Population
19.1M persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
Population on 1 July. UN estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024; past UN revisions for forecast checks.
Romania
All indicators of the Macroscope base for Romania, with sources. Below: what past UN and IMF releases projected and what actually happened.
Total fertility rate
1.39
children per woman, 2024
GDP per capita, PPP
40,846
constant 2021 international $, 2025
What the data shows
Computed with the same code as the observations under the main chart and in the API (get_insights). Moving together in time does not prove a cause.
How the indicators changed
- Fertility (TFR): 3.08 in 1950 → 1.39 in 2024 (−55%). Peak: 3.59 in 1967; the latest value is 61% lower. Thresholds: below 2.1 since 1990, below 1.5 since 2024. The trend broke around 1988 and 1994: −0.01 → −0.17 → +0.02 a year.
- Births: 417k in 1950 → 134k in 2025 (−68%). Peak: 511k in 1967; the latest value is 74% lower. The trend broke around 1963 and 1969: −13k → +21.5k → −5.12k a year.
- Population: 16.4M in 1950 → 19.1M in 2023 (+17%). Peak: 22.9M in 1991; the latest value is 17% lower. The trend broke around 1982 and 1992: +189k → +59.8k → −133k a year.
- Internet: 0% in 1990 → 91.3% in 2024 (+91 pp). Thresholds: above 10% since 2004, above 50% since 2014, above 90% since 2024. Fastest growth in 2016–2021: 59.5% → 83.6%.
- Urban share: 34.4% in 1960 → 52.2% in 2025 (+18 pp). Threshold: above 50% since 1981. The trend broke around 1988: direction reversed (+0.56 → −0.04 a year).
- GDP per person (PPP): 16,317 PPP dollars in 1990 → 40,846 PPP dollars in 2025 (×2.5). Low: 13,195 PPP dollars in 1992; ×3.1 since then. The trend broke around 1999: direction reversed (−37 → +1,036 a year).
- GDP growth: on average 1.6% in the 1980s, −2.3% in the 1990s, 5.0% in the 2000s, 3.0% in the 2010s, 1.7% in the 2020s. Lowest: −12.9% in 1991; highest: 10.4% in 2004.
- Inflation: on average 3.0% in the 1980s, 122.3% in the 1990s, 16.4% in the 2000s, 2.8% in the 2010s, 7.5% in the 2020s. Lowest: −1.6% in 2016; highest: 256.1% in 1993.
What changed at the same time
- The fastest decline of "Fertility (TFR)" was in 1955–1965: 3.01 → 1.90. Over the same years: births 442k → 270k; population 17.5M → 18.7M; urban share 37.7% (1965); no data for the others in those years.
- Over the last 10 years (2014–2024): fertility (TFR) 1.56 → 1.39; births 201k → 144k; population 20M → 19.1M; internet 54.1% → 91.3%; urban share 53.8% → 52.2%; GDP per person (PPP) 28,156 PPP dollars → 40,504 PPP dollars; GDP growth 4.1% → 0.9%; inflation 1.1% → 5.6%.
How the indicators relate
- Fertility (TFR) and internet (1990–2024, 33 years): levels are strongly related, in the same direction (r = 0.70); year-to-year changes are weakly related (r = 0.49).
- Fertility (TFR) and urban share (1960–2024, 65 years): levels are noticeably related, in opposite directions (r = −0.59); year-to-year changes show no reliable link (r = 0.03).
- Fertility (TFR) and GDP per person (PPP) (1990–2024, 35 years): levels are noticeably related, in the same direction (r = 0.67); year-to-year changes are weakly related (r = 0.41).
Forecasts vs actual
- Fertility (TFR): past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 1 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 10; median gap +17%.
- The UN 1998 projection expected this level (1.39) already around 2020: reality is 4 years behind it.
- The UN 2004 projection expected this level (1.39) already around 2019: reality is 5 years behind it.
- Fertility (TFR): UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 1.68 (+21% vs 2024), 2100 — 1.67 (+20% vs 2024); low variant for 2100: 1.17.
- Births: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 8 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 4; median gap −2.8%.
- The UN 2004 projection did not expect today's level (134k, 2025) before its horizon ended (2047).
