Zăbala: population and statistics
Zăbala has a population of 4,521 (2026) across 126.1 km², or 35.9 people per km². It ranks 888 of 3,181 localities by population. Its population is falling: −7.1% between 2016 and 2026.
- 4,521 residents
- 126.1 km²
- 36 people/km²
Key points
Among the 45 localities in Covasna County, Zăbala ranks No. 13 by population.
Building permits for residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants: 0.22 ‰ in Zăbala, compared with an average of 1.25 ‰ in Covasna County and 1.87 ‰ nationally.
People leaving the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants: 9.5 ‰ in Zăbala, compared with an average of 11.8 ‰ in Covasna County and 20.1 ‰ nationally.
Zăbala: the most common activity among active businesses is Wholesale trade (except motor vehicles) (40 businesses).
Zăbala in numbers
Where is Zăbala?
Population of Zăbala over time
Zăbala had 4,868 residents in 2016 and 4,521 in 2026.
| Year | Population (by registered residence) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,697 |
| 2022 | 4,619 |
| 2023 | 4,584 |
| 2024 | 4,552 |
| 2025 | 4,525 |
| 2026 | 4,521 |
Did you know?
- “Building permits for residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 98% of localities.
- “People leaving the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 97% of localities.
- “Doctors per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 95% of localities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 17,658 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.5 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous locality is Covasna (10,484 residents), 4.5 km away.
All indicators for Zăbala
Value for the locality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the locality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Zăbala | Covasna County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| People settling in the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 11.5 ‰ | 10.2 ‰ | 16.0 ‰ | ranked 2,569 of 3,163 | |
| People leaving the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 9.5 ‰ | 11.8 ‰ | 17.3 ‰ | ranked 3,049 of 3,163 | |
| Live births per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 7.1 ‰ | 7.5 ‰ | 6.9 ‰ | ranked 1,450 of 3,157 | |
| Deaths per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 11.3 ‰ | 11.0 ‰ | 13.0 ‰ | ranked 2,099 of 3,163 |
Housing
| Indicator | Zăbala | Covasna County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits for residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 0.22 ‰ | 1.25 ‰ | 1.53 ‰ | ranked 2,396 of 2,438 | |
| Existing dwellings (2025) | 1,999 | 96,240 | 10,177,161 | ranked 956 of 3,181 | |
| Dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 442.2 ‰ | 438.5 ‰ | 484.8 ‰ | ranked 2,120 of 3,163 | |
| Average living floor area per dwelling (m²) (2025) | 50.6 m² | 49.7 m² | 50.3 m² | ranked 1,538 of 3,163 | |
| Dwellings completed in the year per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 1.55 ‰ | 0.99 ‰ | 1.30 ‰ | ranked 830 of 1,926 |
Economy
| Indicator | Zăbala | Covasna County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active companies in the trade register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 16.6 ‰ | 31.6 ‰ | 29.4 ‰ | ranked 2,698 of 3,163 | |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 0.88 ‰ | 1.34 ‰ | 2.10 ‰ | ranked 2,651 of 3,163 |
Employment
| Indicator | Zăbala | Covasna County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average number of employees per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 59 ‰ | 242 ‰ | 71 ‰ | ranked 1,910 of 3,163 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of labour resources (working-age population) (2026) | 4.3% | 3.9% | 2.3% | ranked 834 of 3,163 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Zăbala | Covasna County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist overnight stays per inhabitant (2025) | 2.3 nights | 3.2 | 0.4 | ranked 187 of 1,250 | |
| Tourist arrivals per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 1,141 ‰ | 835 ‰ | 200 ‰ | ranked 202 of 1,250 | |
| Tourist accommodation places per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 52.2 ‰ | 29.7 ‰ | 11.8 ‰ | ranked 212 of 1,362 |
Environment
| Indicator | Zăbala | Covasna County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length of the sewer network per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 3.10 km | 4.46 km | 4.05 km | ranked 1,063 of 1,695 |
Health
| Indicator | Zăbala | Covasna County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 0.22 ‰ | 1.99 ‰ | 0.52 ‰ | ranked 2,669 of 2,833 | |
| Family doctors per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 0.22 ‰ | 0.45 ‰ | 0.46 ‰ | ranked 2,606 of 2,807 |
Education
| Indicator | Zăbala | Covasna County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School population (children, pupils and students) per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 91 ‰ | 147 ‰ | 91 ‰ | ranked 1,569 of 3,158 | |
| Education units per 10,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.2 per 10,000 inh. | 3.6 per 10,000 inh. | 3.6 per 10,000 inh. | ranked 2,489 of 3,122 |
Businesses by activity: Zăbala
Active businesses in the business register with a recorded activity, by section and by activity (NACE Rev. 2). Only activities with at least 3 businesses are shown.
By industry section
- Wholesale and retail trade50 · 24.4%
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing26 · 12.7%
- Accommodation and food services18 · 8.8%
- Manufacturing17 · 8.3%
- Construction17 · 8.3%
- Transport and storage17 · 8.3%
- Administrative and support services16 · 7.8%
- Professional, scientific and technical15 · 7.3%
Most common activities
- Wholesale trade (except motor vehicles)40 · 19.5%
- Retail trade (except motor vehicles)26 · 12.7%
- Crop and animal production, hunting and related services23 · 11.2%
- Specialised construction activities17 · 8.3%
- Construction of buildings13 · 6.3%
- Land transport and transport via pipelines12 · 5.9%
- Food and beverage service activities12 · 5.9%
- Accommodation10 · 4.9%
- Warehousing and transport support activities9 · 4.4%
- Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing8 · 3.9%
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Zăbala?
Zăbala has 4,521 residents (2026), ranking 888 of 3,181 localities.
How big is Zăbala?
Zăbala covers 126.1 km², with a density of 36 people per km².
Is the population of Zăbala growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Zăbala went from 4,868 to 4,521, a change of −7.1%.
Where is Zăbala?
Zăbala is in Covasna County. Latitude 45.889, longitude 26.195.
Building permits for residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Zăbala?
In Zăbala, “Building permits for residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 0.22 ‰ (2025), ranking 2,396 of 2,438 localities; the national median is 1.53 ‰.
People leaving the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Zăbala?
In Zăbala, “People leaving the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 9.5 ‰ (2025), ranking 3,049 of 3,163 localities; the national median is 17.3 ‰.
Which localities border Zăbala?
The nearest to Zăbala are Covasna (4.5 km), Catalina (8.1 km), Ghelința (11 km), Brateș (12 km), Târgu Secuiesc (13 km).