1948 CENSUS DATA ON THE COMPOSITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ROMANIAN POPULATION

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• Publication Date: August 2, 1951
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CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL VUNFIIIENTIAL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT 50X1-HUM
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED'
DATE
PUBLISHED
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Sociological Census, population
Bimonthly periodical
Moscow
Jan/Feb 1951
DATE OF
INFORMATION
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REPORT NO.
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OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF [S PIO MACE ACT S0
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Izvestiya Vsesoyuzn2E GeoErafiches o-Obshchestva, Vol LXXXIII,
No1 1951. - ?--------__
1948 CENSUS DATA ON THE COMPOSITION AND
DISTRIBUTION OF THERUMANIAN POPULATION
The Rumanian census of January 1948 revealed data on the total population,
the volume and value of production, the density of population, the distribu-
tion of population by sex, age, and nationality, the population of cities and
villages, the larger cities, and the percentage of illiteracy among the popula-
tion.' Some information also was obtained on the distribution of population by
region, district, and judet.
The results of the 1948 census are of twofold interest. .1 comparison of
the results of this census with those taken in 1930 and 1941 permits conclu-
sions on the movement of population in Rumania during the prewar and war years.
Or the other hand, the year 1948 was a critical one for Rumania in its strength-
ening of national-democratic authority under the leadership of the working
class and the Rumanian Communist Party. Also, 1948 was a new step in the eco-
nomic and political development of the country. In view of these facts, the
1948 population census will serve as a basis both for the evaluation of demo-
graphic indexes and the growth of the culture and material well-being of the
population.
According to the results of this last census, the total population of Ru-
mania, as of 25 January 1948, was 15,873,000 people. The average density of
the population was 66.8 persons per square kilometer. In 1930, it was 57, and
in 1941, it was 66.7.
Muntenia
Oltenia
Moldavia
Dobrogea
Bukovina
Transylvania
Crisana-Maramures
4,991,289
4,028,000
1,717,982
1,519,000
2,598,258
2,428,000
503,217
811,000
300,751
854,000
3,420,859
--
1,391,672
5,550,000
Banat 948,596 --
STATE
ARMY
NAVY
AIR
Table 1. Distribution of Population by Regions
Region 1948 1930
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FBI
DISTRIBUTION
I I
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The census shows a sharp difference in the distribution of population.
The heaviest concentration of people is found in a number of districts in the
Muntenia, Banat, and Crisana-Maramures regions, that is, in those areas where
the predominant portion of industry has been concentrated, and where the
largest cities have been located. The following districts belong to the cat-
egory of densely populated areas-. Ilfov with its capital Bucharest; Prahova
and Dambovita with their oil industry; and those districts of Banat and Tran=
sylvania where mining and processing industries have been developed.
The country's geography is an important factor in the unequal distribu-
tion of population. Mountains make up 26 percent of the land surface of Ru-
mania, hills 39 percent, and valleys only 35 percent. Although there are no
uninhabitable localities in the Carpathians, because small villages of cattle
raisers and lumber workers are found everywhere, the density of population in
these mountainous regions is lower than on the broad plains which are suitable
for farming. The wide Danube valley with its fertile soils is an especially
good illustration. Although its population centers are much farther apart
than those in the Carpathians, they are much larger.
Teble 2. Distribution of Population by Districts in 1948
ReZion and District
Population thousands
Oltenia
1.
Dolj
560.9
2.
Gorj
229.3
3.
Mehedinti
329.1
4.
Romanati
314.1
5.
Valce-
284.6
Muntenia
6.
Arges
296.1
7.
Braila
251.2
8.
Dambovita
357.4
9.
Buzau
351.6
10.
Ialomita
335.6
11.
Ilfov (including
1,474.9
1,041,807 in
12.
Bucharest)
Muscel
169.3
13.
Olt
211.9
14.
Prahova
564.0
15.
Ramnicul-Sarat
209.5
16.
Teleorman
412.5
17.
Vlasca
335.9
18.
Constanta
314.1
19.
Tulcea
189.1
20.
Bacau
293.5
21.
Baia
166.8
22.
Botosani
235.7
23.
Cbvurlui
208.2
24.
Dorohoi
97.1
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Table 2.
(Contd)
Region and District Po up lation (thousands)
25.
Falciu
122.8
26.
Iasi
276.9
27.
Neamt
224.7
28.
Putna
213.1
29.
Roman
178.9
30.
Tecuci
175.5
31.
