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Population in Romania compared to Serbia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Romania was 19,051,804 in 2024 vs 6,586,476 people in Serbia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Romania's population is 18,839,108 people compared to 6,494,521 in Serbia.

Population statistics:

  • Romania's population is 2.9 times bigger than Serbia's.
  • Romania is ranked the 70th most populous country in the world, while Serbia is the 110th.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.23% for Romania vs 0.08% for Serbia.
  • For the last 10 years, Romania has had an average growth rate of -0.43% per year vs -0.76% in Serbia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Romania has decreased from 21.2M people to 18.8M (11.1% decline), while Serbia has declined from 7.41M to 6.49M (12.4% decline).

Romania vs Serbia: population by year and forecast

Romania
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Romania Serbia
2100 10,801,385 3,621,418
2099 10,885,505 3,649,584
2098 10,969,050 3,677,789
2097 11,052,086 3,706,279
2096 11,134,776 3,734,933
2095 11,217,462 3,763,769
2094 11,299,298 3,792,851
2093 11,382,352 3,822,147
2092 11,464,817 3,851,865
2091 11,546,872 3,881,833
2090 11,630,335 3,911,964
2089 11,713,468 3,942,571
2088 11,796,733 3,973,274
2087 11,880,373 4,004,485
2086 11,966,550 4,036,066
2085 12,052,744 4,068,021
2084 12,140,454 4,100,403
2083 12,229,714 4,133,391
2082 12,319,480 4,166,924
2081 12,412,385 4,200,811
2080 12,507,333 4,235,306
2079 12,603,302 4,270,442
2078 12,700,870 4,306,246
2077 12,799,985 4,342,382
2076 12,900,610 4,378,754
2075 13,002,848 4,415,505
2074 13,107,513 4,452,888
2073 13,213,407 4,490,589
2072 13,323,211 4,528,672
2071 13,435,661 4,567,167
2070 13,550,449 4,606,212
2069 13,667,892 4,645,524
2068 13,786,771 4,685,090
2067 13,909,141 4,724,796
2066 14,034,214 4,764,445
2065 14,163,381 4,804,405
2064 14,293,294 4,844,434
2063 14,424,068 4,884,574
2062 14,557,025 4,924,899
2061 14,689,897 4,964,985
2060 14,821,441 5,005,138
2059 14,952,855 5,045,125
2058 15,082,857 5,085,292
2057 15,211,914 5,125,901
2056 15,340,213 5,166,530
2055 15,467,019 5,207,137
2054 15,590,545 5,247,793
2053 15,712,155 5,288,369
2052 15,834,374 5,329,487
2051 15,954,507 5,371,281
2050 16,073,070 5,413,067
2049 16,192,498 5,455,402
2048 16,311,535 5,498,031
2047 16,430,565 5,541,158
2046 16,547,661 5,584,824
2045 16,665,026 5,629,108
2044 16,783,383 5,673,908
2043 16,900,955 5,719,287
2042 17,018,000 5,765,400
2041 17,136,818 5,811,936
2040 17,253,674 5,858,464
2039 17,370,310 5,905,404
2038 17,488,193 5,952,107
2037 17,604,853 5,998,763
2036 17,721,511 6,045,097
2035 17,837,396 6,091,385
2034 17,950,976 6,137,447
2033 18,064,449 6,183,536
2032 18,176,399 6,229,136
2031 18,288,437 6,274,395
2030 18,399,699 6,319,422
2029 18,511,331 6,363,799
2028 18,621,197 6,407,914
2027 18,730,482 6,451,609
2026 18,839,108 6,494,521
2025 18,946,392 6,543,364
2024 19,051,804 6,586,476
2023 19,061,062 6,623,183
2022 19,048,502 6,664,449
2021 19,122,059 6,834,326
2020 19,265,250 6,899,126
2019 19,371,648 6,945,235
2018 19,473,970 6,982,604
2017 19,588,715 7,020,858
2016 19,702,267 7,058,322
2015 19,815,616 7,095,383
2014 19,908,979 7,131,787
2013 19,983,693 7,166,553
2012 20,058,035 7,201,497
2011 20,147,528 7,236,519
2010 20,246,871 7,291,436
2009 20,367,487 7,320,807
2008 20,537,875 7,350,222
2007 20,882,982 7,381,579
2006 21,193,760 7,411,569
2005 21,319,685 7,440,769
2004 21,451,748 7,463,157
2003 21,574,326 7,480,591
2002 21,730,496 7,500,031
2001 22,131,970 7,503,433
2000 22,442,971 7,516,346
1999 22,472,040 7,540,401
1998 22,507,344 7,567,745
1997 22,553,978 7,598,538
1996 22,619,004 7,622,185
1995 22,684,270 7,628,264
1994 22,730,211 7,622,711
1993 22,763,280 7,614,328
1992 22,794,284 7,604,063
1991 23,001,155 7,595,636
1990 23,201,835 7,897,937
1989 23,161,458 7,893,787
1988 23,057,662 7,884,218
1987 22,949,430 7,868,027
1986 22,836,841 7,853,824
1985 22,732,999 7,835,902
1984 22,640,547 7,813,549
1983 22,560,478 7,788,100
1982 22,475,741 7,763,335
1981 22,353,070 7,736,787
1980 22,207,282 7,709,544
1979 22,090,488 7,541,997
1978 21,951,464 7,504,017
1977 21,756,096 7,462,783
1976 21,551,634 7,418,973
1975 21,293,583 7,368,717
1974 21,029,429 7,326,043
1973 20,835,681 7,283,902
1972 20,657,957 7,252,012
1971 20,461,567 7,211,716
1970 20,250,398 7,164,993
1969 20,009,141 7,123,249
1968 19,799,831 7,007,586
1967 19,534,242 6,966,522
1966 19,215,450 6,927,969
1965 19,031,576 6,876,624
1964 18,919,126 6,832,855
1963 18,797,850 6,787,950
1962 18,676,550 6,740,264
1961 18,555,250 6,689,077
1960 18,406,905 6,638,992

