Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Economy of Romania - statistics & facts
Over the past four decades, Romania's economy has undergone a remarkable transformation. Since gaining independence in 1990, the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown nearly tenfold, showcasing its commitment to economic progress. Additionally, the rise in GDP per capita, measured in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS), reflects significant improvements in the living standards of its citizens.
The country's economic development has witnessed notable achievements over the years. The nation has experienced significant progress in reducing its unemployment rate until 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine reversed the positive trend. Nevertheless, the unemployment rate was still below the EU average in 2024. Despite these successes, managing public debt remains a crucial challenge for Romania. It reached its peak at 59.6 percent of GDP in 2023. As of June 2024, the debt fell to 58.5 percent.
The auto industry represents a notable share of the country's GDP and exports. The leading company in this industry is the worldwide known car manufacturer Automobile Dacia, which had a 26 billion Romanian lei revenue. It produces over 322,000 cars in Romania and has one of Europe's most sold car models—the Dacia Sandero.
Romania's top three largest banks had a combined financial asset value of over 353 billion Romanian lei. The leader was Banca Transilvania, with financial assets worth nearly 162 billion Romanian lei and a net profit of 2.49 billion Romanian lei, registering a growth of 20.8 percent in one year.
These figures underscore the robust performance of Romania's key economic sectors, particularly in banking and automotive, highlighting their crucial role in driving the country's economic growth.
An economy hit by crisis after crisis
Romania's economic growth has been one of the highest in the European Union (EU), and its capital, Bucharest, is the highest-ranked startup ecosystem in the Balkans. Bucharest was also the leading city in Eastern Europe for startups in the Artificial Intelligence industry.The country's economic development has witnessed notable achievements over the years. The nation has experienced significant progress in reducing its unemployment rate until 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine reversed the positive trend. Nevertheless, the unemployment rate was still below the EU average in 2024. Despite these successes, managing public debt remains a crucial challenge for Romania. It reached its peak at 59.6 percent of GDP in 2023. As of June 2024, the debt fell to 58.5 percent.
The largest company in Romania shrank its revenue by 40 percent in one year
OMV Petrom was the leading company in both the oil and natural gas industry, with the highest revenue of 33.8 billion Romanian lei, which decreased by almost 40 percent compared to 2022, and a net profit of 3.9 billion Romanian lei.The auto industry represents a notable share of the country's GDP and exports. The leading company in this industry is the worldwide known car manufacturer Automobile Dacia, which had a 26 billion Romanian lei revenue. It produces over 322,000 cars in Romania and has one of Europe's most sold car models—the Dacia Sandero.
Romania's top three largest banks had a combined financial asset value of over 353 billion Romanian lei. The leader was Banca Transilvania, with financial assets worth nearly 162 billion Romanian lei and a net profit of 2.49 billion Romanian lei, registering a growth of 20.8 percent in one year.
These figures underscore the robust performance of Romania's key economic sectors, particularly in banking and automotive, highlighting their crucial role in driving the country's economic growth.
