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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Romania was 19,020,271 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Romania's population is 18,912,567 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.21 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 -0.41% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Romania has decreased from 21.2M people to 18.9M (10.8% decline), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Romania vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Romania
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Romania Zambia
2100 10,843,503 65,204,593
2099 10,927,951 64,858,778
2098 11,011,822 64,503,193
2097 11,095,182 64,136,110
2096 11,178,195 63,764,760
2095 11,261,202 63,380,692
2094 11,343,358 62,980,254
2093 11,426,736 62,578,008
2092 11,509,522 62,163,693
2091 11,591,897 61,738,437
2090 11,675,686 61,309,330
2089 11,759,143 60,868,166
2088 11,842,733 60,422,781
2087 11,926,699 59,958,303
2086 12,013,212 59,487,524
2085 12,099,742 59,011,423
2084 12,187,794 58,524,337
2083 12,277,402 58,029,088
2082 12,367,518 57,527,347
2081 12,460,785 57,016,267
2080 12,556,104 56,495,299
2079 12,652,446 55,972,223
2078 12,750,395 55,438,864
2077 12,849,896 54,895,964
2076 12,950,914 54,350,375
2075 13,053,551 53,796,265
2074 13,158,624 53,236,297
2073 13,264,931 52,666,980
2072 13,375,162 52,090,884
2071 13,488,051 51,509,551
2070 13,603,287 50,921,590
2069 13,721,187 50,324,793
2068 13,840,530 49,727,689
2067 13,963,377 49,125,817
2066 14,088,938 48,520,891
2065 14,218,608 47,909,160
2064 14,349,029 47,290,430
2063 14,480,312 46,668,252
2062 14,613,788 46,039,755
2061 14,747,178 45,407,718
2060 14,879,235 44,768,534
2059 15,011,161 44,128,619
2058 15,141,670 43,485,891
2057 15,271,230 42,843,489
2056 15,400,030 42,198,591
2055 15,527,331 41,550,105
2054 15,651,338 40,898,440
2053 15,773,422 40,247,706
2052 15,896,118 39,596,094
2051 16,016,719 38,942,292
2050 16,135,745 38,287,070
2049 16,255,638 37,626,787
2048 16,375,139 36,964,032
2047 16,494,633 36,302,603
2046 16,612,186 35,638,852
2045 16,730,009 34,974,927
2044 16,848,827 34,310,227
2043 16,966,857 33,645,797
2042 17,084,359 32,984,164
2041 17,203,640 32,323,084
2040 17,320,952 31,658,029
2039 17,438,042 30,995,204
2038 17,556,386 30,329,691
2037 17,673,500 29,662,721
2036 17,790,613 28,994,556
2035 17,906,949 28,327,922
2034 18,020,973 27,665,749
2033 18,134,889 27,006,658
2032 18,247,275 26,351,393
2031 18,359,750 25,697,754
2030 18,471,446 25,050,285
2029 18,583,513 24,409,600
2028 18,693,807 23,776,128
2027 18,803,518 23,146,922
2026 18,912,567 22,525,308
2025 19,020,271 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 789,700 people (a 4.01% decline), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 16,135,745 people with a rank change from 70th to 81st. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 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 -0.17% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/romania/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Romania declined by 0.17%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Romania Zambia
Current population
18912567
22844606
Population rank 70/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.23% 0.27%
One net population change
16.7 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
3.68 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
2.16 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline -86 +1,641
Annual growth/decline -31,533 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 172/197 19/197
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 -100,975 -28,466 587,419 7,381
2023 -83,869 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/romania/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | CC BY

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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)

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