Tutova
153.8
32.
Vaslui
150.8
Bukovina
33. Campulung
88.3
34. Radauti
100.1
35. Suceava
112.4
Transylvania
36.
Alba
212.3
37.
Stalin (Brasov)
203.7
38.
Ciuc
146.7
39.
cluJ
366.2
40.
Fagaras
88.9
41.
Hunedoara
321.7
42.
Mures
327.9
43.
Nasaud
148.3
44.
Odorhei
127.3
45.
Salaj
373.2
46.
Sibiu
210.2
47.
Somes
233.3
48.
Tarnava-Mare
159.6
49.
Tarnava-Mica
158.2
50.
Trei-Scaune
138.4
51.
Turda
204.7
52.
Caras
187.3
53.
Severin
232.6
54.
Timis-Torontal
528.6
55.
Arad
413.4
56.
Bihor
515.6
57.
Maramures
150.3
58.
Satul-Mare
312.4
In January 1948, 23.4 percent of the inhabitants were living in cities;
the rest of the population was concentrated in villages. In the 18 years
since the l9jO census, there have been almost no appreciable changes in the
ratio of city and village populations. The city. population has increased
only 3.4 percent in relation to the village population.
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Table 3.
Distribution of City and Village Population
C1ty Population
Village Population
Region
Total
Population
Total
percent
Total Percent
Muntenia
4,991,289
1,616,516
32.4
3,374,773 67.6
Dobrogea
503,217
146,472
29.1
356,745 70.9
Banat
948,596
202,121
21.3
746,475 78.7
Bukovina
300,751
62,195
20.7
238,556 79.3
Moldavia
2,598,258
523,509
20.1
2,074,749 79.9
Crisana?..Maramures
1,391,672
279,602
20.1
1,112,070 79.9
Transylvania
3,420,859
637,181
18.6
2,783,678 81.4
Oltenia
982
245,543
14.3
1,472,439 85.7
Population of Ru??
mania
15,872,624
3,717,139
23.4
12,159,485 76.6
According to Table 3, the city population in the Banat, Bukovina, Molda-
via, Crisana-Maramures, Transylvania, and Oltenia regions is below the average
for the country, that is, below 23 percent. Only in Muntenia and Dobrogea,
where the big industrial cities and ports are located (Constants and Bucharest),
does the total city population reach 32.4 percent (in Muntenia) and 29.1 per-
cent (in Dobrogea). In many districts the population, almost without exception,
.s composed of village inhabitants.
About two thirds (2,347,541, or 63.2 percent) of the urban population are
concentrated in 19 cities with an average population of 30,000 or more. In the
remaining 170 urban settlements with an average population under 30,000, there
are 1,365,598 people, or 36.8 percent of the urban population.
Table 4.
Cities With Population Over 30,000
City
1948
1941
1930
,
Bucharest
1,041,807
992,536
639,040
Cluj
117,915
110,936
100,844
Timisoara
111,987
110,840
91,580
Ploesti
95,632
107,068
79,149
Braila
95,514
99,531
68,347
Iasi
94,075
111,6669
102,872
Arad
87,291
86,674
77,181
Craiova
84,574
77,051
63,215
Stalin (Brasov)
83,984
84,557
59,232
Oradea
82,282
92,943
82,687
.0alati
80,411
95,545
100,611
Constants
78,586
80,028
59,164
Sibiu
60,602
63,765
49,345
Targul-Mures
47,043
44,946
38,517
Satul-Mare
46,519
52,006
44,767
Buzau
43,365
44,511
35,687
Bacau
34,461
38,965
31,138
Turnu-Severin 31,296
30,475
21,107
Giurgiu 30,197
26,551
31,016
Total population in these
19 cities
2,34'7,541
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By ]948 the population of these 19 cities had increased by 572,042 or about
25 percent in comparison with 1930, but as compared with the census of 1941 it
had decreased by 3,056. A particularly swift rise in population is observed in
Bucharest, where the population increased from 639,040 in 1930 to 992,536 in
1941 and 1,041,807 in 1948. The population of Bucharest proper is 886,110, with.
the remaining 155,697 living in the suburbs, which have been Included in re:kuning
the population of Bucharest. The population in the cities of Cluj, Timisoara,
Craiova, Stalin (Brasov), and others showed a significant increase in comparison
with the 1930 census. The population declined in those cities which suffered
during the war. Ploesti, Braila, Iasi, Oradea, and others. During the past 18
years, the port city of Galati and Giurgiu has shown a decline in population.
