Most of the German colonies in Bukovina and Bessarabia formed until the middle of the 19th century. Three types of German colonies can be distinguished in Bukovina. In mountains of southwest Bukovina colonies were founded by German miners. In four colonies established German glassblowers of Catholic religion, originating from Bohemia. The most numerous were the colonies of German peasants, founded in the years 1787-1788, and in the 1830s. Most German settlers in Bucovina lived together with the local Romanian population, and only a few colonies were inhabited almost exclusively by Germans. At the beginning of the Galician administration (1786), in Bukovina lived approximately 1,580 German citizens. By the middle of the 19th century, the number of Germans in Bukovina exceeded 25 thousands.In Bessarabia, the Germans settled compact in the steppe of Bugeac. During the years 1814-1842 in the valley of the Cogâlnic, Ceaga, Sărata and Cilighider rivers were founded 24 German colonies. Two small German communities also existed in northern Bessarabia. The number of Germans in Bessarabia increased from 8,284 (in 1818) to 19,139 (in 1850). Already in the 1850s, only in 24 German colonies in southern Bessarabia were registered 24,049 persons. More than 98% of the Bessarabian Germans lived compactly in the colonies of Bugeac and were almost exclusively engaged in agriculture.