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Economy of Romania vs Yemen compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Romania has a GDP of $383B compared to $21.6B for Yemen, ranking 43/197 and 124/197 by economy size, respectively.

Romania has $219B in government debt (61.6% of GDP), compared to $18.8B (71.2% of GDP) in Yemen.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Romania
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Yemen
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Romania Yemen
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1987 $38,067,567,568 - - -
1988 $40,424,528,302 - - -
1989 $41,450,777,202 - - -
1990 $38,247,882,300 $116,460,149,705 $12,643,821,569 $23,917,787,986
1991 $28,850,634,900 $101,415,582,149 $14,665,445,462 $25,423,052,504
1992 $25,121,666,667 $92,524,246,376 $17,959,367,194 $27,509,674,488
1993 $26,361,160,450 $93,938,788,973 $21,736,802,664 $28,610,602,412
1994 $30,072,805,104 $97,632,408,356 $28,019,483,764 $30,533,792,550
1995 $37,430,162,103 $103,718,335,743 $12,796,345,679 $32,264,866,629
1996 $36,937,074,278 $107,771,339,314 $6,496,163,616 $33,760,332,652
1997 $35,575,214,078 $102,545,439,457 $6,838,298,531 $35,526,373,478
1998 $41,696,091,974 $100,463,958,893 $6,322,175,566 $37,660,334,235
1999 $35,953,156,754 $100,085,550,636 $7,639,325,296 $39,082,211,639
2000 $37,253,739,511 $102,548,872,692 $9,679,316,770 $41,498,240,974
2001 $40,395,116,581 $107,900,062,083 $9,852,990,693 $43,076,687,104
2002 $46,065,502,703 $114,053,593,614 $10,693,430,511 $44,771,854,466
2003 $57,806,384,143 $116,723,756,275 $11,777,532,662 $46,449,634,128
2004 $74,973,656,852 $128,895,841,499 $13,867,634,371 $48,294,937,071
2005 $98,454,380,120 $134,912,890,211 $16,731,566,717 $50,995,468,285
2006 $122,023,735,993 $145,744,791,283 $19,063,143,370 $52,612,233,385
2007 $174,588,782,939 $156,287,689,281 $21,650,528,674 $54,368,654,892
2008 $214,315,932,061 $170,834,114,653 $26,910,855,807 $56,351,789,349
2009 $174,110,532,659 $161,409,698,529 $25,130,278,213 $58,530,478,862
2010 $170,064,350,672 $155,105,339,844 $30,906,749,533 $63,038,676,059
2011 $192,623,977,894 $162,078,238,595 $32,726,417,878 $55,023,373,391
2012 $179,117,323,107 $165,163,587,446 $35,401,331,609 $56,340,077,326
2013 $189,798,603,751 $165,624,017,080 $40,415,233,436 $59,057,651,706
2014 $199,722,319,676 $172,441,103,432 $43,228,585,321 $58,946,215,682
2015 $177,885,131,240 $177,885,131,240 $42,444,490,074 $42,444,490,074
2016 $185,290,759,249 $182,972,525,962 $31,317,825,274 $38,465,266,573
2017 $210,147,385,855 $197,967,999,561 $26,842,229,045 $36,514,386,859
2018 $243,468,683,030 $210,085,482,251 $21,606,160,663 $36,789,138,484
2019 $251,677,082,534 $218,327,690,029 - -
2020 $252,033,792,712 $210,305,491,426 - -
2021 $286,578,196,368 $221,968,423,308 - -
2022 $296,354,358,293 $230,770,154,207 - -
2023 $350,775,856,415 $236,318,495,899 - -
2024 $382,767,571,329 $238,241,389,260 - -

