Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Romania was 19,020,271 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Romania's population is 18,912,567 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 3.48 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 -0.41% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Romania has decreased from 21.2M people to 18.9M (10.8% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Romania vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Romania
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Romania South Africa
2100 10,843,503 94,734,082
2099 10,927,951 94,523,360
2098 11,011,822 94,316,049
2097 11,095,182 94,125,043
2096 11,178,195 93,927,246
2095 11,261,202 93,719,451
2094 11,343,358 93,494,697
2093 11,426,736 93,267,274
2092 11,509,522 93,041,793
2091 11,591,897 92,793,249
2090 11,675,686 92,561,159
2089 11,759,143 92,322,396
2088 11,842,733 92,080,212
2087 11,926,699 91,833,409
2086 12,013,212 91,581,639
2085 12,099,742 91,352,906
2084 12,187,794 91,106,961
2083 12,277,402 90,845,161
2082 12,367,518 90,583,188
2081 12,460,785 90,313,417
2080 12,556,104 90,039,857
2079 12,652,446 89,770,116
2078 12,750,395 89,494,440
2077 12,849,896 89,217,520
2076 12,950,914 88,954,522
2075 13,053,551 88,681,719
2074 13,158,624 88,397,221
2073 13,264,931 88,118,589
2072 13,375,162 87,835,051
2071 13,488,051 87,509,098
2070 13,603,287 87,178,463
2069 13,721,187 86,870,660
2068 13,840,530 86,558,000
2067 13,963,377 86,237,764
2066 14,088,938 85,904,801
2065 14,218,608 85,573,984
2064 14,349,029 85,214,686
2063 14,480,312 84,845,370
2062 14,613,788 84,473,236
2061 14,747,178 84,103,016
2060 14,879,235 83,719,266
2059 15,011,161 83,325,330
2058 15,141,670 82,918,226
2057 15,271,230 82,508,742
2056 15,400,030 82,098,320
2055 15,527,331 81,669,191
2054 15,651,338 81,227,019
2053 15,773,422 80,789,939
2052 15,896,118 80,338,877
2051 16,016,719 79,858,310
2050 16,135,745 79,383,784
2049 16,255,638 78,897,472
2048 16,375,139 78,409,829
2047 16,494,633 77,894,547
2046 16,612,186 77,369,819
2045 16,730,009 76,852,544
2044 16,848,827 76,330,046
2043 16,966,857 75,800,788
2042 17,084,359 75,264,885
2041 17,203,640 74,721,871
2040 17,320,952 74,179,185
2039 17,438,042 73,636,894
2038 17,556,386 73,079,976
2037 17,673,500 72,506,991
2036 17,790,613 71,930,701
2035 17,906,949 71,337,219
2034 18,020,973 70,737,692
2033 18,134,889 70,128,299
2032 18,247,275 69,502,726
2031 18,359,750 68,865,544
2030 18,471,446 68,221,143
2029 18,583,513 67,549,189
2028 18,693,807 66,860,631
2027 18,803,518 66,166,759
2026 18,912,567 65,473,024
2025 19,020,271 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 789,700 people (a 4.01% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% 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 16,135,745 people with a rank change from 70th to 81st. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M 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 -0.17% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/romania/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Romania declined by 0.17%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Romania South Africa
Current population
18912567
65829368
Population rank 70/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.23% 0.79%
One net population change
16.7 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
3.68 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.16 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -86 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -31,533 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 172/197 91/197
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 -100,975 -28,466 591,618 166,972
2023 -83,869 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/romania/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 83.4% of the population change in Romania is from natural causes (a loss of 805,807 people) and 16.6% is from migration (a loss of 160,935 people). In South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 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
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/romania/south-africa | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.