Romania population pyramid 2026
18,800,605 people in 2026 (projected). Romania’s pyramid has a policy-made step: people born 1967–71, after the 1966 abortion ban, outnumber those born in the five years before by over 60%.
- 2026 population
- 18.8Mrank 70 of 237
- Median age
- 43.5 yearsoldest rank 35
- Fertility rate
- 1.71births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older20.2% age 65+
Romania population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Romania age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 15.4% of the population, while 20.2% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 64.3% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Romania’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 55.5: about 56 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (24.0 children and 31.5 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Romania’s population pyramid
Decree 770 and its echoes
In 1966 the Ceaușescu government banned most abortions and restricted contraception, after a decade in which abortion had been legal and fertility had fallen to about 2.3 children per woman by 1960. Births almost doubled the following year. The result is one of the most abrupt steps in any European pyramid: in 2026 the 55–59 band, born about 1967–71, is roughly 30% larger than its neighbours, while the 60–64 band, born 1962–66 in the low-fertility years before the ban, is a notch about 27% smaller than the bands around it. The step was already plain in 1975, when children under ten outnumbered 10–14-year-olds by about half.
These large cohorts had their own children in the late 1980s, and the 35–39 band (born 1987–91) forms a second bulge in 2026. The 40–44 band (born 1982–86) is a notch between two wider bands; it falls in a period when births had dropped before restrictions were tightened again in the mid-1980s, though the chart alone cannot show the precise causes. Older still, a bulge at 70–74 marks the larger cohorts born in the early 1950s.
After 1989: fewer births, many departures
The ban was lifted immediately after the December 1989 revolution, and fertility fell to about 1.3 by 2000. Deaths have exceeded births every year since 1993, and the population, which peaked at about 22.9 million in 1991, is now about 18.8 million. Emigration has deepened the loss. Net migration removed about 1.7 million people between 2000 and 2023, much of it working-age Romanians moving to Italy, Spain and other EU countries, especially after accession in 2007. This thins the young adult bands: in 2026 the bands from 20 to 34 are each smaller than the 15–19 band.
At the top, women far outnumber men. Male life expectancy is about seven years below female (72.9 against 79.9), and by ages 80–84 there are only about 55 men for every 100 women, a gap explained in the guide to sex ratios by age. The age structure most resembles those of Hungary, Czechia and Bulgaria.
Under the medium scenario Romania falls to about 16 million by 2050 and about 10.8 million by 2100, placing it among the countries in the largest population decline by 2050 ranking.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
Comparing each five-year band with its neighbours picks out the cohorts that break a smooth slope. These irregularities usually record past surges or deficits in births, or migration concentrated at particular ages; the pattern alone does not identify which. The guide to baby booms and echo cohorts explains how to date and interpret them.
| Age band in 2026 | Born about | Feature | Versus neighbouring bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55–59 | 1967–1971 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +30% |
| 60–64 | 1962–1966 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −27% |
| 35–39 | 1987–1991 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +17% |
| 70–74 | 1952–1956 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +15% |
Deaths have exceeded births every year since 1993. People aged 65 and older came to outnumber children under 15 between 2005 and 2010.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Romania is projected to record 176,198 births (about 482 births a day) and 255,931 deaths, a natural decrease of 79,733. Net migration adds −28,982 people, ranking #168 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 5,086,278 births, 6,465,405 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −1,659,673. Over that period migration moved the total more than the balance of births and deaths did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −637,373 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 79.9 years62.4 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 72.9 years58.5 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 17.1 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 4.8per 1,000 births · 98 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 5.9per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 28.5 yearssex ratio at birth 105.6
Women in Romania are projected to live 7.0 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 98 to 4.8 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #174 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 28.5 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Romania
The median age of 43.5 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 1.71 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 76.4 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,800,605 | #70 | Largest first |
| Median age | 43.5 years | #35 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 1.71 | #135 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | -0.6% | #212 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 76.4 years | #114 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 20.2% | #45 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Romania
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55–59 | 1,576,334 | 8.4% | 773.4K / 802.9K |
| 2 | 45–49 | 1,459,903 | 7.8% | 746.3K / 713.6K |
| 3 | 50–54 | 1,449,717 | 7.7% | 728.5K / 721.2K |
| 4 | 35–39 | 1,307,663 | 7.0% | 671.6K / 636K |
| 5 | 40–44 | 1,219,943 | 6.5% | 631.4K / 588.6K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Romania has 9,104,880 males and 9,695,724 females. That is 93.9 males per 100 females, ranking #193 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 48.4% of the population and females for 51.6%. There are 590,844 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 65.9 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 105.6 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Romania has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 16,397,279 in 1950 to 18,800,605 in 2026, a change of 15%. Over the same span, median age moved from 25.3 to 43.5 years.
