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Population density: China vs Romania compared

Updated on by Georank team

China has a population density of 387 people per square mile compared to 212.1 people in Romania. China has 73,316 sq ft of land per person vs 134,690 sq ft in Romania. China and Romania rank 67th and 107th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. China has 17.3% of the world's population and 6.3% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.23% of the population and 0.15% of the land area for Romania, making the population density in China 82.5% higher than in Romania.

Population density by year

China
Romania

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
China Romania
2026 387 212.1
2025 388 213.3
2024 389 214.5
2023 389 214.6
2022 390 214.4
2021 390 215.3
2020 389 216.9
2019 388 218.1
2018 387 219.2
2017 385 220.5
2016 383 221.8
2015 381 223.1
2014 378 224.1
2013 376 225
2012 374 225.9
2011 371 226.7
2010 369 227.9
2009 367 229.3
2008 365 231.4
2007 364 235.3
2006 362 238.7
2005 360 240.1
2004 358 241.6
2003 355 243
2002 353 244.8
2001 351 249.5
2000 348 253
1999 346 253.5
1998 343 253.9
1997 339 254.5
1996 336 255.2
1995 332 256
1994 329 256.5
1993 325 256.9
1992 321 257.3
1991 317 259.6
1990 313 262
1989 309 261.6
1988 304 259.3
1987 299.1 258
1986 294.3 256.8
1985 290 255.6
1984 286 254.6
1983 282.3 253.7
1982 278.3 252.7
1981 274.2 251.3
1980 270.7 249.7
1979 267.3 248.4
1978 263.8 246.8
1977 260.3 244.6
1976 256.8 242.3
1975 252.8 239.4
1974 248.4 236.5
1973 243.3 234.3
1972 237.8 232.3
1971 232 230.1
1970 225.8 227.7
1969 219.6 225
1968 213.7 222.6
1967 208.2 219.6
1966 202.9 216.1
1965 197.3 214
1964 192.7 212.7
1963 188.2 211.4
1962 183.7 210
1961 182.2 208.6

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/china/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in China increased by 6.98%, compared to a 11.1% decline in Romania.

In 2006, China ranked 57th by population density and is 67th now. Romania was 81st in 2006 and ranks 107th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

China
Romania
1x
Year Urban population
China Romania
2024 65.9% 52.2%
2023 65.5% 52.2%
2022 65.2% 52.2%
2021 64.7% 52.2%
2020 63.5% 52.6%
2019 62.7% 52.9%
2018 61.5% 53.1%
2017 60.2% 53.4%
2016 58.8% 53.6%
2015 57.3% 53.7%
2014 55.8% 53.8%
2013 54.5% 53.9%
2012 53.1% 54%
2011 51.8% 54%
2010 49.2% 53.9%
2009 48.3% 53.8%
2008 47% 53.6%
2007 45.9% 53.4%
2006 44.3% 53.3%
2005 43% 53.1%
2004 41.8% 52.9%
2003 40.5% 52.8%
2002 39.1% 52.7%
2001 37.7% 52.8%
2000 36.4% 52.9%
1999 34.8% 53%
1998 33.4% 53.2%
1997 31.9% 53.4%
1996 30.5% 53.7%
1995 29% 53.9%
1994 28.5% 54.1%
1993 28% 54.2%
1992 27.5% 54.3%
1991 26.9% 54.3%
1990 26.2% 54.2%
1989 26.2% 54%
1988 25.8% 53.8%
1987 25.3% 53.4%
1986 24.5% 53%
1985 23.7% 52.5%
1984 23% 52%
1983 21.6% 51.5%
1982 20.6% 50.9%
1981 20.2% 50.3%
1980 19.4% 49.7%
1979 19% 49%
1978 17.9% 48.4%
1977 17.6% 47.8%
1976 17.4% 47.2%
1975 17.3% 46.5%
1974 17.2% 45.7%
1973 17.2% 44.8%
1972 17.1% 43.9%
1971 17.3% 43%
1970 17.4% 42%
1969 17.5% 41.1%
1968 17.6% 40.2%
1967 17.7% 39.3%
1966 17.9% 38.5%
1965 18% 37.7%
1964 18.3% 37%
1963 16.8% 36.3%
1962 17.3% 35.7%
1961 19.3% 35%
1960 19.7% 34.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/china/romania | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 41.8% to 65.9% in China and from 52.9% to 52.2% in Romania.

Densely populated cities

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/china/romania | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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