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/romania/serbia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Romania decreased by 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline), while Serbia lost 353,247 people (a 4.77% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Romania lost 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline), while Serbia's population decreased by 563,801 people (a 7.99% decline).

Romania was ranked 51st most populous country in 2006 and is 70th in 2026. Serbia was ranked 97th in 2006 and ranked 110th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Romania's population will shrink by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people with a rank change from 70th to 81st. The population of Serbia will decrease by 16.7% to 5,413,067 people and rank change from 110th to 125th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.5% of the population in Romania and 32.6% in Serbia.

Population growth rate by year

Romania
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Romania Serbia
2100 -0.77% -0.77%
2099 -0.76% -0.77%
2098 -0.75% -0.77%
2097 -0.74% -0.77%
2096 -0.74% -0.77%
2095 -0.72% -0.77%
2094 -0.73% -0.77%
2093 -0.72% -0.77%
2092 -0.71% -0.77%
2091 -0.72% -0.77%
2090 -0.71% -0.78%
2089 -0.71% -0.77%
2088 -0.7% -0.78%
2087 -0.72% -0.78%
2086 -0.72% -0.79%
2085 -0.72% -0.79%
2084 -0.73% -0.8%
2083 -0.73% -0.8%
2082 -0.75% -0.81%
2081 -0.76% -0.81%
2080 -0.76% -0.82%
2079 -0.77% -0.83%
2078 -0.77% -0.83%
2077 -0.78% -0.83%
2076 -0.79% -0.83%
2075 -0.8% -0.84%
2074 -0.8% -0.84%
2073 -0.82% -0.84%
2072 -0.84% -0.84%
2071 -0.85% -0.85%
2070 -0.86% -0.85%
2069 -0.86% -0.84%
2068 -0.88% -0.84%
2067 -0.89% -0.83%
2066 -0.91% -0.83%
2065 -0.91% -0.83%
2064 -0.91% -0.82%
2063 -0.91% -0.82%
2062 -0.9% -0.81%
2061 -0.89% -0.8%
2060 -0.88% -0.79%
2059 -0.86% -0.79%
2058 -0.85% -0.79%
2057 -0.84% -0.79%
2056 -0.82% -0.78%
2055 -0.79% -0.77%
2054 -0.77% -0.77%
2053 -0.77% -0.77%
2052 -0.75% -0.78%
2051 -0.74% -0.77%
2050 -0.74% -0.78%
2049 -0.73% -0.78%
2048 -0.72% -0.78%
2047 -0.71% -0.78%
2046 -0.7% -0.79%
2045 -0.71% -0.79%
2044 -0.7% -0.79%
2043 -0.69% -0.8%
2042 -0.69% -0.8%
2041 -0.68% -0.79%
2040 -0.67% -0.79%
2039 -0.67% -0.78%
2038 -0.66% -0.78%
2037 -0.66% -0.77%
2036 -0.65% -0.76%
2035 -0.63% -0.75%