Economic indicators

Romania Yemen
Gross domestic product
$383B
2024
$21.6B
2018
GDP rank
43/197
2024
124/197
2018
GDP growth
9.12%
2023-2024
-19.5%
2017-2018
GDP per capita
$20,072
2024
$634
2018
GDP per capita rank
58/197
2024
192/197
2018
GDP per capita, PPP
$48,712
2024
$3,164
2013
Government debt
$219B
2024
$18.8B
2018
Debt-to-GDP ratio
61.6%
2025
71.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$11,490
2024
$551
2018
Government debt per person rank
49/185
2024
164/185
2018
Average annual personal income after taxes
$13,200
2025
$1,333
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$47.4B
2024
n/a
Number of billionaires
6
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
21.8%
2023
29.4%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.4%
2023
3%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.2%
2025
9.59%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
7.3%
2024-2025
20.4%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
6.5%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.43%
2024
13.5%
2014
Population
18962595
42727988

GDP per capita in Romania vs Yemen

Romania's GDP per capita is $20,072, ranking 58/197, compared to $634 in Yemen, ranking 192/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Romania ranks 46th at $48,712, while Yemen ranks 178th at $3,164.

Romania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Yemen
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Romania Yemen
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1987 $1,659 - - -
1988 $1,753 - - -
1989 $1,790 - - -
1990 $1,648 $5,277 $910 $1,742
1991 $1,254 $4,792 $1,016 $1,843
1992 $1,102 $4,512 $1,198 $1,963
1993 $1,158 $4,696 $1,397 $2,013
1994 $1,323 $4,992 $1,735 $2,115
1995 $1,650 $5,425 $764 $2,201
1996 $1,633 $5,744 $375 $2,268
1997 $1,577 $5,563 $383 $2,351
1998 $1,853 $5,544 $343 $2,442
1999 $1,600 $5,596 $401 $2,492
2000 $1,660 $5,849 $493 $2,624
2001 $1,825 $6,521 $487 $2,702
2002 $2,120 $7,162 $513 $2,768
2003 $2,679 $7,560 $549 $2,844
2004 $3,495 $8,991 $628 $2,949
2005 $4,618 $9,602 $734 $3,113
2006 $5,758 $11,557 $810 $3,205
2007 $8,360 $13,703 $890 $3,294
2008 $10,435 $16,782 $1,072 $3,370
2009 $8,548 $16,632 $969 $3,411
2010 $8,400 $17,357 $1,155 $3,603
2011 $9,561 $18,804 $1,186 $3,113
2012 $8,930 $19,807 $1,245 $3,005
2013 $9,498 $19,678 $1,379 $3,164
2014 $10,032 $20,633 $1,430 -
2015 $8,977 $21,630 $1,362 -
2016 $9,405 $23,905 $975 -
2017 $10,728 $26,943 $811 -
2018 $12,502 $29,586 $634 -
2019 $12,992 $33,638 - -
2020 $13,082 $34,386 - -
2021 $14,987 $37,733 - -
2022 $15,558 $42,218 - -
2023 $18,404 $45,777 - -
2024 $20,072 $48,712 - -

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Romania's government spending was $152B, accounting for 39.2% of its GDP, while Yemen's spent $3.08B, or 9.59% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 61.6% in Romania and 71.2% in Yemen, ranking 74/185 and 54/185, respectively.

