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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Romania was 19,051,804 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Romania's population is 18,839,108 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.2 times bigger than Romania's.
  • Romania is ranked the 70th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.23% for Romania vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Romania has had an average growth rate of -0.43% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Romania has decreased from 21.2M people to 18.8M (11.1% decline), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Romania vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Romania
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Romania Zambia
2100 10,801,385 65,217,429
2099 10,885,505 64,871,545
2098 10,969,050 64,515,891
2097 11,052,086 64,148,736
2096 11,134,776 63,777,313
2095 11,217,462 63,393,169
2094 11,299,298 62,992,652
2093 11,382,352 62,590,327
2092 11,464,817 62,175,930
2091 11,546,872 61,750,591
2090 11,630,335 61,321,399
2089 11,713,468 60,880,148
2088 11,796,733 60,434,676
2087 11,880,373 59,970,107
2086 11,966,550 59,499,234
2085 12,052,744 59,023,040
2084 12,140,454 58,535,857
2083 12,229,714 58,040,512
2082 12,319,480 57,538,672
2081 12,412,385 57,027,491
2080 12,507,333 56,506,421
2079 12,603,302 55,983,242
2078 12,700,870 55,449,777
2077 12,799,985 54,906,771
2076 12,900,610 54,361,075
2075 13,002,848 53,806,856
2074 13,107,513 53,246,777
2073 13,213,407 52,677,348
2072 13,323,211 52,101,139
2071 13,435,661 51,519,691
2070 13,550,449 50,931,614
2069 13,667,892 50,334,700
2068 13,786,771 49,737,479
2067 13,909,141 49,135,488
2066 14,034,214 48,530,443
2065 14,163,381 47,918,592
2064 14,293,294 47,299,740
2063 14,424,068 46,677,439
2062 14,557,025 46,048,819
2061 14,689,897 45,416,657
2060 14,821,441 44,777,347
2059 14,952,855 44,137,306
2058 15,082,857 43,494,451
2057 15,211,914 42,851,923
2056 15,340,213 42,206,898
2055 15,467,019 41,558,284
2054 15,590,545 40,906,492
2053 15,712,155 40,255,629
2052 15,834,374 39,603,888
2051 15,954,507 38,949,958
2050 16,073,070 38,294,607
2049 16,192,498 37,634,194
2048 16,311,535 36,971,309
2047 16,430,565 36,309,749
2046 16,547,661 35,645,868
2045 16,665,026 34,981,812
2044 16,783,383 34,316,981
2043 16,900,955 33,652,420
2042 17,018,000 32,990,657
2041 17,136,818 32,329,447
2040 17,253,674 31,664,262
2039 17,370,310 31,001,305
2038 17,488,193 30,335,662
2037 17,604,853 29,668,561
2036 17,721,511 29,000,264
2035 17,837,396 28,333,498
2034 17,950,976 27,671,195
2033 18,064,449 27,011,974
2032 18,176,399 26,356,580
2031 18,288,437 25,702,812
2030 18,399,699 25,055,216
2029 18,511,331 24,414,405
2028 18,621,197 23,780,809
2027 18,730,482 23,151,479
2026 18,839,108 22,529,742
2025 18,946,392 21,918,187
2024 19,051,804 21,314,956
2023 19,061,062 20,723,965
2022 19,048,502 20,152,938
2021 19,122,059 19,603,607
2020 19,265,250 19,059,395
2019 19,371,648 18,513,839
2018 19,473,970 17,973,569
2017 19,588,715 17,441,320
2016 19,702,267 16,914,423
2015 19,815,616 16,399,089
2014 19,908,979 15,895,315
2013 19,983,693 15,398,997
2012 20,058,035 14,913,629
2011 20,147,528 14,437,796
2010 20,246,871 13,965,594
2009 20,367,487 13,490,389
2008 20,537,875 13,021,324
2007 20,882,982 12,565,085
2006 21,193,760 12,129,553
2005 21,319,685 11,718,819
2004 21,451,748 11,338,198
2003 21,574,326 10,983,595
2002 21,730,496 10,647,949
2001 22,131,970 10,325,185
2000 22,442,971 10,017,631
1999 22,472,040 9,740,005
1998 22,507,344 9,482,408
1997 22,553,978 9,237,063
1996 22,619,004 9,004,053
1995 22,684,270 8,785,763
1994 22,730,211 8,576,269
1993 22,763,280 8,373,921
1992 22,794,284 8,176,680
1991 23,001,155 7,981,650