2034 -0.63% -0.75%
2033 -0.62% -0.73%
2032 -0.61% -0.72%
2031 -0.6% -0.71%
2030 -0.6% -0.7%
2029 -0.59% -0.69%
2028 -0.58% -0.68%
2027 -0.58% -0.66%
2026 -0.57% -0.75%
2025 -0.55% -0.65%
2024 -0.05% -0.55%
2023 0.07% -0.62%
2022 -0.38% -2.49%
2021 -0.74% -0.94%
2020 -0.55% -0.66%
2019 -0.53% -0.54%
2018 -0.59% -0.54%
2017 -0.58% -0.53%
2016 -0.57% -0.52%
2015 -0.47% -0.51%
2014 -0.37% -0.49%
2013 -0.37% -0.49%
2012 -0.44% -0.48%
2011 -0.49% -0.75%
2010 -0.59% -0.4%
2009 -0.83% -0.4%
2008 -1.65% -0.42%
2007 -1.47% -0.4%
2006 -0.59% -0.39%
2005 -0.62% -0.3%
2004 -0.57% -0.23%
2003 -0.72% -0.26%
2002 -1.81% -0.05%
2001 -1.39% -0.17%
2000 -0.13% -0.32%
1999 -0.16% -0.36%
1998 -0.21% -0.41%
1997 -0.29% -0.31%
1996 -0.29% -0.08%
1995 -0.2% 0.07%
1994 -0.15% 0.11%
1993 -0.14% 0.13%
1992 -0.9% 0.11%
1991 -0.86% -3.83%
1990 0.17% 0.05%
1989 0.45% 0.12%
1988 0.47% 0.21%
1987 0.49% 0.18%
1986 0.46% 0.23%
1985 0.41% 0.29%
1984 0.35% 0.33%
1983 0.38% 0.32%
1982 0.55% 0.34%
1981 0.66% 0.35%
1980 0.53% 2.22%
1979 0.63% 0.51%
1978 0.9% 0.55%
1977 0.95% 0.59%
1976 1.21% 0.68%
1975 1.26% 0.58%
1974 0.93% 0.58%
1973 0.86% 0.44%
1972 0.96% 0.56%
1971 1.04% 0.65%
1970 1.21% 0.59%
1969 1.06% 1.65%
1968 1.36% 0.59%
1967 1.66% 0.56%
1966 0.97% 0.75%
1965 0.59% 0.64%
1964 0.65% 0.66%
1963 0.65% 0.71%
1962 0.65% 0.77%
1961 0.81% 0.75%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/romania/serbia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Romania declined by 0.05%, while Serbia's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Romania Serbia
Current population
18839108
6494521
Population rank 70/197 110/197
Percent of world population 0.23% 0.08%
One net population change
56.8 minutes
14.3 minutes
One birth every
3.45 minutes
8.63 minutes
One death every
2.17 minutes
5.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline -25 -101
Annual growth/decline -9,258 -36,707
Annual growth/decline rate -0.05% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 189/197
One migration net change every
18.1 minutes
40.3 minutes
Annual migration change -29,041 -13,086
Net migration rank 163/196 140/196
Foreign-born residents 655,579 712,550
Foreign-born residents rank 73/195 70/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.4% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 112/195 64/195

