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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Romania was 19,051,804 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Romania's population is 18,839,108 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 2.59 times bigger than Romania's.
  • Romania is ranked the 70th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.82% of the world: 0.23% for Romania vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Romania has had an average growth rate of -0.43% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Romania has decreased from 21.2M people to 18.8M (11.1% decline), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Romania vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Romania
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Romania Spain
2100 10,801,385 33,862,981
2099 10,885,505 34,039,965
2098 10,969,050 34,215,187
2097 11,052,086 34,387,116
2096 11,134,776 34,552,002
2095 11,217,462 34,719,411
2094 11,299,298 34,882,039
2093 11,382,352 35,044,043
2092 11,464,817 35,204,657
2091 11,546,872 35,366,895
2090 11,630,335 35,535,838
2089 11,713,468 35,707,942
2088 11,796,733 35,877,681
2087 11,880,373 36,043,209
2086 11,966,550 36,210,710
2085 12,052,744 36,386,207
2084 12,140,454 36,564,622
2083 12,229,714 36,749,680
2082 12,319,480 36,936,644
2081 12,412,385 37,133,976
2080 12,507,333 37,337,517
2079 12,603,302 37,551,557
2078 12,700,870 37,771,135
2077 12,799,985 38,002,963
2076 12,900,610 38,249,247
2075 13,002,848 38,506,040
2074 13,107,513 38,777,715
2073 13,213,407 39,056,249
2072 13,323,211 39,348,447
2071 13,435,661 39,642,346
2070 13,550,449 39,949,413
2069 13,667,892 40,256,590
2068 13,786,771 40,575,543
2067 13,909,141 40,893,798
2066 14,034,214 41,218,263
2065 14,163,381 41,543,254
2064 14,293,294 41,878,338
2063 14,424,068 42,208,320
2062 14,557,025 42,542,893
2061 14,689,897 42,874,096
2060 14,821,441 43,191,452
2059 14,952,855 43,506,737
2058 15,082,857 43,809,907
2057 15,211,914 44,112,668
2056 15,340,213 44,415,689
2055 15,467,019 44,691,749
2054 15,590,545 44,958,971
2053 15,712,155 45,223,225
2052 15,834,374 45,470,541
2051 15,954,507 45,695,307
2050 16,073,070 45,911,520
2049 16,192,498 46,127,777
2048 16,311,535 46,322,244
2047 16,430,565 46,510,152
2046 16,547,661 46,687,914
2045 16,665,026 46,858,778
2044 16,783,383 47,016,278
2043 16,900,955 47,158,325
2042 17,018,000 47,301,091
2041 17,136,818 47,434,593
2040 17,253,674 47,563,236
2039 17,370,310 47,685,343
2038 17,488,193 47,798,797
2037 17,604,853 47,910,899
2036 17,721,511 48,020,350
2035 17,837,396 48,124,430
2034 17,950,976 48,220,051
2033 18,064,449 48,311,842
2032 18,176,399 48,402,470
2031 18,288,437 48,495,278
2030 18,399,699 48,579,920
2029 18,511,331 48,648,699
2028 18,621,197 48,707,969
2027 18,730,482 48,758,200
2026 18,839,108 48,806,901
2025 18,946,392 48,838,057
2024 19,051,804 48,848,840
2023 19,061,062 48,352,528
2022 19,048,502 47,786,102
2021 19,122,059 47,443,821
2020 19,265,250 47,359,424
2019 19,371,648 47,118,501
2018 19,473,970 46,782,011
2017 19,588,715 46,571,232
2016 19,702,267 46,458,139
2015 19,815,616 46,422,303
2014 19,908,979 46,460,733
2013 19,983,693 46,604,197
2012 20,058,035 46,773,055
2011 20,147,528 46,742,697
2010 20,246,871 46,576,897
2009 20,367,487 46,362,946
2008 20,537,875 45,954,106
2007 20,882,982 45,226,803
2006 21,193,760 44,397,319
2005 21,319,685 43,653,155
2004 21,451,748 42,921,895
2003 21,574,326 42,187,645
2002 21,730,496 41,431,558
2001 22,131,970 40,850,412
2000 22,442,971 40,567,864
1999 22,472,040 40,386,875
1998 22,507,344 40,223,509
1997 22,553,978 40,057,389
1996 22,619,004 39,889,852
1995 22,684,270 39,724,050
1994 22,730,211 39,549,108
1993 22,763,280 39,361,262
1992 22,794,284 39,157,685
1991 23,001,155 38,966,376
1990 23,201,835 38,867,322
1989 23,161,458 38,827,764
1988 23,057,662 38,766,939
1987 22,949,430 38,684,815
1986 22,836,841 38,584,624
1985 22,732,999 38,469,512
1984 22,640,547 38,330,364
1983 22,560,478 38,171,525
1982 22,475,741 37,986,012
1981 22,353,070 37,758,631
1980 22,207,282 37,491,165
1979 22,090,488 37,191,330
1978 21,951,464 36,864,898
1977 21,756,096 36,511,638
1976 21,551,634 36,137,812
1975 21,293,583 35,757,900
1974 21,029,429 35,373,335
1973 20,835,681 34,988,947
1972 20,657,957 34,604,469
1971 20,461,567 34,224,490
1970 20,250,398 33,814,531
1969 20,009,141 33,441,054
1968 19,799,831 33,113,134
1967 19,534,242 32,682,947
1966 19,215,450 32,283,194
1965 19,031,576 31,954,292
1964 18,919,126 31,609,195
1963 18,797,850 31,296,651
1962 18,676,550 31,023,366
1961 18,555,250 30,739,250
1960 18,406,905 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Romania decreased by 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Romania lost 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Romania was ranked 51st most populous country in 2006 and is 70th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.5% of the population in Romania and 21.6% in Spain.

