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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Romania was 19,051,804 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Romania's population is 18,839,108 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 2.74 times bigger than Romania's.
  • Romania is ranked the 70th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.85% of the world: 0.23% for Romania vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Romania has had an average growth rate of -0.43% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Romania has decreased from 21.2M people to 18.8M (11.1% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Romania vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Romania
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Romania South Korea
2100 10,801,385 22,012,503
2099 10,885,505 22,335,528
2098 10,969,050 22,668,719
2097 11,052,086 23,009,661
2096 11,134,776 23,360,151
2095 11,217,462 23,722,747
2094 11,299,298 24,093,391
2093 11,382,352 24,473,038
2092 11,464,817 24,860,975
2091 11,546,872 25,255,379
2090 11,630,335 25,655,577
2089 11,713,468 26,060,945
2088 11,796,733 26,470,073
2087 11,880,373 26,884,813
2086 11,966,550 27,301,913
2085 12,052,744 27,723,736
2084 12,140,454 28,147,480
2083 12,229,714 28,578,182
2082 12,319,480 29,012,953
2081 12,412,385 29,456,022
2080 12,507,333 29,901,880
2079 12,603,302 30,352,062
2078 12,700,870 30,809,176
2077 12,799,985 31,273,700
2076 12,900,610 31,744,480
2075 13,002,848 32,221,226
2074 13,107,513 32,706,020
2073 13,213,407 33,196,556
2072 13,323,211 33,696,490
2071 13,435,661 34,203,935
2070 13,550,449 34,719,324
2069 13,667,892 35,241,850
2068 13,786,771 35,762,799
2067 13,909,141 36,292,307
2066 14,034,214 36,826,655
2065 14,163,381 37,368,086
2064 14,293,294 37,916,439
2063 14,424,068 38,469,051
2062 14,557,025 39,028,473
2061 14,689,897 39,584,621
2060 14,821,441 40,149,830
2059 14,952,855 40,712,514
2058 15,082,857 41,277,134
2057 15,211,914 41,833,887
2056 15,340,213 42,377,427
2055 15,467,019 42,909,302
2054 15,590,545 43,427,254
2053 15,712,155 43,938,741
2052 15,834,374 44,441,106
2051 15,954,507 44,923,604
2050 16,073,070 45,385,311
2049 16,192,498 45,832,153
2048 16,311,535 46,258,529
2047 16,430,565 46,668,898
2046 16,547,661 47,056,404
2045 16,665,026 47,433,205
2044 16,783,383 47,797,411
2043 16,900,955 48,144,730
2042 17,018,000 48,478,991
2041 17,136,818 48,806,273
2040 17,253,674 49,115,658
2039 17,370,310 49,412,830
2038 17,488,193 49,694,340
2037 17,604,853 49,957,504
2036 17,721,511 50,200,702
2035 17,837,396 50,426,000
2034 17,950,976 50,632,962
2033 18,064,449 50,821,090
2032 18,176,399 50,987,020
2031 18,288,437 51,134,940
2030 18,399,699 51,267,908
2029 18,511,331 51,385,868
2028 18,621,197 51,486,791
2027 18,730,482 51,576,746
2026 18,839,108 51,649,918
2025 18,946,392 51,710,062
2024 19,051,804 51,751,065
2023 19,061,062 51,712,619
2022 19,048,502 51,672,569
2021 19,122,059 51,769,539
2020 19,265,250 51,836,239
2019 19,371,648 51,764,822
2018 19,473,970 51,585,058
2017 19,588,715 51,361,911
2016 19,702,267 51,217,803
2015 19,815,616 51,014,947
2014 19,908,979 50,746,659
2013 19,983,693 50,428,893
2012 20,058,035 50,199,853
2011 20,147,528 49,936,638
2010 20,246,871 49,554,112
2009 20,367,487 49,307,835
2008 20,537,875 49,054,708
2007 20,882,982 48,683,638
2006 21,193,760 48,438,292
2005 21,319,685 48,184,561
2004 21,451,748 48,082,519
2003 21,574,326 47,892,330
2002 21,730,496 47,644,736
2001 22,131,970 47,370,164
2000 22,442,971 47,008,111
1999 22,472,040 46,616,677
1998 22,507,344 46,286,503
1997 22,553,978 45,953,580
1996 22,619,004 45,524,681
1995 22,684,270 45,092,991
1994 22,730,211 44,641,540
1993 22,763,280 44,194,628
1992 22,794,284 43,747,962
1991 23,001,155 43,295,704
1990 23,201,835 42,869,283
1989 23,161,458 42,449,038