Natural population change vs migration

Romania
Natural

Migration
Serbia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Romania Serbia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,041 - -13,086
2024 - -28,466 - -8,132
2023 -89,587 -27,780 -36,427 4,348
2022 -93,338 89,076 -46,651 40,118
2021 -141,504 -17,731 -74,494 -8,974
2020 -100,179 -13,202 -55,193 -10,220
2019 -60,053 -27,909 -36,810 -18,891
2018 -62,316 -33,018 -37,707 -18,883
2017 -50,930 -33,081 -39,317 -18,651
2016 -53,196 -33,073 -35,998 -18,322
2015 -59,447 -35,751 -37,605 -18,789
2014 -55,745 -35,448 -34,946 -18,846
2013 -59,951 -34,910 -34,399 -17,866
2012 -54,157 -37,589 -35,288 -18,513
2011 -56,413 -102,769 -36,906 611
2010 -46,567 -122,364 -34,999 3,632
2009 -34,625 -137,953 -33,676 6,043
2008 -30,806 -144,368 -33,590 7,070
2007 -37,590 -133,089 -34,693 7,045
2006 -38,148 -132,777 -31,870 8,018
2005 -40,508 -131,176 -34,227 7,945
2004 -42,904 -117,432 -26,121 7,300
2003 -56,093 -107,139 -24,686 6,854
2002 -58,673 -106,585 -24,750 1,562
2001 -37,625 -91,154 -20,259 -12,007
2000 -22,443 -92,451 -30,065 -14,368
1999 -31,461 -82,590 -29,408 -4,073
1998 -33,761 -81,366 -23,006 -5,665
1997 -42,853 -88,734 -18,389 -5,817
1996 -56,548 -70,799 -16,007 -5,598
1995 -36,295 -73,779 -7,628 -6,019
1994 -18,184 -76,246 -7,157 -5,934
1993 -13,658 -73,475 -5,703 -5,972
1992 -4,559 -63,200 -3,779 -4,415
1991 25,301 -36,824 2,210 -8,483
1990 69,605 -38,157 7,416 -16,260
1989 122,756 -33,866 11,872 -16,360
1988 126,817 -48,911 13,852 -15,715
1987 128,517 -42,868 16,711 -16,686
1986 134,737 -50,450 19,407 -17,990
1985 111,392 -28,108 22,090 -17,646
1984 117,731 -24,629 23,815 -15,567
1983 87,986 3,093 27,515 -15,301
1982 119,121 -4,725 30,603 -13,550
1981 156,472 -20,870 34,304 -8,531
1980 168,776 -16,668 36,273 287
1979 194,397 -29,600 39,022 -960
1978 204,148 -31,427 43,636 -1,481
1977 215,385 -28,135 48,105 -1,953
1976 213,361 18,748 51,399 -2,744
1975 219,324 9,125 52,502 -3,490
1974 235,530 6,725 51,583 -3,525
1973 175,020 58,651 49,596 -2,396
1972 198,316 61,920 48,248 -348
1971 206,662 74,473 47,424 1,655
1970 234,905 71,919 48,343 1,861
1969 264,120 74,851 50,304 4,112
1968 338,577 33,601 51,653 5,430
1967 347,709 37,282 53,120 6,114
1966 115,293 -25,458 53,338 7,037
1965 114,190 -60,430 53,383 7,957
1964 134,326 -59,500 54,185 8,045
1963 139,104 -58,076 55,580 8,276
1962 130,736 -56,152 59,307 6,064
1961 163,286 -54,642 61,065 6,422
1960 191,431 -55,397 63,642 4,377

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/romania/serbia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 82% of the population change in Romania is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people). In Serbia 83.3% is from natural causes (a loss of 435,148 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 87,110 people).

As of 2024, 655,579 residents or 3.4% of the population were not native-born in Romania, compared to 712,550 people or 10.6% in Serbia.

Biggest cities by population

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
Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/romania/serbia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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