Net migration in Romania
Romania: Net migration was -29,041 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Romania, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Romania stood at -29,041.
That represents a change of 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.
That places Romania 185th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 843. (85 countries reporting)
- Romania's -29,041 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 166. (57 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 financial sector data for Romania
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), annual growth rate 12.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per unit of GDP 0.1232 SDR per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Romania?
- Net migration in Romania was -29,041 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- 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 185th out of 218 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 World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.