Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Romania
Romania: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 133,456 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Romania, 1989–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for distribution of population between different poverty lines in Romania is 133,456 people, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 51.8% on the previous year and down 92.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Romania peaked at 4.19 million people in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1989.
That places Romania 65th out of 120 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Romania, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 people | — |
| 1992 | 0 people | — |
| 1994 | 4.19 million people | — |
| 1995 | 793,949 people | -81.0% |
| 1997 | 947,267 people | +19.3% |
| 2006 | 2.35 million people | +147.8% |
| 2007 | 1.70 million people | -27.5% |
| 2008 | 1.24 million people | -27.0% |
| 2009 | 1.09 million people | -12.3% |
| 2010 | 1.27 million people | +17.0% |
| 2011 | 1.43 million people | +12.6% |
| 2012 | 1.68 million people | +17.1% |
| 2013 | 1.75 million people | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 1.77 million people | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 1.51 million people | -14.9% |
| 2016 | 1.03 million people | -31.7% |
| 2017 | 958,919 people | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 727,986 people | -24.1% |
| 2019 | 599,060 people | -17.7% |
| 2020 | 468,002 people | -21.9% |
| 2021 | 387,983 people | -17.1% |
| 2022 | 276,738 people | -28.7% |
| 2023 | 133,456 people | -51.8% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 133,456 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 41,302 people, 3.2× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Romania's 133,456 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,791 people, 5.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Distribution of population between different poverty lines 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +147.8% | 947,267 people | 2.35 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.48 million people | 0 people | 4.19 million people | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.59 million people | 1.09 million people | 2.35 million people | 4 |
| 2010s | 1.27 million people | 599,060 people | 1.77 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 316,545 people | 133,456 people | 468,002 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More poverty & inequality data for Romania
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.71 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 4,021 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 10.64 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 27.54 (2022)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 27.5% (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Romania?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Romania was 133,456 people in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 4.19 million people in 1994.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1989.
- How does Romania rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Romania ranks 65th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 92.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Romania data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.