Romania
Government spending

Government debt
Yemen
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Romania Yemen
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1962 43.4% - - -
1963 23.1% - - -
1964 25.1% - - -
1965 25.6% - - -
1966 27.3% - - -
1967 30.6% - - -
1968 31.8% - - -
1969 32.1% - - -
1970 28.1% - - -
1971 27.2% - - -
1972 29.9% - - -
1973 32.6% - - -
1974 37.6% - - -
1975 40.6% - - -
1976 37.5% - - -
1977 39.9% - - -
1978 42.1% - - -
1979 42% - - -
1980 33.6% - - -
1981 30.4% - - -
1982 28.5% - - -
1983 25.8% - - -
1984 28.6% - - -
1985 41.6% - - -
1986 42.5% - - -
1987 40.7% - - -
1988 36.6% - - -
1989 40.1% - - -
1990 38.4% - 26.6% 91.6%
1991 38.3% - 24.7% 82.7%
1992 41.5% - 24.6% 78%
1993 33.5% - 25.8% 76.7%
1994 33.1% - 25.2% 73.3%
1995 34.4% 6.91% 24.1% 84.1%
1996 33.5% 11% 30.7% 114.9%
1997 33.5% 15% 34.2% 74.2%
1998 34.7% 16.5% 34.3% 110.6%
1999 35.1% 21.7% 28.2% 96.1%
2000 35% 29.6% 31.7% 60.8%
2001 33.2% 27.4% 30.5% 60.6%
2002 32.1% 27.4% 30.8% 57.8%
2003 31.8% 24.9% 35.3% 56.8%
2004 33.7% 21.3% 34.2% 52.1%
2005 32.3% 17.8% 36.8% 43.8%
2006 33.9% 12.7% 37.4% 40.8%
2007 34.6% 12.4% 40.3% 40.4%
2008 35.3% 13% 41.2% 36.4%
2009 36.3% 22.5% 35.2% 49.8%
2010 37.4% 30.2% 30.2% 42.4%
2011 35% 32.6% 29.8% 45.7%
2012 33.5% 36.2% 36.2% 47.6%
2013 34.2% 39.3% 30.8% 48.4%
2014 33.8% 40.5% 27.8% 48.9%
2015 34.2% 39.4% 19.4% 57.7%
2016 31.8% 39.5% 16.1% 76.5%
2017 31% 37.1% 8.39% 83.8%
2018 31.7% 36.2% 14.3% 86.9%
2019 33.2% 36.5% 13.2% 91.5%
2020 38.1% 49.3% 10.6% 87%
2021 37% 51.5% 8.22% 75.9%
2022 37.4% 51.7% 12.2% 65.3%
2023 36.6% 52.1% 11.8% 77.9%
2024 39.8% 57.2% 8.91% 70.9%
2025 39.2% 61.6% 9.59% 71.2%

Government deficit by year

In 2018, Romania's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$6.67B, equivalent to -2.74% of GDP. This compares to Yemen's deficit of -$1.7B, or -7.85% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Romania recorded a fiscal deficit in 27 of those years, while Yemen ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Romania posted an annual deficit equal to -2.88% of GDP, compared to deficit of -5.04% of GDP for Yemen.

Deficit/surplus
Romania

Yemen
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Romania Yemen
1962 -4.86% -
1963 -1.61% -
1964 -3.11% -
1965 -1.29% -
1966 0.91% -
1967 1.23% -
1968 1.65% -
1969 0.93% -
1970 0.52% -
1971 0.89% -
1972 1.21% -
1973 1.53% -
1974 0.51% -
1975 0.41% -
1976 0.66% -
1977 0.23% -
1978 0% -
1979 0% -
1980 -1.95% -
1981 0.61% -
1982 0.36% -
1983 9.35% -
1984 15.2% -
1985 6.36% -
1986 5.72% -
1987 2.37% -
1988 8.4% -
1989 -2.87% -
1990 1.03% -10.3%
1991 3.23% -5.76%
1992 -4.55% -10.9%
1993 -0.35% -12.8%
1994 -2.2% -14%
1995 -3.32% -5.74%
1996 -4.74% -0.92%
1997 -5.19% -1.5%
1998 -5.33% -7.77%
1999 -3.58% 0.06%
2000 -3.99% 6.09%
2001 -3.2% 2.79%
2002 -2.59% -0.56%
2003 -2.29% -4.2%
2004 -3.39% -2.15%
2005 -0.69% -1.82%
2006 -1.36% 1.19%
2007 -3.05% -7.18%
2008 -4.6% -4.53%
2009 -6.86% -10.2%
2010 -6.22% -4.06%
2011 -4.14% -4.51%
2012 -2.39% -6.32%
2013 -2.44% -6.9%
2014 -1.76% -4.14%
2015 -1.35% -8.75%
2016 -2.5% -8.51%
2017 -2.86% -4.9%
2018 -2.74% -7.85%
2019 -4.55% -5.89%
2020 -9.54% -4.3%
2021 -6.7% -0.89%
2022 -5.83% -2.15%
2023 -5.61% -5.63%
2024 -8.65% -2.48%
2025 -7.83% -3.73%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 30 years, Romania has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 17.8%, compared with 16.4% in Yemen. In 2025, inflation was 7.3% in Romania and 20.4% in Yemen.

