Aaron O'Neill
Research lead for society, economy, and politics: Europe & global
Get in touch with us nowPopulation of Romania, by gender 1889-2020
In 1889 Romania had just achieved full independence and was enjoying a period of stability and progress. The numbers of men and women remain similar, between 1889 and 1912, however there are 100,000 more men in 1889 and 100,000 more women in 1919. This demographic change came as a result of migration and international conflict.
Between 1912 and 1930 the population of Romania grows by over 10 million people. The main reason for this is the huge territories gained by Romania in the aftermath of the First World War. During the war Romania remained neutral for the first two years, after which it joined the allies, however it was very quickly defeated and overrun by the Central Powers, and in total it lost over 600,000 people as a direct result of the war. With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires after the war, Romania gained almost double it's territory, which caused the population to soar to 18.1 million in 1930. The population then decreases by 1941 and again by1948, as Romania seceded territory to neighboring countries and lost approximately half a million lives (mostly men) during the war. From 1948 onwards the population begins to grow again, and the difference in the number of men and women falls from 530 thousand in 1948 to 330 thousand in 1990.
Like many other Eastern European countries, there was very limited freedom of movement from Romania during the Cold War, and communist rule was difficult for the Romanian people. The Romanian Revolution in 1898 ended communist rule in the country and the country transitioned to a free-market society and movement from the country was allowed. Since then the population has fallen each year as more and more Romanians move abroad in search of work and opportunities. The number of men is decreasing at a faster rate than the number of women, and by 2020 it is forecasted there will be 530 thousand more women in Romania than men.
Between 1912 and 1930 the population of Romania grows by over 10 million people. The main reason for this is the huge territories gained by Romania in the aftermath of the First World War. During the war Romania remained neutral for the first two years, after which it joined the allies, however it was very quickly defeated and overrun by the Central Powers, and in total it lost over 600,000 people as a direct result of the war. With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires after the war, Romania gained almost double it's territory, which caused the population to soar to 18.1 million in 1930. The population then decreases by 1941 and again by1948, as Romania seceded territory to neighboring countries and lost approximately half a million lives (mostly men) during the war. From 1948 onwards the population begins to grow again, and the difference in the number of men and women falls from 530 thousand in 1948 to 330 thousand in 1990.
Like many other Eastern European countries, there was very limited freedom of movement from Romania during the Cold War, and communist rule was difficult for the Romanian people. The Romanian Revolution in 1898 ended communist rule in the country and the country transitioned to a free-market society and movement from the country was allowed. Since then the population has fallen each year as more and more Romanians move abroad in search of work and opportunities. The number of men is decreasing at a faster rate than the number of women, and by 2020 it is forecasted there will be 530 thousand more women in Romania than men.
