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Population in Romania compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Romania was 19,051,804 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Romania's population is 18,839,108 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 3.49 times bigger than Romania's.
  • Romania is ranked the 70th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.02% of the world: 0.23% for Romania vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Romania has had an average growth rate of -0.43% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Romania has decreased from 21.2M people to 18.8M (11.1% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Romania vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Romania
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Romania South Africa
2100 10,801,385 94,767,727
2099 10,885,505 94,556,931
2098 10,969,050 94,349,546
2097 11,052,086 94,158,472
2096 11,134,776 93,960,605
2095 11,217,462 93,752,736
2094 11,299,298 93,527,902
2093 11,382,352 93,300,398
2092 11,464,817 93,074,837
2091 11,546,872 92,826,204
2090 11,630,335 92,594,033
2089 11,713,468 92,355,184
2088 11,796,733 92,112,914
2087 11,880,373 91,866,024
2086 11,966,550 91,614,165
2085 12,052,744 91,385,350
2084 12,140,454 91,139,318
2083 12,229,714 90,877,425
2082 12,319,480 90,615,359
2081 12,412,385 90,345,492
2080 12,507,333 90,071,835
2079 12,603,302 89,801,998
2078 12,700,870 89,526,224
2077 12,799,985 89,249,206
2076 12,900,610 88,986,114
2075 13,002,848 88,713,215
2074 13,107,513 88,428,616
2073 13,213,407 88,149,885
2072 13,323,211 87,866,246
2071 13,435,661 87,540,177
2070 13,550,449 87,209,425
2069 13,667,892 86,901,512
2068 13,786,771 86,588,742
2067 13,909,141 86,268,392
2066 14,034,214 85,935,310
2065 14,163,381 85,604,376
2064 14,293,294 85,244,950
2063 14,424,068 84,875,503
2062 14,557,025 84,503,237
2061 14,689,897 84,132,885
2060 14,821,441 83,748,999
2059 14,952,855 83,354,923
2058 15,082,857 82,947,675
2057 15,211,914 82,538,045
2056 15,340,213 82,127,477
2055 15,467,019 81,698,196
2054 15,590,545 81,255,867
2053 15,712,155 80,818,632
2052 15,834,374 80,367,409
2051 15,954,507 79,886,672
2050 16,073,070 79,411,977
2049 16,192,498 78,925,493
2048 16,311,535 78,437,677
2047 16,430,565 77,922,211
2046 16,547,661 77,397,298
2045 16,665,026 76,879,838
2044 16,783,383 76,357,155
2043 16,900,955 75,827,709
2042 17,018,000 75,291,615
2041 17,136,818 74,748,408
2040 17,253,674 74,205,530
2039 17,370,310 73,663,047
2038 17,488,193 73,105,930
2037 17,604,853 72,532,742
2036 17,721,511 71,956,247
2035 17,837,396 71,362,555
2034 17,950,976 70,762,815
2033 18,064,449 70,153,205
2032 18,176,399 69,527,410
2031 18,288,437 68,890,002
2030 18,399,699 68,245,372
2029 18,511,331 67,573,179
2028 18,621,197 66,884,377
2027 18,730,482 66,190,258
2026 18,839,108 65,496,277
2025 18,946,392 64,770,314
2024 19,051,804 64,007,187
2023 19,061,062 63,212,384
2022 19,048,502 62,378,410
2021 19,122,059 61,502,603
2020 19,265,250 60,562,381
2019 19,371,648 59,587,885
2018 19,473,970 58,613,001
2017 19,588,715 57,635,162
2016 19,702,267 57,259,551
2015 19,815,616 56,723,537
2014 19,908,979 55,594,838
2013 19,983,693 54,678,791
2012 20,058,035 53,782,567
2011 20,147,528 52,995,205
2010 20,246,871 52,344,051
2009 20,367,487 51,728,516
2008 20,537,875 51,114,599
2007 20,882,982 50,528,584
2006 21,193,760 49,998,277
2005 21,319,685 49,490,033
2004 21,451,748 48,991,421
2003 21,574,326 48,500,348
2002 21,730,496 48,019,415
2001 22,131,970 47,566,800
2000 22,442,971 47,159,719
1999 22,472,040 46,730,335
1998 22,507,344 46,223,880
1997 22,553,978 45,666,838
1996 22,619,004 45,123,018
1995 22,684,270 44,541,554
1994 22,730,211 44,004,139
1993 22,763,280 43,297,156
