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Economy of Croatia vs Romania compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Croatia has a GDP of $105B compared to $429B for Romania, ranking 73/197 and 39/197 by economy size, respectively.

Croatia has $58.7B in government debt (55.9% of GDP), compared to $260B (60.6% of GDP) in Romania.

Croatia vs Romania GDP by year

Croatia
Romania
1x
Year GDP, current $
Croatia Romania
2025 $105,060,182,186 $428,677,977,855
2024 $92,981,894,168 $382,564,217,989
2023 $85,621,337,533 $347,757,995,759
2022 $71,196,460,237 $295,317,862,856
2021 $69,002,262,505 $285,072,444,957
2020 $57,959,824,238 $250,624,575,872
2019 $61,467,261,345 $250,080,428,512
2018 $61,668,280,700 $241,791,427,224
2017 $56,182,225,079 $210,147,385,855
2016 $52,650,804,052 $185,290,759,249
2015 $50,999,271,059 $177,885,131,240
2014 $59,607,109,597 $199,722,319,676
2013 $59,846,869,999 $189,798,603,751
2012 $57,547,495,860 $179,117,323,107
2011 $62,889,150,894 $192,623,977,894
2010 $58,975,127,201 $170,064,350,672
2009 $62,315,450,611 $174,110,532,659
2008 $68,473,103,477 $214,315,932,061
2007 $59,290,547,254 $174,588,782,939
2006 $49,583,643,048 $122,023,735,993
2005 $45,012,776,906 $98,454,380,120
2004 $41,836,096,243 $74,973,656,852
2003 $35,244,797,329 $57,806,384,143
2002 $26,757,633,353 $46,065,502,703
2001 $23,067,071,478 $40,395,116,581
2000 $22,134,069,750 $37,253,739,511
1999 $23,776,940,769 $35,953,156,754
1998 $25,889,813,449 $41,696,091,974
1997 $24,175,272,572 $35,575,214,078
1996 $24,151,469,717 $36,937,074,278
1995 $22,772,224,146 $37,430,162,103
1994 $15,062,911,617 $30,072,805,104
1993 $11,259,647,874 $26,361,160,450
1992 $10,621,169,291 $25,121,666,667
1991 $18,760,386,775 $28,850,634,900
1990 $25,650,213,280 $38,247,882,300
1989 - $41,450,777,202
1988 - $40,424,528,302
1987 - $38,067,567,568

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1987–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/romania | CC BY

GDP per capita in Croatia vs Romania by year

Croatia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Romania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Croatia Romania
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $27,104 - $22,538 -
2024 $24,050 $49,551 $20,080 $49,077
2023 $22,183 $47,760 $18,244 $45,982
2022 $18,466 $42,125 $15,503 $41,979
2021 $17,789 $36,930 $14,908 $37,534
2020 $14,808 $31,594 $13,009 $34,194
2019 $15,564 $33,064 $12,910 $33,425
2018 $15,460 $29,789 $12,416 $29,383
2017 $13,902 $27,888 $10,728 $26,943
2016 $12,820 $25,803 $9,405 $23,905
2015 $12,284 $23,750 $8,977 $21,625
2014 $14,187 $22,706 $10,032 $20,633
2013 $14,135 $22,430 $9,498 $19,678
2012 $13,508 $21,619 $8,930 $19,808
2011 $14,692 $21,191 $9,561 $18,804
2010 $13,730 $20,139 $8,400 $17,355
2009 $14,475 $20,358 $8,548 $16,641
2008 $15,888 $21,018 $10,435 $16,782
2007 $13,756 $19,568 $8,360 $13,703
2006 $11,501 $17,629 $5,758 $11,554
2005 $10,443 $15,451 $4,618 $9,602
2004 $9,719 $14,686 $3,495 $8,989
2003 $8,190 $13,692 $2,679 $7,559
2002 $6,220 $12,775 $2,120 $7,162
2001 $5,365 $11,653 $1,825 $6,520
2000 $4,954 $10,675 $1,660 $5,850
1999 $5,269 $9,943 $1,600 $5,596
1998 $5,712 $9,890 $1,853 $5,545
1997 $5,331 $9,536 $1,577 $5,564
1996 $5,300 $8,806 $1,633 $5,746
1995 $4,929 $8,052 $1,650 $5,429
1994 $3,238 $7,337 $1,323 $4,995
1993 $2,448 $6,861 $1,158 $4,699
1992 $2,321 $7,326 $1,102 $4,515
1991 $4,001 $7,918 $1,254 $4,795
1990 $5,369 $9,526 $1,648 $5,280
1989 - - $1,790 -
1988 - - $1,753 -
1987 - - $1,659 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1987–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/romania | CC BY

Croatia's GDP per capita is $27,104, ranking 49/197, compared to $22,538 in Romania, ranking 57/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Croatia ranks 46th at $49,551, while Romania ranks 47th at $49,077.