The population of cities under 30.000 has grown in those industrial centers
where a revitalization of economic activity has been observed, especially in the
recent prewar years.
Table 5.
Iciustrial Centers With Population Under 30,000
1941
Pitesti
29,007
37,344
19,532
Recita
24,895
25,062
19,869
Medias
23,247
19,907
15,505
Baia-Mare
20,959
21,404
13,904
Camping
16.963
22,752
16,918
Petrosaui
14,138
15,020
15,405
Lupeni
11,188
12,595
13,870
Moreni
9,046
4,559
4,806
Buhusi
8,198
8,669
8,655
Cisnadie
7,384
5,385
3,408
Hunedoara
7,018
6,024
4,600
Brad
6,210
5,978
4,308
Moinesti
5.868
6,690
6,616
Baia-Sprie
3,968
4,304
4,127
Hateg
3,210
4,035
3,383
Abrud
2 , 656
2,847
2,468
These figures for city population reflect the unequal distribution of in-
dustry throughout the country, and the fact that in many districts there has
industry whatsoever. Rumania's industry has been concentrated in
been almost no induet,..,, ..
a few cities and industrial areas (oil industry, metallurgical industry, etc.).
The 20th Century trend toward reduction of the natural population growth
(from 14.9 people in 1921 1925 to 4.9 people in 1942) has led to a decrease in
the size of families. In 1930, the average family in Rumania consisted of 4.31
members; in 1948, only 3.78.
Table 6. Number of Members of Families in 1948 and 1930
Total Population
City Population
Village Population
48
1930
1948
1930
1948
1930
Be ion
19
Dobrogea
4.05
4.77
3.59
4
4.40
4
35
4.28
3
96
4.89
Oltenia
3.97
4.48
.00
.
.
6
29
4
ldavia
M
3.92
4.30
3.78
4.32
3.9
6
.
46
4
o
Muntenia
i
l
3.7Z
3,
4.37
4.29
3.42
3.64
4.14
4.23
3.9
3.78
.
4.30
20
4
a
van
Transy
Bukovina ?
74
3?
4.14
350
4.05
3.47
3.
.
4.28
Crisana-Maramures
Banat
3
3.Z6
3.92
3.21
365
3.50
3.98
Average for country
3.78
4.31
3.53
4.17
3.86
4.35
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Since 1930, the ratio of men to women has changed. In 1948, of 15,872,624
inhabitants, 7,671,569 or 48.3 percent were male, and 8,201,055 or 51.7 percent
were female. In 1930, 49.1 percent of the population were male and 50.9 per-
cent were female.
Table 7.
Distribution of Population by Sex in 1948
(in percent)
To tal
Populatlon
CitZ_Po elation
Village Population
_
Re ion
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Dobrogea
50:0
50 0
50.1
49,9
49.9
50.1
Transylvania
48.9
51.1
49.1
50.9
48.8
51.2
Crisana?Maramures
48.8
51 2
48 0
52 0
49.0
51.0
Muntenia
48.3
51.7
48 4
51.6
48.2
51.8
Moldavia
48.0
52.0
48.0
52.0
48.0
52.0
Bukovina
47.9
52 0
47.0
53.0
48.2
51.8
Banat
47.7
52.3
48.0
52.0
47.5
52.5
Oltenia
47.6
52.4
50.2
49 8
47.2
52.8
Average for country
48.3
51.7
48,6
51.4
48,3
51.7
The age composition of the population also changed considerably. In 1948,
children under the age of 7 made up 12.7 percent of the total population as com-
pared with 19.3 percent in 1930, In 1.948, 15.9 percent were in the 45- to 60_.
year category, as against 12 percent in 1930; 8.2 percent were over 60 in 1948,
as against 7.1 percent in 1930.
Table 8. Age Distribution of Population in 1948 and 1930
(in percent)
Total
Pmulation
2 1ty Villas
Male
Fe
mal
e
Aye Groin
1948
1930
1948 19,10 1948
1930 194
8
1930 1998
1930
Under 7 years
12.7
'19.3
9.0 13.3 13.8
20.9 13,
6
19.8 11.8
18.8
From 7 to 14
16.8
14.2
12.0 12.6 17.5
14.7 17.
u
14.7 15.5
13.8
From 15 to 44
47.0
4'(.4
54.1 55.1 44.9
45.3 46.
5
46.8 47.5
47.9
From 45 to 60
15.9
12.0
16.8 12.2 15.6
12.0 15.