1992 22,794,284 42,443,509
1991 23,001,155 41,687,898
1990 23,201,835 40,746,268
1989 23,161,458 39,628,575
1988 23,057,662 38,480,649
1987 22,949,430 37,326,190
1986 22,836,841 36,180,515
1985 22,732,999 35,042,093
1984 22,640,547 33,892,788
1983 22,560,478 32,739,304
1982 22,475,741 31,615,339
1981 22,353,070 30,541,044
1980 22,207,282 29,518,857
1979 22,090,488 28,634,162
1978 21,951,464 27,869,507
1977 21,756,096 27,118,952
1976 21,551,634 26,395,450
1975 21,293,583 25,690,940
1974 21,029,429 24,989,108
1973 20,835,681 24,294,263
1972 20,657,957 23,609,456
1971 20,461,567 22,942,143
1970 20,250,398 22,279,984
1969 20,009,141 21,614,676
1968 19,799,831 20,957,287
1967 19,534,242 20,314,066
1966 19,215,450 19,690,087
1965 19,031,576 19,089,380
1964 18,919,126 18,511,361
1963 18,797,850 17,954,564
1962 18,676,550 17,418,522
1961 18,555,250 16,908,035
1960 18,406,905 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Romania decreased by 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Romania lost 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Romania was ranked 51st most populous country in 2006 and is 70th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Romania
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Romania South Africa
2100 -0.77% 0.22%
2099 -0.76% 0.22%
2098 -0.75% 0.2%
2097 -0.74% 0.21%
2096 -0.74% 0.22%
2095 -0.72% 0.24%
2094 -0.73% 0.24%
2093 -0.72% 0.24%
2092 -0.71% 0.27%
2091 -0.72% 0.25%
2090 -0.71% 0.26%
2089 -0.71% 0.26%
2088 -0.7% 0.27%
2087 -0.72% 0.27%
2086 -0.72% 0.25%
2085 -0.72% 0.27%
2084 -0.73% 0.29%
2083 -0.73% 0.29%
2082 -0.75% 0.3%
2081 -0.76% 0.3%
2080 -0.76% 0.3%
2079 -0.77% 0.31%
2078 -0.77% 0.31%
2077 -0.78% 0.3%
2076 -0.79% 0.31%
2075 -0.8% 0.32%
2074 -0.8% 0.32%
2073 -0.82% 0.32%
2072 -0.84% 0.37%
2071 -0.85% 0.38%
2070 -0.86% 0.35%
2069 -0.86% 0.36%
2068 -0.88% 0.37%
2067 -0.89% 0.39%
2066 -0.91% 0.39%
2065 -0.91% 0.42%
2064 -0.91% 0.44%
2063 -0.91% 0.44%
2062 -0.9% 0.44%
2061 -0.89% 0.46%
2060 -0.88% 0.47%
2059 -0.86% 0.49%
2058 -0.85% 0.5%
2057 -0.84% 0.5%
2056 -0.82% 0.53%
2055 -0.79% 0.54%
2054 -0.77% 0.54%
2053 -0.77% 0.56%
2052 -0.75% 0.6%
2051 -0.74% 0.6%
2050 -0.74% 0.62%
2049 -0.73% 0.62%
2048 -0.72% 0.66%
2047 -0.71% 0.68%
2046 -0.7% 0.67%
2045 -0.71% 0.68%
2044 -0.7% 0.7%
2043 -0.69% 0.71%
2042 -0.69% 0.73%
2041 -0.68% 0.73%
2040 -0.67% 0.74%
2039 -0.67% 0.76%
2038 -0.66% 0.79%
2037 -0.66% 0.8%
2036 -0.65% 0.83%
2035 -0.63% 0.85%
2034 -0.63% 0.87%
2033 -0.62% 0.9%
2032 -0.61% 0.93%
2031 -0.6% 0.94%
2030 -0.6% 0.99%
2029 -0.59% 1.03%
2028 -0.58% 1.05%
2027 -0.58% 1.06%
2026 -0.57% 1.12%
2025 -0.55% 1.19%
2024 -0.05% 1.26%
2023 0.07% 1.34%
2022 -0.38% 1.42%
2021 -0.74% 1.55%
2020 -0.55% 1.64%
2019 -0.53% 1.66%
2018 -0.59% 1.7%
2017 -0.58% 0.66%
2016 -0.57% 0.94%
2015 -0.47% 2.03%
2014 -0.37% 1.68%
2013 -0.37% 1.67%
2012 -0.44% 1.49%
2011 -0.49% 1.24%
2010 -0.59% 1.19%
2009 -0.83% 1.2%
2008 -1.65% 1.16%
2007 -1.47% 1.06%
2006 -0.59% 1.03%
2005 -0.62% 1.02%
2004 -0.57% 1.01%
2003 -0.72% 1%
2002 -1.81% 0.95%
2001 -1.39% 0.86%
2000 -0.13% 0.92%
1999 -0.16% 1.1%
1998 -0.21% 1.22%
1997 -0.29% 1.21%
1996 -0.29% 1.31%
1995 -0.2% 1.22%
1994 -0.15% 1.63%
1993 -0.14% 2.01%
1992 -0.9% 1.81%
1991 -0.86% 2.31%
1990 0.17% 2.82%
1989 0.45% 2.98%
1988 0.47% 3.09%
1987 0.49% 3.17%
1986 0.46% 3.25%
1985 0.41% 3.39%
1984 0.35% 3.52%
1983 0.38% 3.56%
1982 0.55% 3.52%
1981 0.66% 3.46%
1980 0.53% 3.09%
1979 0.63% 2.74%
1978 0.9% 2.77%
1977 0.95% 2.74%
1976 1.21% 2.74%
1975 1.26% 2.81%
1974 0.93% 2.86%
1973 0.86% 2.9%
1972 0.96% 2.91%
1971 1.04% 2.97%
1970 1.21% 3.08%
1969 1.06% 3.14%
1968 1.36% 3.17%
1967 1.66% 3.17%
1966 0.97% 3.15%
1965 0.59% 3.12%
1964 0.65% 3.1%
1963 0.65% 3.08%
1962 0.65% 3.02%