Economic indicators

Croatia Romania
Gross domestic product
$105B
2025
$429B
2025
GDP rank
73/197
2025
39/197
2025
GDP growth
3.4%
2024-2025
0.68%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$27,104
2025
$22,538
2025
GDP per capita rank
49/197
2025
57/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$49,551
2024
$49,077
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
46/197
2024
47/197
2024
Government debt
$58.7B
2025
$260B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
55.9%
2025
60.6%
2025
Government debt per person
$15,144
2025
$13,650
2025
Government debt per person rank
44/185
2025
48/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$20,376
2026
$13,510
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$37.9B
2025
$70.9B
2025
Number of billionaires
1
2026
6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
23.3%
2023
21.8%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2023
2.4%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
49.3%
2025
40.5%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.69%
2024-2025
7.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
6.5%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.9%
2025
6.1%
2025
Population
3849788
18912567

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Croatia
Spending

Debt
Romania
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Croatia Romania
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 49.3% 55.9% 40.5% 60.6%
2024 48% 57.4% 40% 57.5%
2023 46.3% 60.9% 37% 52.6%
2022 45% 68.5% 37.5% 51.9%
2021 48.2% 78.2% 37.2% 51.8%
2020 53.8% 86.5% 38.3% 49.5%
2019 44.4% 70.9% 33.4% 36.8%
2018 45% 72.8% 31.9% 36.4%
2017 44.1% 76.2% 31% 37.1%
2016 45.9% 79.3% 31.8% 39.5%
2015 47.6% 82.8% 34.2% 39.4%
2014 48.7% 83.2% 33.8% 40.5%
2013 48% 79.5% 34.2% 39.3%
2012 47.3% 68.9% 33.5% 36.2%
2011 48.6% 63.1% 35% 32.6%
2010 48.2% 56.8% 37.4% 30.2%
2009 49.3% 47.9% 36.3% 22.5%
2008 46.3% 38.9% 35.3% 13%
2007 46.4% 37.1% 34.6% 12.4%
2006 44.6% 38.4% 33.9% 12.7%
2005 46.5% 40.9% 32.3% 17.8%
2004 49% 40% 33.7% 21.3%
2003 49.6% 37.8% 31.8% 24.9%
2002 49.2% 36.5% 32.1% 27.4%
2001 50.6% 36.6% 33.2% 27.4%
2000 54.6% 35.4% 35% 29.6%
1999 58.9% 30% 35.1% 21.7%
1998 56.8% 23.3% 34.7% 16.5%
1997 51.7% 22.5% 33.5% 15%
1996 52.1% - 33.5% 11%
1995 50.3% - 34.4% 6.91%
1994 45.4% - 33.1% -
1993 35.9% - 33.5% -
1992 37.1% - 41.5% -
1991 - - 38.3% -
1990 - - 38.4% -
1989 - - 40.1% -
1988 - - 36.6% -
1987 - - 40.7% -
1986 - - 42.5% -
1985 - - 41.6% -
1984 - - 28.6% -
1983 - - 25.8% -
1982 - - 28.5% -
1981 - - 30.4% -
1980 - - 33.6% -
1979 - - 42% -
1978 - - 42.1% -
1977 - - 39.9% -
1976 - - 37.5% -
1975 - - 40.6% -
1974 - - 37.6% -
1973 - - 32.6% -
1972 - - 29.9% -
1971 - - 27.2% -
1970 - - 28.1% -
1969 - - 32.1% -
1968 - - 31.8% -
1967 - - 30.6% -
1966 - - 27.3% -
1965 - - 25.6% -
1964 - - 25.1% -
1963 - - 23.1% -
1962 - - 43.4% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1999, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/romania | CC BY

In 2025, Croatia's government spending was $51.8B, accounting for 49.3% of its GDP, while Romania spent $173B, or 40.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 55.9% in Croatia and 60.6% in Romania, ranking 87/185 and 76/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Croatia

Romania
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Croatia Romania
2025 -2.89% -7.64%
2024 -1.95% -8.68%
2023 -0.79% -5.66%
2022 0.14% -5.85%
2021 -2.57% -6.74%
2020 -7.24% -9.6%
2019 2.32% -4.58%
2018 0.22% -2.76%
2017 0.81% -2.86%
2016 -1.04% -2.5%
2015 -3.53% -1.35%
2014 -5.19% -1.76%
2013 -5.51% -2.44%
2012 -5.46% -2.39%
2011 -7.51% -4.14%
2010 -6.45% -6.22%
2009 -7.15% -6.86%
2008 -2.33% -4.6%
2007 -2.27% -3.05%
2006 -2% -1.36%
2005 -3.24% -0.69%
2004 -6.09% -3.39%
2003 -5.03% -2.29%
2002 -4.9% -2.59%
2001 -4.79% -3.2%
2000 -9.2% -3.99%
1999 -11.1% -3.58%
1998 -6.36% -5.33%
1997 -4.93% -5.19%
1996 -4.41% -4.74%
1995 -4.23% -3.32%
1994 -0.82% -2.2%
1993 -2.67% -0.35%
1992 -5.69% -4.55%
1991 - 3.23%
1990 - 1.03%
1989 - -2.87%
1988 - 8.4%
1987 - 2.37%
1986 - 5.72%
1985 - 6.36%
1984 - 15.2%
1983 - 9.35%
1982 - 0.36%
1981 - 0.61%
1980 - -1.95%
1979 - 0%
1978 - 0%
1977 - 0.23%
1976 - 0.66%
1975 - 0.41%
1974 - 0.51%
1973 - 1.53%
1972 - 1.21%
1971 - 0.89%
1970 - 0.52%
1969 - 0.93%
1968 - 1.65%
1967 - 1.23%
1966 - 0.91%
1965 - -1.29%
1964 - -3.11%
1963 - -1.61%
1962 - -4.86%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/romania | CC BY

