Population Growth Trends in Romania from 1990 to 2023

Romania’s population trends reflect decades of consistent decline, heavily influenced by emigration and low birth rates. The post-communist era began with modest growth in 1990 at 0.2%, but the collapse of industries and economic uncertainty led to sharp declines, with growth plunging to -1.8% in 2002. Migration to Western Europe significantly contributed to population shrinkage during this period.

By 2023, the population growth rate returned to 0.0%, suggesting stabilization. While this marks a halt to continuous decline, Romania continues to face challenges like rural depopulation and workforce shortages, necessitating policies to retain citizens and boost birth rates.