1988 23,057,662 42,031,247
1987 22,949,430 41,621,690
1986 22,836,841 41,213,674
1985 22,732,999 40,805,744
1984 22,640,547 40,405,956
1983 22,560,478 39,910,403
1982 22,475,741 39,326,352
1981 22,353,070 38,723,248
1980 22,207,282 38,123,775
1979 22,090,488 37,534,236
1978 21,951,464 36,969,185
1977 21,756,096 36,411,795
1976 21,551,634 35,848,523
1975 21,293,583 35,280,725
1974 21,029,429 34,692,266
1973 20,835,681 34,103,149
1972 20,657,957 33,505,406
1971 20,461,567 32,882,704
1970 20,250,398 32,240,827
1969 20,009,141 31,544,266
1968 19,799,831 30,838,302
1967 19,534,242 30,130,983
1966 19,215,450 29,435,571
1965 19,031,576 28,704,674
1964 18,919,126 27,984,155
1963 18,797,850 27,261,747
1962 18,676,550 26,513,030
1961 18,555,250 25,765,673
1960 18,406,905 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Romania decreased by 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Romania lost 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Romania was ranked 51st most populous country in 2006 and is 70th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.5% of the population in Romania and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Romania
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Romania South Korea
2100 -0.77% -1.45%
2099 -0.76% -1.47%
2098 -0.75% -1.48%
2097 -0.74% -1.5%
2096 -0.74% -1.53%
2095 -0.72% -1.54%
2094 -0.73% -1.55%
2093 -0.72% -1.56%
2092 -0.71% -1.56%
2091 -0.72% -1.56%
2090 -0.71% -1.56%
2089 -0.71% -1.55%
2088 -0.7% -1.54%
2087 -0.72% -1.53%
2086 -0.72% -1.52%
2085 -0.72% -1.51%
2084 -0.73% -1.51%
2083 -0.73% -1.5%
2082 -0.75% -1.5%
2081 -0.76% -1.49%
2080 -0.76% -1.48%
2079 -0.77% -1.48%
2078 -0.77% -1.49%
2077 -0.78% -1.48%
2076 -0.79% -1.48%
2075 -0.8% -1.48%
2074 -0.8% -1.48%
2073 -0.82% -1.48%
2072 -0.84% -1.48%
2071 -0.85% -1.48%
2070 -0.86% -1.48%
2069 -0.86% -1.46%
2068 -0.88% -1.46%
2067 -0.89% -1.45%
2066 -0.91% -1.45%
2065 -0.91% -1.45%
2064 -0.91% -1.44%
2063 -0.91% -1.43%
2062 -0.9% -1.4%
2061 -0.89% -1.41%
2060 -0.88% -1.38%
2059 -0.86% -1.37%
2058 -0.85% -1.33%
2057 -0.84% -1.28%
2056 -0.82% -1.24%
2055 -0.79% -1.19%
2054 -0.77% -1.16%
2053 -0.77% -1.13%
2052 -0.75% -1.07%
2051 -0.74% -1.02%
2050 -0.74% -0.97%
2049 -0.73% -0.92%
2048 -0.72% -0.88%
2047 -0.71% -0.82%
2046 -0.7% -0.79%
2045 -0.71% -0.76%
2044 -0.7% -0.72%
2043 -0.69% -0.69%
2042 -0.69% -0.67%
2041 -0.68% -0.63%
2040 -0.67% -0.6%
2039 -0.67% -0.57%
2038 -0.66% -0.53%
2037 -0.66% -0.48%
2036 -0.65% -0.45%
2035 -0.63% -0.41%
2034 -0.63% -0.37%
2033 -0.62% -0.33%
2032 -0.61% -0.29%
2031 -0.6% -0.26%
2030 -0.6% -0.23%
2029 -0.59% -0.2%
2028 -0.58% -0.17%
2027 -0.58% -0.14%
2026 -0.57% -0.12%
2025 -0.55% -0.08%
2024 -0.05% 0.07%
2023 0.07% 0.08%
2022 -0.38% -0.19%
2021 -0.74% -0.13%
2020 -0.55% 0.14%
2019 -0.53% 0.35%
2018 -0.59% 0.43%
2017 -0.58% 0.28%
2016 -0.57% 0.4%
2015 -0.47% 0.53%
2014 -0.37% 0.63%
2013 -0.37% 0.46%
2012 -0.44% 0.53%
2011 -0.49% 0.77%
2010 -0.59% 0.5%
2009 -0.83% 0.52%
2008 -1.65% 0.76%
2007 -1.47% 0.51%
2006 -0.59% 0.53%
2005 -0.62% 0.21%
2004 -0.57% 0.4%
2003 -0.72% 0.52%
2002 -1.81% 0.58%
2001 -1.39% 0.77%
2000 -0.13% 0.84%
1999 -0.16% 0.71%
1998 -0.21% 0.72%
1997 -0.29% 0.94%
1996 -0.29% 0.96%
1995 -0.2% 1.01%
1994 -0.15% 1.01%
1993 -0.14% 1.02%
1992 -0.9% 1.04%
1991 -0.86% 0.99%
1990 0.17% 0.99%
1989 0.45% 0.99%
1988 0.47% 0.98%
1987 0.49% 0.99%
1986 0.46% 1%
1985 0.41% 0.99%
1984 0.35% 1.24%
1983 0.38% 1.49%
1982 0.55% 1.56%
1981 0.66% 1.57%
1980 0.53% 1.57%
1979 0.63% 1.53%
1978 0.9% 1.53%
1977 0.95% 1.57%
1976 1.21% 1.61%
1975 1.26% 1.7%
1974 0.93% 1.73%
1973 0.86% 1.78%
1972 0.96% 1.89%
1971 1.04% 1.99%
1970 1.21% 2.21%
1969 1.06% 2.29%
1968 1.36% 2.35%
1967 1.66% 2.36%
1966 0.97% 2.55%
1965 0.59% 2.57%
1964 0.65% 2.65%
1963 0.65% 2.82%
1962 0.65% 2.9%
1961 0.81% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Romania declined by 0.05%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Romania South Korea