In 2025, Croatia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.04B, equivalent to 2.89% of GDP. This compares to Romania's deficit of $32.8B, or 7.64% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Croatia recorded a fiscal deficit in 30 of those years, while Romania ran a deficit in 34 years. On average, Croatia posted an annual deficit equal to 3.94% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.01% of GDP for Romania.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Croatia

Romania
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Croatia Romania
2025 3.69% 7.3%
2024 2.97% 5.6%
2023 7.94% 10.4%
2022 10.8% 13.8%
2021 2.55% 5%
2020 0.15% 2.6%
2019 0.77% 3.8%
2018 1.5% 4.6%
2017 1.13% 1.3%
2016 -1.12% -1.6%
2015 -0.46% -0.6%
2014 -0.22% 1.1%
2013 2.22% 4%
2012 3.41% 3.3%
2011 2.27% 5.8%
2010 1.03% 6.1%
2009 2.38% 5.6%
2008 6.08% 7.8%
2007 2.9% 4.8%
2006 3.19% 6.6%
2005 3.32% 9%
2004 2.06% 11.9%
2003 1.77% 15.4%
2002 1.67% 22.5%
2001 3.78% 34.5%
2000 4.61% 45.7%
1999 4.02% 45.8%
1998 6.4% 59.1%
1997 4.17% 154.8%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/romania | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Croatia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.93%, compared with 17.1% in Romania. In 2025, inflation was 3.69% in Croatia and 7.3% in Romania.

Top exports between countries

Croatia
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $111M
Chemicals & pharma $103M
Transport & tourism services $68.2M
Textiles & consumer goods $63.5M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $58.2M
Raw materials & minerals $43.5M
Business & finance services $35.1M
Metals $24.1M
Wood & paper products $17.3M
Raw agricultural goods $11.6M
Romania
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $194M
Textiles & consumer goods $97M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $84.6M
Animal & marine products $82.7M
Chemicals & pharma $47.2M
Business & finance services $39.2M
Raw materials & minerals $36.6M
Wood & paper products $30.5M
Raw agricultural goods $26.2M
Transport & tourism services $24.6M

Balance of trade

Croatia Romania
Current account balance
-$1.93B
2024
-$33.9B
2025
Current account balance ranking
141/190
2024
186/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.08%
2024
-7.9%
2025
Goods imports
$42.5B
2024
$139B
2025
Goods exports
$21.9B
2024
$102B
2025
Service imports
$8.42B
2024
$35.9B
2025
Service exports
$24.8B
2024
$50.1B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53%
2025
40.7%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
48%
2025
35.5%
2025

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Croatia Romania
Economic freedom 67.5 65.4
Economic freedom ranking 56/197 64/197
Property rights 81.1 81
Government integrity 52.6 50
Judicial effectiveness 71.7 67
Tax burden 70 89.1
Government spending 34.9 56.7
Fiscal health 92.2 21.4
Business freedom 79.6 74.4
Labor freedom 58.9 63.6
Monetary freedom 69.9 72.7
Trade freedom 79.4 79.4
Investment freedom 60 70
Financial freedom 60 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Croatia
Romania
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Croatia Romania
2026 67.5 65.4
2025 68.7 66.5
2024 67.2 64.4
2023 66.4 64.5
2022 67.6 67.1
2021 63.6 69.5
2020 62.2 69.7
2019 61.4 68.6
2018 61 69.4
2017 59.4 69.7
2016 59.1 65.6
2015 61.5 66.6
2014 60.4 65.5
2013 61.3 65.1
2012 60.9 64.4
2011 61.1 64.7
2010 59.2 64.2
2009 55.1 63.2
2008 54.1 61.7
2007 53.4 61.2
2006 53.6 58.2
2005 51.9 52.1
2004 53.1 50
2003 53.3 50.6
2002 51.1 48.7
2001 50.7 50
2000 53.6 52.1
1999 53.1 50.1
1998 51.7 54.4
1997 46.7 50.8
1996 48 46.2
1995 - 42.9

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/romania | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Croatia is 67.5, ranking 56/197, compared to 65.4 for Romania, ranking 64/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Croatia Romania
Services, % of GDP
60.9%
2025
61.7%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
19%
2025
25.3%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.83%
2025
3%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$98.3B
2025
$384B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$50,410
2025
$49,550
2025
Total reserves including gold
$4.22B
2025
$90.6B
2025
Total reserves ranking
110/177
2025
31/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.74B
2024
-$8.57B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.54B
2024
$7.16B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.79B
2024
$1.99B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
20.3%
2024
19%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.6%
2025
25.9%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/romania | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1999, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2024–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.