This study examines the processes of suburbanization in Romania based on census data, with a particular focus on the post-transition period. It highlights that significant suburbanization is taking place around major cities (e.g., Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara), characterized by urban population outflow and the rapid growth of suburban settlements. The phenomenon has led to social, economic, and spatial restructuring, while smaller towns and disadvantaged regions often experience demographic decline. The study identifies three scenarios of suburbanization: absent, emerging, and strong suburbanization. The process is influenced by economic factors, infrastructure development, and differences in the real estate market, accompanied by increasing social inequalities and unregulated land use.
Keywords: urbanization, suburbanization, post-socialist urban development, metropolitan areas, demographic change, spatial restructuring
