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Romania economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank

Romania ranked 39/197 by economy size with a GDP of $429B and 57/197 by GDP per capita at $22,538. Romania has $260B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 60.6%.

In 2025, Romania made up 0.36% of the world's economy, compared to 0.22% in 1987.

Romania GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2025 $428,677,977,855 0.68%
2024 $382,564,217,989 0.92%
2023 $347,757,995,759 2.26%
2022 $295,317,862,856 4.19%
2021 $285,072,444,957 5.59%
2020 $250,624,575,872 -3.6%
2019 $250,080,428,512 3.96%
2018 $241,791,427,224 5.39%
2017 $210,147,385,855 8.2%
2016 $185,290,759,249 2.86%
2015 $177,885,131,240 3.16%
2014 $199,722,319,676 4.12%
2013 $189,798,603,751 0.28%
2012 $179,117,323,107 1.9%
2011 $192,623,977,894 4.5%
2010 $170,064,350,672 -3.91%
2009 $174,110,532,659 -5.52%
2008 $214,315,932,061 9.31%
2007 $174,588,782,939 7.23%
2006 $122,023,735,993 8.03%
2005 $98,454,380,120 4.67%
2004 $74,973,656,852 10.4%
2003 $57,806,384,143 2.34%
2002 $46,065,502,703 5.7%
2001 $40,395,116,581 5.22%
2000 $37,253,739,511 2.46%
1999 $35,953,156,754 -0.38%
1998 $41,696,091,974 -2.03%
1997 $35,575,214,078 -4.85%
1996 $36,937,074,278 3.91%
1995 $37,430,162,103 6.23%
1994 $30,072,805,104 3.93%
1993 $26,361,160,450 1.53%
1992 $25,121,666,667 -8.77%
1991 $28,850,634,900 -12.9%
1990 $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/romania | CC BY

Romania GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $22,538 -
2024 $20,080 $49,077
2023 $18,244 $45,982
2022 $15,503 $41,979
2021 $14,908 $37,534
2020 $13,009 $34,194
2019 $12,910 $33,425
2018 $12,416 $29,383
2017 $10,728 $26,943
2016 $9,405 $23,905
2015 $8,977 $21,625
2014 $10,032 $20,633
2013 $9,498 $19,678
2012 $8,930 $19,808
2011 $9,561 $18,804
2010 $8,400 $17,355
2009 $8,548 $16,641
2008 $10,435 $16,782
2007 $8,360 $13,703
2006 $5,758 $11,554
2005 $4,618 $9,602
2004 $3,495 $8,989
2003 $2,679 $7,559
2002 $2,120 $7,162
2001 $1,825 $6,520
2000 $1,660 $5,850
1999 $1,600 $5,596
1998 $1,853 $5,545
1997 $1,577 $5,564
1996 $1,633 $5,746
1995 $1,650 $5,429
1994 $1,323 $4,995
1993 $1,158 $4,699
1992 $1,102 $4,515
1991 $1,254 $4,795
1990 $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/romania | CC BY

Romania has a GDP per capita of $22,538, ranking 57/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $49,077, ranking 47/197, and a median annual after tax income of $13,510, ranking 58/197.

Romania GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 37 49 -
2024 42 57 42
2023 43 60 45
2022 46 62 45
2021 47 61 46
2020 47 62 45
2019 47 63 47
2018 48 63 52
2017 49 68 54
2016 51 69 57
2015 53 73 62
2014 55 73 64
2013 56 74 66
2012 55 77 62
2011 50 72 66
2010 49 72 67
2009 47 67 64
2008 43 66 66
2007 45 65 72
2006 48 76 79
2005 50 80 86
2004 51 84 86
2003 54 88 90
2002 54 91 91
2001 54 97 96
2000 57 99 98
1999 56 100 99
1998 55 96 94
1997 55 104 93
1996 55 98 82
1995 55 96 84
1994 55 101 85
1993 56 106 90
1992 56 104 90
1991 57 101 89
1990 50 87 79
1989 43 77 -
1988 42 77 -
1987 41 74 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/romania | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2025 Romania is ranked 37th out of 179 by GDP (up from 57th), 49th by GDP per capita (up from 99th), and 42nd by GDP per capita PPP (up from 98th).