1990 23,201,835 7,786,169
1989 23,161,458 7,589,216
1988 23,057,662 7,391,440
1987 22,949,430 7,191,282
1986 22,836,841 6,986,471
1985 22,732,999 6,780,953
1984 22,640,547 6,580,490
1983 22,560,478 6,381,038
1982 22,475,741 6,178,637
1981 22,353,070 5,983,289
1980 22,207,282 5,802,833
1979 22,090,488 5,631,728
1978 21,951,464 5,465,374
1977 21,756,096 5,302,480
1976 21,551,634 5,143,842
1975 21,293,583 4,990,086
1974 21,029,429 4,842,746
1973 20,835,681 4,702,693
1972 20,657,957 4,569,309
1971 20,461,567 4,442,525
1970 20,250,398 4,321,718
1969 20,009,141 4,197,116
1968 19,799,831 4,065,593
1967 19,534,242 3,936,343
1966 19,215,450 3,812,003
1965 19,031,576 3,692,086
1964 18,919,126 3,577,017
1963 18,797,850 3,465,907
1962 18,676,550 3,358,099
1961 18,555,250 3,254,086
1960 18,406,905 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Romania decreased by 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Romania lost 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Romania was ranked 51st most populous country in 2006 and is 70th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Zambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 65.2M 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
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Romania Zambia
2100 -0.77% 0.53%
2099 -0.76% 0.55%
2098 -0.75% 0.57%
2097 -0.74% 0.58%
2096 -0.74% 0.61%
2095 -0.72% 0.64%
2094 -0.73% 0.64%
2093 -0.72% 0.67%
2092 -0.71% 0.69%
2091 -0.72% 0.7%
2090 -0.71% 0.72%
2089 -0.71% 0.74%
2088 -0.7% 0.77%
2087 -0.72% 0.79%
2086 -0.72% 0.81%
2085 -0.72% 0.83%
2084 -0.73% 0.85%
2083 -0.73% 0.87%
2082 -0.75% 0.9%
2081 -0.76% 0.92%
2080 -0.76% 0.93%
2079 -0.77% 0.96%
2078 -0.77% 0.99%
2077 -0.78% 1%
2076 -0.79% 1.03%
2075 -0.8% 1.05%
2074 -0.8% 1.08%
2073 -0.82% 1.11%
2072 -0.84% 1.13%
2071 -0.85% 1.15%
2070 -0.86% 1.19%
2069 -0.86% 1.2%
2068 -0.88% 1.23%
2067 -0.89% 1.25%
2066 -0.91% 1.28%
2065 -0.91% 1.31%
2064 -0.91% 1.33%
2063 -0.91% 1.37%
2062 -0.9% 1.39%
2061 -0.89% 1.43%
2060 -0.88% 1.45%
2059 -0.86% 1.48%
2058 -0.85% 1.5%
2057 -0.84% 1.53%
2056 -0.82% 1.56%
2055 -0.79% 1.59%
2054 -0.77% 1.62%
2053 -0.77% 1.65%
2052 -0.75% 1.68%
2051 -0.74% 1.71%
2050 -0.74% 1.75%
2049 -0.73% 1.79%
2048 -0.72% 1.82%
2047 -0.71% 1.86%
2046 -0.7% 1.9%
2045 -0.71% 1.94%
2044 -0.7% 1.97%
2043 -0.69% 2.01%
2042 -0.69% 2.05%
2041 -0.68% 2.1%
2040 -0.67% 2.14%
2039 -0.67% 2.19%
2038 -0.66% 2.25%
2037 -0.66% 2.3%
2036 -0.65% 2.35%
2035 -0.63% 2.39%
2034 -0.63% 2.44%
2033 -0.62% 2.49%
2032 -0.61% 2.54%
2031 -0.6% 2.58%
2030 -0.6% 2.62%
2029 -0.59% 2.66%
2028 -0.58% 2.72%
2027 -0.58% 2.76%
2026 -0.57% 2.79%
2025 -0.55% 2.83%
2024 -0.05% 2.85%
2023 0.07% 2.83%
2022 -0.38% 2.8%
2021 -0.74% 2.86%
2020 -0.55% 2.95%
2019 -0.53% 3.01%
2018 -0.59% 3.05%
2017 -0.58% 3.12%
2016 -0.57% 3.14%
2015 -0.47% 3.17%
2014 -0.37% 3.22%
2013 -0.37% 3.25%
2012 -0.44% 3.3%
2011 -0.49% 3.38%
2010 -0.59% 3.52%
2009 -0.83% 3.6%
2008 -1.65% 3.63%
2007 -1.47% 3.59%
2006 -0.59% 3.5%
2005 -0.62% 3.36%
2004 -0.57% 3.23%
2003 -0.72% 3.15%
2002 -1.81% 3.13%
2001 -1.39% 3.07%
2000 -0.13% 2.85%
1999 -0.16% 2.72%
1998 -0.21% 2.66%
1997 -0.29% 2.59%
1996 -0.29% 2.48%
1995 -0.2% 2.44%
1994 -0.15% 2.42%
1993 -0.14% 2.41%
1992 -0.9% 2.44%
1991 -0.86% 2.51%
1990 0.17% 2.6%
1989 0.45% 2.68%
1988 0.47% 2.78%
1987 0.49% 2.93%
1986 0.46% 3.03%
1985 0.41% 3.05%
1984 0.35% 3.13%
1983 0.38% 3.28%
1982 0.55% 3.26%
1981 0.66% 3.11%
1980 0.53% 3.04%
1979 0.63% 3.04%
1978 0.9% 3.07%
1977 0.95% 3.08%
1976 1.21% 3.08%
1975 1.26% 3.04%
1974 0.93% 2.98%
1973 0.86% 2.92%
1972 0.96% 2.85%
1971 1.04% 2.8%
1970 1.21% 2.97%
1969 1.06% 3.24%
1968 1.36% 3.28%
1967 1.66% 3.26%
1966 0.97% 3.25%
1965 0.59% 3.22%
1964 0.65% 3.21%
1963 0.65% 3.21%
1962 0.65% 3.2%
