by 1.7 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 1.9 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 20.0M to 22.2M
- • Growth rate of 10.7% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 30.4 to 30.6 years (+0.2y)
- • 65+ share changed by +1.9 points; under-15 share by +1.7 points
How Does Romania Compare to Its Neighbors?
Romania has a younger population than Czech Republic. Romania has an older population than Russia, Poland, Ukraine.
Romania
Russia
Poland
Ukraine
Czech Republic
| Country | Population | Median Age | Youth % | Elderly % | Pyramid Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania (Current) | 18,800,604 | 43.5 | 15.4% | 20.2% | constrictive |
| Russia | 143,394,458 | 40.7 | 16.7% | 18.4% | constrictive |
| Poland | 37,843,189 | 43.0 | 14.1% | 21.3% | constrictive |
| Ukraine | 39,535,848 | 41.8 | 13.4% | 19.1% | constrictive |
| Czech Republic | 10,527,780 | 44.3 | 14.8% | 21.4% | constrictive |
Frequently Asked Questions About Romania
How does Romania rank globally by population?
Romania ranks 69th in the world by population with 18.8 million people as of 2026, representing 0.23% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Romania's age structure reveal about its development?
Romania's age structure — 15.4% under 15, 64.3% working-age (15–64) and 20.2% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 5 of the demographic transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 43.5 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Romania?
Romania has 55.5 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Romania experiencing a demographic dividend?
Romania has moved past its demographic-dividend window. Romania's working-age share peaked in 2006 at 69.1% and is 64.3% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Romania's population?
Romania has more females than males, with 93.9 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Romania Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/romania
View UN World Population Prospects Data →