Population growth rate by year

Romania
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Romania Spain
2100 -0.77% -0.52%
2099 -0.76% -0.51%
2098 -0.75% -0.5%
2097 -0.74% -0.48%
2096 -0.74% -0.48%
2095 -0.72% -0.47%
2094 -0.73% -0.46%
2093 -0.72% -0.46%
2092 -0.71% -0.46%
2091 -0.72% -0.48%
2090 -0.71% -0.48%
2089 -0.71% -0.47%
2088 -0.7% -0.46%
2087 -0.72% -0.46%
2086 -0.72% -0.48%
2085 -0.72% -0.49%
2084 -0.73% -0.5%
2083 -0.73% -0.51%
2082 -0.75% -0.53%
2081 -0.76% -0.55%
2080 -0.76% -0.57%
2079 -0.77% -0.58%
2078 -0.77% -0.61%
2077 -0.78% -0.64%
2076 -0.79% -0.67%
2075 -0.8% -0.7%
2074 -0.8% -0.71%
2073 -0.82% -0.74%
2072 -0.84% -0.74%
2071 -0.85% -0.77%
2070 -0.86% -0.76%
2069 -0.86% -0.79%
2068 -0.88% -0.78%
2067 -0.89% -0.79%
2066 -0.91% -0.78%
2065 -0.91% -0.8%
2064 -0.91% -0.78%
2063 -0.91% -0.79%
2062 -0.9% -0.77%
2061 -0.89% -0.73%
2060 -0.88% -0.72%
2059 -0.86% -0.69%
2058 -0.85% -0.69%
2057 -0.84% -0.68%
2056 -0.82% -0.62%
2055 -0.79% -0.59%
2054 -0.77% -0.58%
2053 -0.77% -0.54%
2052 -0.75% -0.49%
2051 -0.74% -0.47%
2050 -0.74% -0.47%
2049 -0.73% -0.42%
2048 -0.72% -0.4%
2047 -0.71% -0.38%
2046 -0.7% -0.36%
2045 -0.71% -0.33%
2044 -0.7% -0.3%
2043 -0.69% -0.3%
2042 -0.69% -0.28%
2041 -0.68% -0.27%
2040 -0.67% -0.26%
2039 -0.67% -0.24%
2038 -0.66% -0.23%
2037 -0.66% -0.23%
2036 -0.65% -0.22%
2035 -0.63% -0.2%
2034 -0.63% -0.19%
2033 -0.62% -0.19%
2032 -0.61% -0.19%
2031 -0.6% -0.17%
2030 -0.6% -0.14%
2029 -0.59% -0.12%
2028 -0.58% -0.1%
2027 -0.58% -0.1%
2026 -0.57% -0.06%
2025 -0.55% -0.02%
2024 -0.05% 1.03%
2023 0.07% 1.19%
2022 -0.38% 0.72%
2021 -0.74% 0.18%
2020 -0.55% 0.51%
2019 -0.53% 0.72%
2018 -0.59% 0.45%
2017 -0.58% 0.24%
2016 -0.57% 0.08%
2015 -0.47% -0.08%
2014 -0.37% -0.31%
2013 -0.37% -0.36%
2012 -0.44% 0.06%
2011 -0.49% 0.36%
2010 -0.59% 0.46%
2009 -0.83% 0.89%
2008 -1.65% 1.61%
2007 -1.47% 1.87%
2006 -0.59% 1.7%
2005 -0.62% 1.7%
2004 -0.57% 1.74%
2003 -0.72% 1.82%
2002 -1.81% 1.42%
2001 -1.39% 0.7%
2000 -0.13% 0.45%
1999 -0.16% 0.41%
1998 -0.21% 0.41%
1997 -0.29% 0.42%
1996 -0.29% 0.42%
1995 -0.2% 0.44%
1994 -0.15% 0.48%
1993 -0.14% 0.52%
1992 -0.9% 0.49%
1991 -0.86% 0.25%
1990 0.17% 0.1%
1989 0.45% 0.16%
1988 0.47% 0.21%
1987 0.49% 0.26%
1986 0.46% 0.3%
1985 0.41% 0.36%
1984 0.35% 0.42%
1983 0.38% 0.49%
1982 0.55% 0.6%
1981 0.66% 0.71%
1980 0.53% 0.81%
1979 0.63% 0.89%
1978 0.9% 0.97%
1977 0.95% 1.03%
1976 1.21% 1.06%
1975 1.26% 1.09%
1974 0.93% 1.1%
1973 0.86% 1.11%
1972 0.96% 1.11%
1971 1.04% 1.21%
1970 1.21% 1.12%
1969 1.06% 0.99%
1968 1.36% 1.32%
1967 1.66% 1.24%
1966 0.97% 1.03%
1965 0.59% 1.09%
1964 0.65% 1%
1963 0.65% 0.88%
1962 0.65% 0.92%
1961 0.81% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Romania declined by 0.05%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Romania Spain
Current population
18839108
48806901
Population rank 70/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.23% 0.59%
One net population change
56.8 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
3.45 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
2.17 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -25 +1,360
Annual growth/decline -9,258 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate -0.05% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 100/197