Current population
18839108
51649918
Population rank 70/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.23% 0.62%
One net population change
56.8 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
3.45 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
2.17 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline -25 +105
Annual growth/decline -9,258 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate -0.05% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 160/197
One migration net change every
18.1 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -29,041 +65,731
Net migration rank 163/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 655,579 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 73/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.4% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 112/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Romania
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Romania South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,041 - 65,731
2024 - -28,466 - 75,963
2023 -89,587 -27,780 -77,569 87,800
2022 -93,338 89,076 -124,014 87,800
2021 -141,504 -17,731 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -100,179 -13,202 -31,101 112,631
2019 -60,053 -27,909 10,353 128,622
2018 -62,316 -33,018 30,951 118,220
2017 -50,930 -33,081 71,907 104,029
2016 -53,196 -33,073 122,923 91,568
2015 -59,447 -35,751 163,248 276,427
2014 -55,745 -35,448 167,464 308,037
2013 -59,951 -34,910 166,415 301,926
2012 -54,157 -37,589 215,859 281,866
2011 -56,413 -102,769 214,728 269,958
2010 -46,567 -122,364 213,083 52,042
2009 -34,625 -137,953 197,231 5,308
2008 -30,806 -144,368 215,841 -19,630
2007 -37,590 -133,089 248,286 -42,293
2006 -38,148 -132,777 203,441 -28,434
2005 -40,508 -131,176 187,920 -47,821
2004 -42,904 -117,432 225,988 -42,549
2003 -56,093 -107,139 244,251 -31,994
2002 -58,673 -106,585 247,752 -18,105
2001 -37,625 -91,154 312,643 -28,006
2000 -22,443 -92,451 390,167 -84,960
1999 -31,461 -82,590 368,272 -107,448
1998 -33,761 -81,366 393,436 -98,044
1997 -42,853 -88,734 422,773 -109,130
1996 -56,548 -70,799 446,142 -115,705
1995 -36,295 -73,779 468,967 -208,491
1994 -18,184 -76,246 473,200 -208,309
1993 -13,658 -73,475 477,302 -222,802
1992 -4,559 -63,200 494,352 -265,849
1991 25,301 -36,824 467,594 -270,754
1990 69,605 -38,157 411,546 79,294
1989 122,756 -33,866 403,266 186,120
1988 126,817 -48,911 399,297 192,534
1987 128,517 -42,868 378,758 198,057
1986 134,737 -50,450 395,651 189,782
1985 111,392 -28,108 416,219 97,949
1984 117,731 -24,629 436,384 101,394
1983 87,986 3,093 514,844 102,167
1982 119,121 -4,725 605,626 48,638
1981 156,472 -20,870 631,189 18,442
1980 168,776 -16,668 583,294 -148,341
1979 194,397 -29,600 623,068 -139,566
1978 204,148 -31,427 499,084 -85,721
1977 215,385 -28,135 578,947 -90,737
1976 213,361 18,748 530,558 -92,314
1975 219,324 9,125 603,300 -52,332
1974 235,530 6,725 673,030 27,005
1973 175,020 58,651 699,115 35,779
1972 198,316 61,920 740,469 25,382
1971 206,662 74,473 789,185 -6,326
1970 234,905 71,919 747,987 -27,999
1969 264,120 74,851 694,227 -21,175
1968 338,577 33,601 684,487 -16,868
1967 347,709 37,282 692,169 -16,484
1966 115,293 -25,458 623,534 -16,688
1965 114,190 -60,430 641,090 -146,386
1964 134,326 -59,500 655,501 -102,284
1963 139,104 -58,076 685,824 -80,226
1962 130,736 -56,152 712,590 -94,606
1961 163,286 -54,642 730,173 -93,179
1960 191,431 -55,397 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/romania/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 655,579 residents or 3.4% of the population were not native-born in Romania, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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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