Romania’s population is decreasing
Romania's population is expected to age significantly and drop to about 15 million people by 2080
Sorin Iordan, 13.07.2026, 14:00
Romania’s population is projected to decrease by more than 3.4 million people by 2080, reaching approximately 15 million, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics. The projections indicate a significant aging of the population, meaning that more than a quarter of the country’s residents will be elderly by that date, while only about 13.7% will be young. Last year, the largest population decline was recorded in the South-Muntenia region, and the smallest in the Bucharest metropolitan area.
As of January 1, 2025, Romania’s population officially stood at just over 19 million, and the median age had risen to over 42, compared to nearly 38 in 2005. Geographically, the north-eastern part of the country has the largest population, while the western part has the smallest. The National Institute of Statistics (INS) also indicates that Romania’s population could remain around 19 million until 2030 if the economy continues to attract foreign workers.
The president of the National Institute of Statistics, Tudorel Andrei, pointed out that demographic trends represent one of the greatest challenges for Romania and cannot be addressed through quick fixes. He noted that changes in the population structure have direct effects on the economy, the labour market, and the pension system. At the same time, the head of the NIS emphasized that, unlike the economy—where the effects of certain decisions are visible relatively quickly—demographic changes occur over the long term and are influenced by the political, economic, and social context.
Tudorel Andrei: “Even though we are currently witnessing macroeconomic imbalances that are affecting us all, Romania has nevertheless recorded economic growth, which has made it possible to attract workers, especially from Asian countries, but also to bring back many Romanians. And it is no coincidence that, in recent years, the resident population has stabilized at 19 million, strictly through international migration.”
Tudorel Andrei also said that Romania has lost more than 4.16 million residents over the past 35 years and that, in the medium term, it can hope, at best, only to stabilize the negative natural increase.
This bleak picture was reinforced by demographer Vasile Gheţău, who has stated that there is no solution to Romania’s demographic decline. According to him, the annual natural population decline ranges between 80,000 and 100,000 people, given that the number of births is 150,000 and the number of deaths is 250,000.
According to sociologist Dumitru Sandu, there is no miracle solution to reduce the population decline, but he cited examples of countries such as Portugal, Spain, and Ireland. These countries have recovered from population decline through policies that have raised living standards, thereby reducing emigration and encouraging immigration. (MI)