5
11..6 16.3
12.5
over 60
8.2
7.1
8.1 6.,9 8.2
7.1 7.
4
7.2 8.9
6,9
Table 9. Distribution of Population in 1948 by
National Origin
Nationality
Total
Percent
-9
( i)
Rumanians
13,597,613
85.7
80.0
87.4
Hungarians
1,499,851
9.4
12.1
8.6
Germans
343,913
2.2
2.4
2.1
Russians
39,332
0.2
0.4
0.2
Ukrainians
37,582
0.2
0.1
0.3
Serbs, Croats, Slovenes
45,447
0.3
0.1
0.3
Bulgars
13,408
0.1
0.1.
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Population Analysis
Total
( )
Percent
~
Nationality
.
_
Slovaks
Czechs
35,143
0.2 0.1 0.3
,
753
6
0.1 --
Je
,
8,
9 3.5 0.1
0
Jews s
Greeks
13
795
8,696
1
0,1 0.2 --
Albanians
735
Armenians
6,987
0.2 --
2
0
Turko-Tatars
28,782
.
0.2 0.3
4
0
Gypsies
53,425
.
0.3 0.2
1
02 0
other nationalities
15,639
.
0 2
"L
Nationality unknown
523
-
Total
15,872,624
The 1948 census reveals that the national composition of Rumania is ap-.
proaching that of pre.-World War I Rumania, when Rumanians made up 97 percent
of the entire population. The greatest changes have occurred since 1940, in
connection with the return to the USSR of Bessarabia, the reuniting of Northern
Bukovina with the Ukrainian SSR, and the return to Bulgaria of Southern Dobro-
gea.
At one time, about 3 million Russians, Ukrainians, and Motdavians were es-
timated to be living in Rumania. At present, there are only 76,914. There
were about 600,000 Bulgars; now there are 13,408. The Turkish population has
also diminished. Formerly there were 172,000 living in Dobrogea; now there are
28,000. During World War II, the German and Jewish populations were lowered.
The former decreased from 800,000 to 343,000; the latter now numbers 138,000,
of whom 90 percent live in cities. Thus, at present, Rumanians constitute 85.7
percent of the population of the country. Oltenia, Muntenia, and Moldavia are
the most homogeneous regions as regards nationality. The Rumanian population
is 99.8 percent in Oltenia, 98 percent in Muntenia, 87 percent in Dobrogea, 97
percent in Moldavia, 89.9 percent in Bukovina, 65 percent in Transylvania, 66
percent in 3anat, and 66 percent in Crisana-Maramures.
The Hungarian population has mair ained its former level. Hungarians con-
stitute 9.4 percen~ of the population oZ Rumania, 12.1 percent in the cities
and 8.6 percent in villages. A far higher proportion of Hungarians, 29 per-
cent, live in Transylvania; in Banat, 10 percent. In several districts, Hun-
garians constitute the dominant part of the population. For example, in Ciuc
District, of 146,000 inhabitants, 127,000 are Hungarians; in Trei-Scaune,
121,000 of 138,000; in Odorhei, 123,000 of 127,000; and in Mures and Cluj
districts, Hungarians constitute 50 percent of the p,_pu'ation. A high con-
centration of Hungarians has been noted also in Banat ,in Timis4orontal Dis-
t_?ict and in Crisana-Maramures (in Satu-Mare District).
The Hungarian people, representing the largest non-Rumanian nationality in
the country, now are accorded all the rights which are given other nationali-
ties. They have their own deputies in the Great National Assembly, their own
representatives in the administrative and economic branches of the government,
their own elementary and middle schools, and a university in Cluj, where teach-
ing is conducted in the Hungarian language. They also have their own national
theaters and publishing and printing establishments.
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From 1930 to 1948, the percentage of illiteracy among people over the age
of 7 was reduced from 38.2 to 23.1 percent. To liquidate illiteracy, more
than 14,000 schools for workers and peasants have been opened. A short time
after this task was initiated, former institutions of higher learning were re-
stored and new ones were opened. There are now five universities and 45 insti-
tutes with 126 faculties in Rumania. Institutions of higher learning are lo-
cated in Bucharest, Iasi, Cluj, Galati, Campulung,.Targul-Mures, Stalin, Arad,
Brad, Petrosani, Craiova, etc. Thirty-four scientific research institutes
have been built for the various branches of learning. Cultural centers have
been established in all parts of the country.
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