Economic indicators

Romania Rank
Gross domestic product
$429B
2025
39/197
GDP growth
0.68%
2024-2025
168/194
GDP per capita
$22,538
2025
57/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$49,077
2024
47/197
Government debt
$260B
2025
38/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
60.6%
2025
76/185
Government debt per person
$13,650
2025
48/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$13,510
2026
58/197
Listed domestic companies
83
2025
55/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$70.9B
2025
47/100
Number of billionaires
6
2026
43/74
Billionaire frequency
1 in 2,493,612
2026
51/74
Income share by richest 10%
21.8%
2023
159/169
Income share by poorest 10%
2.4%
2023
109/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
40.5%
2025
51/195
Consumer prices inflation
7.3%
2024-2025
37/195
Central bank interest rate
6.5%
2024
46/106
Unemployment rate
6.1%
2025
79/196
Population
18912567
68/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2025 40.5% 60.6% -7.64%
2024 40% 57.5% -8.68%
2023 37% 52.6% -5.66%
2022 37.5% 51.9% -5.85%
2021 37.2% 51.8% -6.74%
2020 38.3% 49.5% -9.6%
2019 33.4% 36.8% -4.58%
2018 31.9% 36.4% -2.76%
2017 31% 37.1% -2.86%
2016 31.8% 39.5% -2.5%
2015 34.2% 39.4% -1.35%
2014 33.8% 40.5% -1.76%
2013 34.2% 39.3% -2.44%
2012 33.5% 36.2% -2.39%
2011 35% 32.6% -4.14%
2010 37.4% 30.2% -6.22%
2009 36.3% 22.5% -6.86%
2008 35.3% 13% -4.6%
2007 34.6% 12.4% -3.05%
2006 33.9% 12.7% -1.36%
2005 32.3% 17.8% -0.69%
2004 33.7% 21.3% -3.39%
2003 31.8% 24.9% -2.29%
2002 32.1% 27.4% -2.59%
2001 33.2% 27.4% -3.2%
2000 35% 29.6% -3.99%
1999 35.1% 21.7% -3.58%
1998 34.7% 16.5% -5.33%
1997 33.5% 15% -5.19%
1996 33.5% 11% -4.74%
1995 34.4% 6.91% -3.32%
1994 33.1% - -2.2%
1993 33.5% - -0.35%
1992 41.5% - -4.55%
1991 38.3% - 3.23%
1990 38.4% - 1.03%
1989 40.1% - -2.87%
1988 36.6% - 8.4%
1987 40.7% - 2.37%
1986 42.5% - 5.72%
1985 41.6% - 6.36%
1984 28.6% - 15.2%
1983 25.8% - 9.35%
1982 28.5% - 0.36%
1981 30.4% - 0.61%
1980 33.6% - -1.95%
1979 42% - 0%
1978 42.1% - 0%
1977 39.9% - 0.23%
1976 37.5% - 0.66%
1975 40.6% - 0.41%
1974 37.6% - 0.51%
1973 32.6% - 1.53%
1972 29.9% - 1.21%
1971 27.2% - 0.89%
1970 28.1% - 0.52%
1969 32.1% - 0.93%
1968 31.8% - 1.65%
1967 30.6% - 1.23%
1966 27.3% - 0.91%
1965 25.6% - -1.29%
1964 25.1% - -3.11%
1963 23.1% - -1.61%
1962 43.4% - -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 (1962–1999, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/romania | CC BY

This chart shows Romania's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 50 years, Romania recorded a fiscal deficit in 36 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 1.76% of GDP. In 2025, government spending reached $173B (40.5% of GDP), with a deficit of 7.64%.

The national debt reached $260B, ranking 38th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 60.6%, ranking 76th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2025 7.3%
2024 5.6%
2023 10.4%
2022 13.8%
2021 5%
2020 2.6%
2019 3.8%
2018 4.6%
2017 1.3%
2016 -1.6%
2015 -0.6%
2014 1.1%
2013 4%
2012 3.3%
2011 5.8%
2010 6.1%
2009 5.6%
2008 7.8%
2007 4.8%
2006 6.6%
2005 9%
2004 11.9%
2003 15.4%
2002 22.5%
2001 34.5%
2000 45.7%
1999 45.8%
1998 59.1%
1997 154.8%
1996 38.8%
1995 32.3%
1994 136.7%
1993 256.1%
1992 210.4%
1991 161.1%
1990 127.9%
1989 0.9%
1988 2.6%
1987 1.1%
1986 0.7%
1985 -0.2%
1984 -0.3%
1983 4.7%
1982 16.9%
1981 2.2%
1980 1.5%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1980–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/romania | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Romania has had an average annual inflation rate of 4.87%. In 2025, inflation was 7.3%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Romania Rank
Current account balance
-$33.9B
2025
186/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
-7.9%
2025
156/190
Goods imports
$139B
2025
32/189
Goods exports
$102B
2025
38/189
Service imports
$35.9B
2025
37/189
Service exports
$50.1B
2025
35/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
40.7%
2025
96/182
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
35.5%
2025
93/193