One migration net change every
18.1 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -29,041 +96,630
Net migration rank 163/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 655,579 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 73/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.4% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 112/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Romania
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Romania Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,041 - 96,630
2024 - -28,466 - 111,674
2023 -89,587 -27,780 -111,211 119,099
2022 -93,338 89,076 -133,801 299,779
2021 -141,504 -17,731 -113,865 144,385
2020 -100,179 -13,202 -151,551 236,854
2019 -60,053 -27,909 -56,542 464,783
2018 -62,316 -33,018 -56,139 337,467
2017 -50,930 -33,081 -32,600 201,135
2016 -53,196 -33,073 0 106,474
2015 -59,447 -35,751 -4,642 -1,979
2014 -55,745 -35,448 32,522 -97,870
2013 -59,951 -34,910 37,284 -250,741
2012 -54,157 -37,589 51,450 -153,486
2011 -56,413 -102,769 84,137 60,761
2010 -46,567 -122,364 102,469 69,406
2009 -34,625 -137,953 106,635 129,557
2008 -30,806 -144,368 133,267 434,135
2007 -37,590 -133,089 108,545 772,317
2006 -38,148 -132,777 110,994 659,720
2005 -40,508 -131,176 78,576 629,803
2004 -42,904 -117,432 85,844 661,158
2003 -56,093 -107,139 54,844 658,428
2002 -58,673 -106,585 53,861 737,880
2001 -37,625 -91,154 44,936 181,307
2000 -22,443 -92,451 36,512 176,269
1999 -31,461 -82,590 8,077 178,559
1998 -33,761 -81,366 4,022 182,926
1997 -42,853 -88,734 20,028 165,345
1996 -56,548 -70,799 11,967 162,704
1995 -36,295 -73,779 15,889 162,434
1994 -18,184 -76,246 31,639 160,407
1993 -13,658 -73,475 47,234 160,907
1992 -4,559 -63,200 62,652 177,544
1991 25,301 -36,824 58,450 122,841
1990 69,605 -38,157 66,075 -30,684
1989 122,756 -33,866 81,538 -25,892
1988 126,817 -48,911 100,794 -17,663
1987 128,517 -42,868 116,054 -12,681
1986 134,737 -50,450 131,188 -13,540
1985 111,392 -28,108 146,184 -589
1984 117,731 -24,629 172,487 2,754
1983 87,986 3,093 183,223 1,241
1982 119,121 -4,725 231,714 -7,384
1981 156,472 -20,870 237,879 2,563
1980 168,776 -16,668 281,184 20,166
1979 194,397 -29,600 312,407 -5,929
1978 204,148 -31,427 339,157 -2,504
1977 215,385 -28,135 361,465 -1,332
1976 213,361 18,748 375,834 2,804
1975 219,324 9,125 371,882 -218
1974 235,530 6,725 396,182 105,838
1973 175,020 58,651 374,381 8,624
1972 198,316 61,920 391,030 7,935
1971 206,662 74,473 369,625 7,363
1970 234,905 71,919 378,723 -60,580
1969 264,120 74,851 367,851 -49,956
1968 338,577 33,601 387,423 -46,088
1967 347,709 37,282 402,001 -42,344
1966 115,293 -25,458 397,084 -41,467
1965 114,190 -60,430 405,819 -42,476
1964 134,326 -59,500 429,885 -41,461
1963 139,104 -58,076 394,338 -44,446
1962 130,736 -56,152 384,690 -45,211
1961 163,286 -54,642 396,537 -46,517
1960 191,431 -55,397 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/romania/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 655,579 residents or 3.4% of the population were not native-born in Romania, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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