1961 0.81% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Romania declined by 0.05%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Romania South Africa
Current population
18839108
65683993
Population rank 70/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.23% 0.79%
One net population change
56.8 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
3.45 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.17 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -25 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -9,258 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.05% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 85/197
One migration net change every
18.1 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -29,041 +146,370
Net migration rank 163/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 655,579 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 73/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.4% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 112/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Romania
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Romania South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,041 - 146,370
2024 - -28,466 - 166,972
2023 -89,587 -27,780 602,793 228,222
2022 -93,338 89,076 603,636 233,284
2021 -141,504 -17,731 456,411 458,246
2020 -100,179 -13,202 595,873 369,901
2019 -60,053 -27,909 652,130 331,124
2018 -62,316 -33,018 648,319 318,260
2017 -50,930 -33,081 645,975 343,146
2016 -53,196 -33,073 641,365 -879,235
2015 -59,447 -35,751 668,771 641,150
2014 -55,745 -35,448 674,754 272,697
2013 -59,951 -34,910 652,427 232,230
2012 -54,157 -37,589 643,723 264,091
2011 -56,413 -102,769 601,708 65,166
2010 -46,567 -122,364 566,834 68,563
2009 -34,625 -137,953 554,115 41,528
2008 -30,806 -144,368 595,332 36,869
2007 -37,590 -133,089 503,567 36,339
2006 -38,148 -132,777 487,584 33,159
2005 -40,508 -131,176 464,464 31,286
2004 -42,904 -117,432 442,540 58,924
2003 -56,093 -107,139 415,018 65,604
2002 -58,673 -106,585 430,926 50,313
2001 -37,625 -91,154 484,801 -60,793
2000 -22,443 -92,451 526,963 -136,794
1999 -31,461 -82,590 594,643 -126,011
1998 -33,761 -81,366 627,027 -82,722
1997 -42,853 -88,734 667,969 -98,181
1996 -56,548 -70,799 710,868 -193,007
1995 -36,295 -73,779 743,488 -98,403
1994 -18,184 -76,246 698,609 -268,849
1993 -13,658 -73,475 789,220 194,977
1992 -4,559 -63,200 794,415 -71,342
1991 25,301 -36,824 827,296 -39,131
1990 69,605 -38,157 835,421 259,718
1989 122,756 -33,866 884,629 255,605
1988 126,817 -48,911 909,221 246,382
1987 128,517 -42,868 922,330 231,009
1986 134,737 -50,450 903,644 234,378
1985 111,392 -28,108 893,889 244,940
1984 117,731 -24,629 869,011 290,789
1983 87,986 3,093 837,013 310,172
1982 119,121 -4,725 807,550 293,195
1981 156,472 -20,870 767,833 279,985
1980 168,776 -16,668 738,415 258,127
1979 194,397 -29,600 716,541 56,323
1978 204,148 -31,427 694,341 62,121
1977 215,385 -28,135 680,929 63,739
1976 213,361 18,748 675,011 27,333
1975 219,324 9,125 667,862 38,809
1974 235,530 6,725 658,438 38,518
1973 175,020 58,651 651,596 41,125
1972 198,316 61,920 638,754 38,163
1971 206,662 74,473 624,761 32,961
1970 234,905 71,919 605,102 61,514
1969 264,120 74,851 590,794 73,225
1968 338,577 33,601 571,841 78,932
1967 347,709 37,282 553,741 81,932
1966 115,293 -25,458 534,862 77,417
1965 114,190 -60,430 506,632 82,514
1964 134,326 -59,500 490,606 76,298
1963 139,104 -58,076 473,821 72,844
1962 130,736 -56,152 455,634 69,771
1961 163,286 -54,642 437,851 57,728
1960 191,431 -55,397 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/romania/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 655,579 residents or 3.4% of the population were not native-born in Romania, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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