Net migration (UNICEF) in Romania
Romania: Net migration was -29,041 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-29,041
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
64th
of 74 countries
All-time high
89,076
in 2022
All-time low
-144,368
in 2008
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in Romania, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Romania stood at -29,041.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and up 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Romania peaked at 89,076 in 2022 and was at its lowest, -144,368, in 2008.
Romania ranks 64th of 74 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Romania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -55,397 | — |
| 1961 | -54,642 | -1.4% |
| 1962 | -56,152 | +2.8% |
| 1963 | -58,076 | +3.4% |
| 1964 | -59,500 | +2.5% |
| 1965 | -60,430 | +1.6% |
| 1966 | -25,458 | -57.9% |
| 1967 | 37,282 | -246.4% |
| 1968 | 33,601 | -9.9% |
| 1969 | 74,851 | +122.8% |
| 1970 | 71,919 | -3.9% |
| 1971 | 74,473 | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 61,920 | -16.9% |
| 1973 | 58,651 | -5.3% |
| 1974 | 6,725 | -88.5% |
| 1975 | 9,125 | +35.7% |
| 1976 | 18,748 | +105.5% |
| 1977 | -28,135 | -250.1% |
| 1978 | -31,427 | +11.7% |
| 1979 | -29,600 | -5.8% |
| 1980 | -16,668 | -43.7% |
| 1981 | -20,870 | +25.2% |
| 1982 | -4,725 | -77.4% |
| 1983 | 3,093 | -165.5% |
| 1984 | -24,629 | -896.3% |
| 1985 | -28,108 | +14.1% |
| 1986 | -50,450 | +79.5% |
| 1987 | -42,868 | -15.0% |
| 1988 | -48,911 | +14.1% |
| 1989 | -33,866 | -30.8% |
| 1990 | -38,157 | +12.7% |
| 1991 | -36,824 | -3.5% |
| 1992 | -63,200 | +71.6% |
| 1993 | -73,475 | +16.3% |
| 1994 | -76,246 | +3.8% |
| 1995 | -73,779 | -3.2% |
| 1996 | -70,799 | -4.0% |
| 1997 | -88,734 | +25.3% |
| 1998 | -81,366 | -8.3% |
| 1999 | -82,590 | +1.5% |
| 2000 | -92,451 | +11.9% |
| 2001 | -91,154 | -1.4% |
| 2002 | -106,585 | +16.9% |
| 2003 | -107,139 | +0.5% |
| 2004 | -117,432 | +9.6% |
| 2005 | -131,176 | +11.7% |
| 2006 | -132,777 | +1.2% |
| 2007 | -133,089 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | -144,368 | +8.5% |
| 2009 | -137,953 | -4.4% |
| 2010 | -122,364 | -11.3% |
| 2011 | -102,769 | -16.0% |
| 2012 | -37,589 | -63.4% |
| 2013 | -34,910 | -7.1% |
| 2014 | -35,448 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | -35,751 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | -33,073 | -7.5% |
| 2017 | -33,081 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | -33,018 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | -27,909 | -15.5% |
| 2020 | -13,202 | -52.7% |
| 2021 | -17,731 | +34.3% |
| 2022 | 89,076 | -602.4% |
| 2023 | -27,780 | -131.2% |
| 2024 | -28,466 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | -29,041 | +2.0% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's -29,041 is below the median for high income countries, which is 9,502. (42 countries reporting)
- Romania's -29,041 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 158. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Romania changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | -896.3% | 3,093 | -24,629 |
| 2022 | +602.4% | -17,731 | 89,076 |
| 1977 | -250.1% | 18,748 | -28,135 |
| 1967 | +246.4% | -25,458 | 37,282 |
| 1983 | +165.5% | -4,725 | 3,093 |
| 2023 | -131.2% | 89,076 | -27,780 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -22,392 | -60,430 | 74,851 | 10 |
| 1970s | 21,240 | -31,427 | 74,473 | 10 |
| 1980s | -26,800 | -50,450 | 3,093 | 10 |
| 1990s | -68,517 | -88,734 | -36,824 | 10 |
| 2000s | -119,412 | -144,368 | -91,154 | 10 |
| 2010s | -49,591 | -122,364 | -27,909 | 10 |
| 2020s | -4,524 | -29,041 | 89,076 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More population data for Romania
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 17,457 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7777 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7777 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.8% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 440,116 people (2100)
- Population density 46.8 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.8% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8232 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Romania?
- Net migration in Romania was -29,041 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 89,076 in 2022.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was -144,368 in 2008.
- How does Romania rank for net migration?
- Romania ranks 64th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Romania data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).