Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Romania

Romania: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 30.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
30.9%
World rank
139th
of 236 countries
All-time high
34.3%
in 1995
All-time low
14.6%
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Romania, 1950–2020

01020301950198520201950: 14.6 %1955: 16.4 %1960: 18.1 %1965: 19.9 %1970: 21.2 %1975: 24.3 %1980: 27.8 %1985: 30.6 %1990: 33.8 %1995: 34.3 %2000: 33.8 %2005: 33.1 %2010: 32.3 %2015: 30.5 %2020: 30.9 %

Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Romania recorded 30.9% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Romania peaked at 34.3% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 14.6%, in 1950.

Romania ranks 139th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Romania, year by year

Annual values for Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Romania, 1950 to 2020.
Year % Change
1950 14.6%
1955 16.4% +12.6%
1960 18.1% +10.1%
1965 19.9% +10.0%
1970 21.2% +6.8%
1975 24.3% +14.5%
1980 27.8% +14.3%
1985 30.6% +10.1%
1990 33.8% +10.5%
1995 34.3% +1.6%
2000 33.8% -1.4%
2005 33.1% -2.1%
2010 32.3% -2.4%
2015 30.5% -5.7%
2020 30.9% +1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 15.5% 14.6% 16.4% 2
1960s 19.0% 18.1% 19.9% 2
1970s 22.7% 21.2% 24.3% 2
1980s 29.2% 27.8% 30.6% 2
1990s 34.0% 33.8% 34.3% 2
2000s 33.5% 33.1% 33.8% 2
2010s 31.4% 30.5% 32.3% 2
2020s 30.9% 30.9% 30.9% 1

Countries ranked near Romania

  1. 136 Guatemala 31.1% compare
  2. 137 Bulgaria 31.0% compare
  3. 138 Chad 31.0% compare
  4. 140 Fiji 30.7% compare
  5. 141 Tajikistan 30.6% compare
  6. 142 Kyrgyzstan 30.6% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Romania

All data for Romania →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Romania?
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Romania was 30.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Romania?
The highest recorded value was 34.3% in 1995.
What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Romania?
The lowest recorded value was 14.6% in 1950.
How does Romania rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
Romania ranks 139th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Romania?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Romania data come from?
The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Romania. Statizoid, drawing on European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-in-cities-towns-and-villages/romania/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas
Unit
%
Source
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 3,540 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed

Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.