The under-15 share changed from 28.3% to 15.4%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 7.2% to 20.2%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Romania’s population is projected to decline by about 15%, reaching 16,027,266 in 2050. The median age changes from 43.5 to 46.2 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 7.6 percentage points to 27.8%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 14.4%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest estimated population of 22,947,413 in 1991. Historical population totals are estimates rather than exact head counts. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 16,397,279 | 25.3 | 3.08 | 60.5 | 417,257 | 194,862 | +8,256 | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 18,313,495 | 27.5 | 2.32 | 65.6 | 348,222 | 173,513 | −55,397 | +0.7% |
| 1970 | 20,011,625 | 30.4 | 2.81 | 67.9 | 418,706 | 196,974 | +71,919 | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 22,154,771 | 30.6 | 2.43 | 69.2 | 381,606 | 237,692 | −16,668 | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 22,939,530 | 32.1 | 1.84 | 69.8 | 315,316 | 251,056 | −38,157 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 22,046,262 | 33.6 | 1.30 | 71.2 | 228,113 | 256,413 | −92,451 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 20,432,574 | 38.3 | 1.57 | 73.6 | 225,478 | 252,957 | −122,364 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 19,392,469 | 42.0 | 1.73 | 74.0 | 193,180 | 301,133 | −13,202 | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 19,118,479 | 42.6 | 1.71 | 75.9 | 183,623 | 257,119 | −27,780 | -0.5% |
| 2024* | 19,015,088 | 42.9 | 1.71 | 76.1 | 180,942 | 257,985 | −28,466 | -0.6% |
| 2026* | 18,800,605 | 43.5 | 1.71 | 76.4 | 176,198 | 255,931 | −28,982 | -0.6% |
| 2030* | 18,359,507 | 44.1 | 1.70 | 77.0 | 169,057 | 253,525 | −26,893 | -0.6% |
| 2040* | 17,209,718 | 46.2 | 1.69 | 78.5 | 161,969 | 254,536 | −24,390 | -0.7% |
| 2050* | 16,027,266 | 46.2 | 1.68 | 80.1 | 146,301 | 243,492 | −21,471 | -0.7% |
| 2060* | 14,768,088 | 47.1 | 1.68 | 81.6 | 126,981 | 238,841 | −19,798 | -0.9% |
| 2070* | 13,504,412 | 47.8 | 1.67 | 83.1 | 118,262 | 215,172 | −17,976 | -0.8% |
| 2080* | 12,470,346 | 48.1 | 1.67 | 84.4 | 108,228 | 186,371 | −16,892 | -0.8% |
| 2090* | 11,598,357 | 49.0 | 1.67 | 85.7 | 95,294 | 164,590 | −14,238 | -0.7% |
| 2100* | 10,768,185 | 50.3 | 1.67 | 86.9 | 87,303 | 158,477 | −13,406 | -0.8% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 460,978 | 437,069 | 898,047 | 4.8% |
| 5–9 | 508,909 | 485,709 | 994,618 | 5.3% |
| 10–14 | 516,162 | 493,450 | 1,009,612 | 5.4% |
| 15–19 | 552,617 | 529,479 | 1,082,096 | 5.8% |
| 20–24 | 520,994 | 500,836 | 1,021,830 | 5.4% |
| 25–29 | 506,054 | 485,466 | 991,520 | 5.3% |
| 30–34 | 521,691 | 496,450 | 1,018,141 | 5.4% |
| 35–39 | 671,635 | 636,028 | 1,307,663 | 7.0% |
| 40–44 | 631,357 | 588,586 | 1,219,943 | 6.5% |
| 45–49 | 746,293 | 713,610 | 1,459,903 | 7.8% |
| 50–54 | 728,537 | 721,180 | 1,449,717 | 7.7% |
| 55–59 | 773,417 | 802,917 | 1,576,334 | 8.4% |
| 60–64 | 455,036 | 511,437 | 966,473 | 5.1% |
| 65–69 | 470,203 | 610,122 | 1,080,325 | 5.7% |
| 70–74 | 446,981 | 640,534 | 1,087,515 | 5.8% |
| 75–79 | 311,548 | 493,481 | 805,029 | 4.3% |
| 80–84 | 156,853 | 285,890 | 442,743 | 2.4% |
| 85–89 | 89,856 | 190,331 | 280,187 | 1.5% |
| 90–94 | 30,300 | 63,721 | 94,021 | 0.5% |
| 95–99 | 5,038 | 8,832 | 13,870 | 0.1% |
| 100+ | 421 | 599 | 1,020 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Romania’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Hungary96% overlap · median age 44.2
- Czechia96% overlap · median age 44.3
- Bulgaria96% overlap · median age 45.0
- Slovakia95% overlap · median age 42.8
- Slovenia95% overlap · median age 45.0
- Montserrat95% overlap · median age 41.8
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Romania.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Romania Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/romania/
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“Romania Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/romania/.
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World Population Pyramid. “Romania Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/romania/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Romania in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Romania's population in 2026 is projected at 18,800,605.
What is the median age in Romania?
The projected median age in Romania in 2026 is 43.5 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Romania?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 1.71 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Romania's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will decline by about 15%, from 18.8M to 16M.
What share of Romania is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 20.2% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 27.8%.
How many babies are born in Romania each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 176,198 births and 255,931 deaths in 2026, about 482 births a day. Deaths exceed births by 79,733.
What is life expectancy in Romania for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 79.9 years for women and 72.9 years for men, a gap of 7.0 years in favour of women.
Does Romania have more immigrants or emigrants?
Romania is projected to lose about 28,982 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −1,659,673.
What is the sex ratio in Romania?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 93.9 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.