1961 0.81% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Romania declined by 0.05%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Romania Zambia
Current population
18839108
22697916
Population rank 70/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.23% 0.27%
One net population change
56.8 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
3.45 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
2.17 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline -25 +1,619
Annual growth/decline -9,258 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate -0.05% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 21/197
One migration net change every
18.1 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -29,041 +6,562
Net migration rank 163/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 655,579 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 73/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.4% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 112/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Romania
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Romania Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,041 - 6,562
2024 - -28,466 - 7,381
2023 -89,587 -27,780 577,660 9,521
2022 -93,338 89,076 563,456 -8,566
2021 -141,504 -17,731 535,629 8,143
2020 -100,179 -13,202 536,484 8,156
2019 -60,053 -27,909 528,089 18,385
2018 -62,316 -33,018 515,644 18,431
2017 -50,930 -33,081 504,630 25,789
2016 -53,196 -33,073 497,521 25,860
2015 -59,447 -35,751 491,021 16,261
2014 -55,745 -35,448 483,663 16,574
2013 -59,951 -34,910 476,846 15,542
2012 -54,157 -37,589 469,406 8,958
2011 -56,413 -102,769 459,743 13,569
2010 -46,567 -122,364 448,337 22,761
2009 -34,625 -137,953 434,458 44,867
2008 -30,806 -144,368 419,560 39,249
2007 -37,590 -133,089 403,729 49,945
2006 -38,148 -132,777 387,891 29,517
2005 -40,508 -131,176 368,756 35,316
2004 -42,904 -117,432 349,352 7,819
2003 -56,093 -107,139 331,189 20,845
2002 -58,673 -106,585 316,041 3,206
2001 -37,625 -91,154 302,682 23,582
2000 -22,443 -92,451 293,186 -4,338
1999 -31,461 -82,590 283,297 -16,888
1998 -33,761 -81,366 275,568 -26,796
1997 -42,853 -88,734 268,198 -26,276
1996 -56,548 -70,799 262,468 -38,358
1995 -36,295 -73,779 257,897 -45,423
1994 -18,184 -76,246 252,023 -45,504
1993 -13,658 -73,475 245,917 -47,739
1992 -4,559 -63,200 239,953 -43,656
1991 25,301 -36,824 237,957 -44,203
1990 69,605 -38,157 235,835 -38,619
1989 122,756 -33,866 233,429 -36,736
1988 126,817 -48,911 230,118 -31,270
1987 128,517 -42,868 227,813 -26,338
1986 134,737 -50,450 224,768 -16,610
1985 111,392 -28,108 221,351 -18,474
1984 117,731 -24,629 216,695 -18,652
1983 87,986 3,093 212,712 -11,849
1982 119,121 -4,725 207,621 -3,676
1981 156,472 -20,870 202,822 -16,072
1980 168,776 -16,668 198,817 -24,664
1979 194,397 -29,600 197,578 -29,515
1978 204,148 -31,427 194,933 -30,284
1977 215,385 -28,135 191,557 -30,423
1976 213,361 18,748 186,762 -30,612
1975 219,324 9,125 182,258 -30,886
1974 235,530 6,725 174,484 -31,178
1973 175,020 58,651 168,258 -31,472
1972 198,316 61,920 161,648 -31,672
1971 206,662 74,473 155,249 -31,651
1970 234,905 71,919 149,380 -31,370
1969 264,120 74,851 142,660 -11,469
1968 338,577 33,601 137,315 -5,447
1967 347,709 37,282 131,938 -5,298
1966 115,293 -25,458 127,164 -5,129
1965 114,190 -60,430 122,814 -5,023
1964 134,326 -59,500 117,197 -4,851
1963 139,104 -58,076 114,555 -4,676
1962 130,736 -56,152 110,173 -4,428
1961 163,286 -54,642 106,318 -4,043
1960 191,431 -55,397 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/romania/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 655,579 residents or 3.4% of the population were not native-born in Romania, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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