Life expectancy in Romania
Romania: Life expectancy was 72.8 years in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
72.8 years
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
43rd
of 49 countries
All-time high
75.6 years
in 2019
All-time low
67.4 years
in 1969
Years of data
54
1968–2021
Life expectancy in Romania, 1968–2021
Source: OECD (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for life expectancy in Romania is 72.8 years, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy in Romania peaked at 75.6 years in 2019 and was at its lowest, 67.4 years, in 1969.
That places Romania 43rd out of 49 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Life expectancy in Romania, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 68.2 years | — |
| 1969 | 67.4 years | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 68.2 years | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 68.7 years | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 69.2 years | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 68.8 years | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 69.7 years | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 69.8 years | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 70 years | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 69.8 years | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 69.8 years | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 69.5 years | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 69.2 years | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 69.5 years | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 69.8 years | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 69.8 years | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 69.8 years | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 69.3 years | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 69.7 years | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 69 years | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 69.4 years | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 69.7 years | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 69.9 years | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 70.1 years | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 69.5 years | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 69.5 years | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 69.4 years | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 69.3 years | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 68.8 years | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 69.1 years | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 69.9 years | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 70.6 years | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 71.2 years | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 71.1 years | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 70.9 years | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 71 years | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 71.4 years | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 71.9 years | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 72.5 years | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 73.1 years | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 73.5 years | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 73.7 years | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 73.7 years | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 74.4 years | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 74.4 years | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 75.1 years | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 75 years | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 74.9 years | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 75.2 years | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 75.2 years | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 75.3 years | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 75.6 years | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 74.2 years | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 72.8 years | -1.9% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 72.8 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 81.4 years, 89% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Romania's 72.8 years is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 81 years, 90% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 67.8 years | 67.4 years | 68.2 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 69.35 years | 68.2 years | 70 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 69.52 years | 69 years | 69.8 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 69.61 years | 68.8 years | 70.6 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.03 years | 70.9 years | 73.7 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.88 years | 73.7 years | 75.6 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.5 years | 72.8 years | 74.2 years | 2 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More health data for Romania
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.59 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0845 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,419 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 113 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0235 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life expectancy in Romania?
- Life expectancy in Romania was 72.8 years in 2021, according to OECD (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest life expectancy recorded in Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 75.6 years in 2019.
- What is the lowest life expectancy recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.4 years in 1969.
- How does Romania rank for life expectancy?
- Romania ranks 43rd out of 49 countries with data for 2021.
- Is life expectancy rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Romania data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Period life expectancy at birth, in a given year.