Cerna: population and statistics
Cerna has a population of 3,321 (2026) across 223.0 km², or 14.9 people per km². It ranks 1,382 of 3,181 localities by population. Its population is falling: −13.9% between 2016 and 2026.
- 3,321 residents
- 223.0 km²
- 15 people/km²
Key points
Among the 51 localities in Tulcea County, Cerna ranks No. 16 by population.
Live births per 1,000 inhabitants: 3.0 ‰ in Cerna, compared with an average of 5.4 ‰ in Tulcea County and 6.7 ‰ nationally.
Drinking water distributed per inhabitant (m³): 76.8 m³ in Cerna, compared with an average of 52.8 m³ in Tulcea County and 39.9 m³ nationally.
Cerna: the most common activity among active businesses is Retail trade (except motor vehicles) (35 businesses).
Cerna in numbers
Where is Cerna?
Population of Cerna over time
Cerna had 3,859 residents in 2016 and 3,321 in 2026.
| Year | Population (by registered residence) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,629 |
| 2022 | 3,587 |
| 2023 | 3,509 |
| 2024 | 3,427 |
| 2025 | 3,381 |
| 2026 | 3,321 |
Did you know?
- “Live births per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 97% of localities.
- “Drinking water distributed per inhabitant (m³)”: higher than in 94% of localities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 31,237 football pitches.
- Its population density is 6.1 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest locality is Hamcearca, 7.4 km away.
- The nearest more populous locality is Măcin (9,538 residents), 24 km away.
All indicators for Cerna
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 | Cerna | Tulcea County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| People settling in the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 14.5 ‰ | 14.9 ‰ | 16.0 ‰ | ranked 1,955 of 3,163 | |
| People leaving the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 18.4 ‰ | 20.0 ‰ | 17.3 ‰ | ranked 1,268 of 3,163 | |
| Live births per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 3.0 ‰ | 5.4 ‰ | 6.9 ‰ | ranked 3,046 of 3,157 | |
| Deaths per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 18.1 ‰ | 12.6 ‰ | 13.0 ‰ | ranked 516 of 3,163 |
Housing
| Indicator | Cerna | Tulcea County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length of the drinking-water network per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 15.96 km | 7.73 km | 7.67 km | ranked 298 of 2,728 | |
| Existing dwellings (2025) | 1,676 | 99,726 | 10,177,161 | ranked 1,291 of 3,181 | |
| Dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 504.7 ‰ | 458.9 ‰ | 484.8 ‰ | ranked 1,361 of 3,163 | |
| Average living floor area per dwelling (m²) (2025) | 42.9 m² | 49.3 m² | 50.3 m² | ranked 2,455 of 3,163 |
Economy
| Indicator | Cerna | Tulcea County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active companies in the trade register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 26.5 ‰ | 41.6 ‰ | 29.4 ‰ | ranked 1,834 of 3,163 | |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1.20 ‰ | 2.25 ‰ | 2.10 ‰ | ranked 2,393 of 3,163 |
Employment
| Indicator | Cerna | Tulcea County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average number of employees per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 67 ‰ | 221 ‰ | 71 ‰ | ranked 1,656 of 3,163 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of labour resources (working-age population) (2026) | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% | ranked 1,317 of 3,163 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Cerna | Tulcea County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist accommodation places per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 5.4 ‰ | 62.4 ‰ | 11.8 ‰ | ranked 1,010 of 1,362 |
Environment
| Indicator | Cerna | Tulcea County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drinking water distributed per inhabitant (m³) (2025) | 76.8 m³ | 52.8 m³ | 27.2 m³ | ranked 148 of 2,656 |
Health
| Indicator | Cerna | Tulcea County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 0.30 ‰ | 1.55 ‰ | 0.52 ‰ | ranked 2,423 of 2,833 | |
| Family doctors per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 0.30 ‰ | 0.39 ‰ | 0.46 ‰ | ranked 2,311 of 2,807 | |
| Pharmacists per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 0.30 ‰ | 0.73 ‰ | 0.47 ‰ | ranked 1,696 of 2,248 |
Education
| Indicator | Cerna | Tulcea County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School population (children, pupils and students) per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 68 ‰ | 120 ‰ | 91 ‰ | ranked 2,530 of 3,158 | |
| Education units per 10,000 inhabitants (2025) | 3.0 per 10,000 inh. | 3.5 per 10,000 inh. | 3.6 per 10,000 inh. | ranked 1,916 of 3,122 |
Businesses by activity: Cerna
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 trade45 · 22.7%
- Manufacturing24 · 12.1%
- Transport and storage21 · 10.6%
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing19 · 9.6%
- Administrative and support services18 · 9.1%
- Construction15 · 7.6%
- Accommodation and food services13 · 6.6%
- Professional, scientific and technical9 · 4.5%
Most common activities
- Retail trade (except motor vehicles)35 · 17.7%
- Wholesale trade (except motor vehicles)21 · 10.6%
- Land transport and transport via pipelines20 · 10.1%
- Crop and animal production, hunting and related services18 · 9.1%
- Specialised construction activities14 · 7.1%
- Food and beverage service activities12 · 6.1%
- Manufacture of food products10 · 5.1%
- Civil engineering10 · 5.1%
- Construction of buildings9 · 4.5%
- Trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles9 · 4.5%
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Cerna?
Cerna has 3,321 residents (2026), ranking 1,382 of 3,181 localities.
How big is Cerna?
Cerna covers 223.0 km², with a density of 15 people per km².
Is the population of Cerna growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Cerna went from 3,859 to 3,321, a change of −13.9%.
Where is Cerna?
Cerna is in Tulcea County. Latitude 45.083, longitude 28.317.
Live births per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Cerna?
In Cerna, “Live births per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 3.0 ‰ (2025), ranking 3,046 of 3,157 localities; the national median is 6.9 ‰.
Drinking water distributed per inhabitant (m³): what is the figure for Cerna?
In Cerna, “Drinking water distributed per inhabitant (m³)” stands at 76.8 m³ (2025), ranking 148 of 2,656 localities; the national median is 27.2 m³.
Which localities border Cerna?
The nearest to Cerna are Hamcearca (7.4 km), Turcoaia (10 km), Greci (11 km), Horia (11 km), Valea Teilor (13 km).