Romania top 10 trading partners

Romania's biggest trading partner accounting for 18.7% of all exports and imports is Germany, with a trade balance between the two of -$1.32B: Romania exports $29.9B worth of goods and services to Germany and imports $31.2B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Romania.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 Germany $61.2B 18.7% $29.9B $31.2B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
2 Italy $26.4B 8.08% $12.8B $13.6B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
3 France $17.9B 5.48% $10.1B $7.75B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
4 Hungary $17.8B 5.45% $6.89B $10.9B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
5 Netherlands $16.9B 5.17% $7.91B $8.99B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
6 Poland $15.3B 4.67% $5.11B $10.2B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
7 Turkey $13.3B 4.08% $4.7B $8.63B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
8 Bulgaria $13.2B 4.03% $5.29B $7.89B Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
9 China $11.4B 3.49% $924M $10.5B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
10 Spain $10B 3.06% $4.39B $5.61B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment

Top 10 exports

Romania Rank
Machinery & equipment $54.2B 30/193
Transport & tourism services $16.1B 42/191
IT & IP services $11.1B 25/185
Raw materials & minerals $11B 53/193
Business & finance services $10.6B 33/189
Textiles & consumer goods $9.85B 30/193
Metals $8.12B 40/192
Chemicals & pharma $6.83B 40/193
Raw agricultural goods $6.51B 25/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $5.71B 41/192

Top 10 imports

Romania Rank
Machinery & equipment $58B 35/193
Chemicals & pharma $21.2B 35/193
Raw materials & minerals $17.2B 37/193
Transport & tourism services $15.8B 43/191
Metals $14.4B 28/193
Textiles & consumer goods $13.8B 30/193
Business & finance services $8.43B 42/189
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $7.85B 35/193
IT & IP services $5.53B 37/185
Raw agricultural goods $4.72B 35/193

Economic freedom indices

Romania Rank
Economic freedom 65.4 64/197
Property rights 81 39/182
Government integrity 50 65/182
Judicial effectiveness 67 53/182
Tax burden 89.1 34/182
Government spending 56.7 128/180
Fiscal health 21.4 151/181
Business freedom 74.4 49/182
Labor freedom 63.6 28/182
Monetary freedom 72.7 101/180
Trade freedom 79.4 52/181
Investment freedom 70 41/181
Financial freedom 60 62/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 65.4 67 89.1 56.7 21.4
2025 66.5 67 93.7 59.1 36.1
2024 64.4 65.8 93.9 58 14.9
2023 64.5 47.2 94.4 59.7 14.7
2022 67.1 64.8 94.3 63.9 42.8
2021 69.5 63.1 94.3 69.2 78.9
2020 69.7 56.1 90.3 70.4 85.6
2019 68.6 51.9 89.7 69 89.3
2018 69.4 59.7 87.3 66.9 91.1
2017 69.7 58.5 87.4 65.3 90.9
2016 65.6 - 87.5 65.6 -
2015 66.6 - 86.9 62.3 -
2014 65.5 - 87 59.2 -
2013 65.1 - 87.9 62.2 -
2012 64.4 - 87.4 55.1 -
2011 64.7 - 86.8 57.6 -
2010 64.2 - 85.8 59.8 -
2009 63.2 - 87 70 -
2008 61.7 - 85.6 70.8 -
2007 61.2 - 85.9 71 -
2006 58.2 - 87.5 68.9 -
2005 52.1 - 70.1 68.9 -
2004 50 - 69.9 74.8 -
2003 50.6 - 69.1 62.4 -
2002 48.7 - 64.4 58.9 -
2001 50 - 57.6 79.7 -
2000 52.1 - 58.3 63.3 -
1999 50.1 - 45 65.1 -
1998 54.4 - 43.9 64.3 -
1997 50.8 - 44.3 65.5 -
1996 46.2 - 42.4 64.9 -
1995 42.9 - 39.4 52.2 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/romania | CC BY

Romania is ranked 58/174 for economic freedom with a score of 65.4, compared to 84/162 and a score of 58.2 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Romania Rank
Services, % of GDP
61.7%
2025
64/191
Industry, % of GDP
25.3%
2025
84/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3%
2025
130/193
GNI, Atlas method
$384B
2025
42/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$49,550
2025
44/191
Total reserves including gold
$90.6B
2025
31/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$8.57B
2025
173/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$7.16B
2024
40/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.99B
2024
43/193
Poverty at national poverty lines
19%
2023
104/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
25.9%
2025
61/179

Compare Romania vs other countries

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/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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1999, 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.