- The UN 2022 projection expected today's level (134k, 2025) only around 2079: reality is 54 years ahead of it.
- National statistics for 2025: 134k, 25% below the UN 2024 medium variant (179k) and below its 95% interval.
- Births: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 146k (+9% vs 2025), 2100 — 87.3k (−35% vs 2025); low variant for 2100: 27.3k.
- Population: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 9 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 3; median gap −4.9%.
- The UN 2004 projection expected today's level (19.1M, 2023) only around 2032: reality is 9 years ahead of it.
- The UN 2022 projection expected today's level (19.1M, 2023) only around 2029: reality is 6 years ahead of it.
- Population: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 16M (−16% vs 2023), 2100 — 10.8M (−44% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 6.86M.
- GDP growth: IMF next-year forecasts (36 editions, 2007–2024). On average the outcome was 1 pp below the forecast; below it in 58% of cases; typical error ±2.8 pp. The biggest miss was for 2009: IMF, October 2008 expected 4.8%, the outcome was −5.5%.
- GDP growth: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2026 — 0.7%, 2028 — 2.7%, 2031 — 3.1%.
- Inflation: IMF next-year forecasts (36 editions, 2007–2024). On average the outcome was 1.1 pp above the forecast; below it in 44% of cases; typical error ±2.4 pp. The biggest miss was for 2022: IMF, April 2021 expected 2.1%, the outcome was 13.8%.
- Inflation: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2026 — 7.8%, 2028 — 4.3%, 2031 — 2.5%.
UN projections vs actual
Solid line: actual data, UN WPP 2024 estimates to 2023, then national statistics where comparable with the UN. Dashed: medium variants of past UN revisions. The table shows what each revision expected for the latest year (or five-year period) with actual data.
Population
persons, 1 July
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2023 | 25 years | 20.2M | 19.1M | −5.3% |
| UN 2000 | 2023 | 23 years | 20.8M | 19.1M | −7.9% |
| UN 2002 | 2023 | 21 years | 21M | 19.1M | −8.9% |
| UN 2004 | 2023 | 19 years | 20.1M | 19.1M | −4.8% |
| UN 2006 | 2023 | 17 years | 19.7M | 19.1M | −3.1% |
| UN 2008 | 2023 | 15 years | 20.1M | 19.1M | −5% |
| UN 2010 | 2023 | 13 years | 20.8M | 19.1M | −8.1% |
| UN 2012 | 2023 | 11 years | 21M | 19.1M | −8.8% |
| UN 2015 | 2023 | 8 years | 18.5M | 19.1M | +3.5% |
| UN 2017 | 2023 | 6 years | 19.1M | 19.1M | 0% |
| UN 2019 | 2023 | 4 years | 18.9M | 19.1M | +0.9% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 19.9M | 19.1M | −3.9% |
Births
births per year
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2020–2025 | 24 years | 152k | 172k | +13.4% |
| UN 2000 | 2020–2025 | 22 years | 192k | 172k | −10% |
| UN 2002 | 2020–2025 | 20 years | 188k | 172k | −8.1% |
| UN 2004 | 2020–2025 | 18 years | 168k | 172k | +2.8% |
| UN 2006 | 2020–2025 | 16 years | 162k | 172k | +6.5% |
| UN 2008 | 2020–2025 | 14 years | 175k | 172k | −1.2% |
| UN 2010 | 2020–2025 | 12 years | 196k | 172k | −12% |
| UN 2012 | 2020–2025 | 10 years | 192k | 172k | −10.4% |
| UN 2015 | 2020–2025 | 8 years | 160k | 172k | +7.5% |
| UN 2017 | 2020–2025 | 6 years | 178k | 172k | −3.2% |
| UN 2019 | 2020–2025 | 4 years | 177k | 172k | −2.4% |
| UN 2022 | 2025 | 3 years | 197k | 134k | −32% |
Total fertility rate
children per woman
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 1.35 | 1.72 | +27.4% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 1.48 | 1.72 | +16.5% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 1.47 | 1.72 | +17% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 1.36 | 1.72 | +26.4% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 1.37 | 1.72 | +25.5% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 1.40 | 1.72 | +23.3% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 1.51 | 1.72 | +13.6% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 1.48 | 1.72 | +16.5% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 1.54 | 1.72 | +12.1% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 1.54 | 1.72 | +11.7% |
| UN 2022 | 2024 | 2 years | 1.74 | 1.39 | −20.1% |
IMF forecasts vs actual
Solid line: actual values from the latest IMF edition (data get revised, so we use the newest). Dashed: April editions, current year and five years ahead. The table covers next-year forecasts from all editions: mean error shows bias, mean absolute error shows accuracy.