Inflation
Romania

Yemen
Year Inflation
Romania Yemen Romania Yemen
1996 38.8% 38.8%
1997 154.8% 4.6%
1998 59.1% 11.5%
1999 45.8% 7.9%
2000 45.7% 11%
2001 34.5% 11.9%
2002 22.5% 12.2%
2003 15.4% 10.8%
2004 11.9% 12.5%
2005 9% 9.9%
2006 6.6% 10.8%
2007 4.8% 7.9%
2008 7.8% 19%
2009 5.6% 3.7%
2010 6.1% 11.2%
2011 5.8% 19.5%
2012 3.3% 9.9%
2013 4% 11%
2014 1.1% 8.2%
2015 -0.6% 22%
2016 -1.6% 21.3%
2017 1.3% 30.4%
2018 4.6% 33.6%
2019 3.8% 15.7%
2020 2.6% 21.7%
2021 5% 31.5%
2022 13.8% 29.5%
2023 10.4% 0.9%
2024 5.6% 33.9%
2025 7.3% 20.4%

Top exports between countries

Romania
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $6M
Chemicals & pharma $392K
Machinery & equipment $284K
Raw materials & minerals $192K
Wood & paper products $102K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $95K
Metals $37K
Textiles & consumer goods $8K
Yemen
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $5K

Balance of trade

Romania Yemen
Current account balance
-$32B
2024
-$2.42B
2016
Current account balance ranking
184/189
2024
146/189
2016
Current account balance, % of GDP
-8.36%
2024
-7.72%
2016
Goods imports
$129B
2024
$6.8B
2016
Goods exports
$93.3B
2024
$473M
2016
Service imports
$30.6B
2024
$1.46B
2016
Service exports
$42.9B
2024
$466M
2016
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.7%
2024
47.3%
2018
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
35.6%
2024
8.76%
2018

Economic freedom indices

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

Romania Yemen
Economic freedom 66.5 53.7
Economic freedom ranking 57/197 140/197
Property rights 81.7 5.1
Government integrity 49.1 6.1
Judicial effectiveness 67 8.3
Tax burden 93.7 91.5
Government spending 59.1 95.6
Fiscal health 36.1 48.9
Business freedom 75.1 28.4
Labor freedom 67.8 30.7
Monetary freedom 69.2 54.6
Trade freedom 79.6 67.4
Investment freedom 70 50
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Romania is 66.5, ranking 57/197, compared to 53.7 for Yemen, ranking 140/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Romania
Yemen
Year Economic freedom index
Romania Yemen
1995 42.9 49.8
1996 46.2 49.6
1997 50.8 48.4
1998 54.4 46.1
1999 50.1 43.3
2000 52.1 44.5
2001 50 44.3
2002 48.7 48.6
2003 50.6 50.3
2004 50 50.5
2005 52.1 53.8
2006 58.2 52.6
2007 61.2 54.1
2008 61.7 53.8
2009 63.2 56.9
2010 64.2 54.4
2011 64.7 54.2
2012 64.4 55.3
2013 65.1 55.9
2014 65.5 55.5
2015 66.6 53.7
2016 65.6 -
2017 69.7 -
2018 69.4 -
2019 68.6 -
2020 69.7 -
2021 69.5 -
2022 67.1 -
2023 64.5 -
2024 64.4 -
2025 66.5 -

More economic indicators

Romania Yemen
Services, % of GDP
62.5%
2024
41.8%
2018
Industry, % of GDP
25%
2024
25.4%
2018
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.28%
2024
28.7%
2018
GNI, Atlas method
$336B
2024
$25.3B
2018
GNI per capita, PPP
$47,420
2024
$3,020
2013
Total reserves including gold
$73.4B
2024
$1.25B
2022
Total reserves ranking
35/177
2024
139/177
2022
Net foreign direct investment
-$6.21B
2024
$15.4M
2015
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$7.35B
2024
-$371M
2019
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.15B
2024
$3.33M
2019
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
n/a
0.53%
2018
Poverty at national poverty lines
19%
2023
48.6%
2014
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
n/a

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

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.