Frequently named "town" after the first half of the XVI century, Craiova was always regarded as an important economic region of Romania.

A proof of the continuous democratic development of Craiova is the increase of the urban population:

- in 1735 over 4000 inhabitants (836 families).

- around 1848 about 20 000 inhabitants.

- around1859, there were 25,000 inhabitants. Craiova was placed immediately after the capital of Romania, Bucharest, which had over 50,000 inhabitants.

- at the end of the XIXth century above 40 000 inhabitants.

- in 1910 there were entered 51,404 inhabitants; Craiova was the second town of Romania, after Bucharest, having over 50,000 inhabitants.

- in 1930 - 63,215 inhabitants.

- in 1948 - 84,574 inhabitants.

- in 1956 - 96.897 inhabitants.

- in 1965 - 150,098 inhabitants.

- in 1975 - 197,820 inhabitants.

- in 1985 - 275,098 inhabitants.

- in 1995 - 308,000 inhabitants.

During the first two decades of the XIXth century, Craiova was characterized by the economic town flourish, increasing interest of its inhabitants in the handicraft commercial (trade) field, and public services. In comparison with other urbane centers, Craiova is regarded as an important commercial administrative cultural center.

During the czarist rule (1828-1834), Craiova vas an important economic development. In 1832 there were 595 shops, from which 197 made of wood and 398 made of brick (wall). The town was still the commercial center of Oltenia; Craiova exported cereals (grains), furs (skins), animals etc. to in Austria and Turkey.

Because of increasing demands of exportation, there was set up in 1846, the first Romanian stock company from the transportation of the grains by ship on the Danube, at Braila.

Around 1860, there were 4 633 buildings in Craiova, from which 3220 houses, 26 churches, 11 school, 60 factories and work shop. There were about 90 industrial establishments from which 12 mills, 3 beer factories, 2 gas and oil factories, 4 tanning yards and 2 printing works. Statistics mention the existence of 57% from the total number of handicraftsmen of county Dolj in Craiova (1088 handicraftsmen, 687 journeymen and 485 apprentices).

At October 26, 1896, the power station from Craiova began to function (with AEG -Allemeine Elektricitats- Gesellschaft Equipments) having an installed power of 310 CP and which supplied 365 lamps on 39 sheets in a net that was 30 km length. Craiova was the first town supplied with electric power on the bases of internal combustion motors.

In 1900 Craiova had 43,1% from the number of industrial units of Oltenia, counting 924 industrial concerns (from which 20 big industry establishments, using 1078 workers).

In 1925 there were 40 big industry establishments and in 1930 there were 5530 workers.

The banking trade also developed at the beginning of the XXth century there were 6 banks and 2 exchange houses already).

In the period between the two wars, Craiova situated in an eminently agrarian region advanced with too small steps on the industrialization way, in comparison with otter urbane region of the country. The number of those who chose the industrialization (way) was very small. The specific feature of the town economy wanting the big factory production is the importance of the domestic work.

In 1939 there were in Craiova 7 shops (industrial units) with over 100 workers: Cloth Industry "Oltenia", "Scrisul Romanesc" were well-known all over the country and abroad.

Since 1960 the city has become a powerful industrial center: the construction of machines and equipment industry, aeronautic industry, chemical industry, food industry, building materials industry, electrotechnical industry, extractive industry, power industry.

The Revolution from the 1989 brought many important changes in the economic field, by setting up the free market and by decentralizing the management of all national economic sector. The spirit of property was enforced by the liberalization of private initiative and by the privatization of some goods that had belonged exclusively to the State.

In the industrial field, there was a diminution of production of all capacities due to the fact that the direction of the change impact and sock importance that followed the change of economic and social systems couldn't be anticipated . However, the industry is still a very important branch of activity, having a great influence over the economy of this town (70%).

During the post-Revolution period, the telecommunication services, banking and insurance services, the services of consultance in business (CDIMM, Romanian-American Center) registered a real program. The number of join companies and the value of invested capital is very huge at county level, situating the Dolj county on the first place from this point of view.

Referring to the importance of invested capital, after the South-Korea - Daewoo Automobile Romania, the biggest vested interest value comes from: Italy, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Israel,...

The engaged population - about 11,000 persons - is distributed in the following way: 38% in the industrial field, 15% in the trade and repair field, 10% in the transport and depositing field, 8% in the education field, 5.7% medical field.