Real GDP growth
% per year
- Actual (IMF)
- WEO, April editions
| Indicator | Forecasts | Mean error | Mean absolute error | Actual below forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | 36 | −1 pp | 2.8 pp | 58% |
| Inflation | 36 | +1.1 pp | 2.4 pp | 44% |
| Unemployment rate | 29 | +0.9 pp | 0.9 pp | 14% |
| Government gross debt | 26 | +0.7 pp | 3.7 pp | 54% |
All indicators
Demography
Births
134k births per year latest value, 2025
Live births per calendar year. UN WPP 2024 and national statistics (64 countries, 2015-2025).
Source: Eurostat demo_gind (births) / demo_find (TFR), retrieved 2026-10-01
Total fertility rate
1.39 children per woman latest value, 2024
Average number of children a woman would have at the age-specific fertility rates of the year.
Source: Eurostat demo_gind (births) / demo_find (TFR), retrieved 2026-10-01
Life expectancy at birth, women
79.6 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn girl would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Life expectancy at birth, men
72.4 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn boy would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Median age
42.6 years latest value, 2023
Age that divides the population in two halves (UN).
Mean age of mothers at childbirth
28.1 years latest value, 2023
Mean age of mothers at the birth of their children of any order (UN).
Sex ratio at birth
105.5 boys per 100 girls latest value, 2023
Boys born per 100 girls born (UN).
Net migration
−27.8k persons per year latest value, 2023
Immigrants minus emigrants per year (UN estimate and projection).
Old-age dependency
31.9 persons 65+ per 100 aged 20-64 latest value, 2020
Persons aged 65+ per 100 aged 20-64, every five years (UN).
Digitalisation
Internet users
91.3 % of population latest value, 2024
Share of individuals who used the Internet in the last three months from any device. ITU data.
Mobile cellular subscriptions
119.8 per 100 people latest value, 2024
Active mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people; can exceed 100 when people have several SIM cards. ITU data.
Fixed broadband subscriptions
35.8 subscriptions per 100 people latest value, 2024
Fixed subscriptions to high-speed Internet (256 kbit/s or more) per 100 people. ITU data.
Economy
GDP per capita, PPP
40,846 constant 2021 international $ latest value, 2025
Gross domestic product per person at purchasing power parity, constant 2021 international dollars (World Bank, ICP).
Real GDP growth
0.7 % per year latest value, 2025
Annual change of GDP at constant prices. Actual values and forecasts from IMF WEO editions.
Inflation
7.3 % per year, average latest value, 2025
Change of the annual average consumer price index (IMF WEO).
Government gross debt
57.5 % of GDP latest value, 2024
General government gross debt, percent of GDP (IMF WEO).
Unemployment rate
6.1 % of labour force latest value, 2025
Unemployed as a share of the labour force (IMF WEO; national definitions).
GDP per capita, US dollars
22,725 current US dollars latest value, 2025
GDP per person in current US dollars at market exchange rates (IMF WEO).
Society
Urban population
52.2 % of population latest value, 2025
Share of people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices (World Bank, from UN World Urbanization Prospects).
Tertiary enrolment, women
63 % gross latest value, 2023
Women enrolled in tertiary education as a share of women in the five-year age group after secondary school; can exceed 100 (UNESCO).
Women with upper secondary education
68.3 % of women 25+ latest value, 2023
Share of women aged 25+ who completed at least upper secondary education (UNESCO).
Life expectancy at birth
76.5 years latest value, 2024
Life expectancy at birth, both sexes (World Bank, from UN and national statistics).
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