Country explorer: Romania

Romania has experienced marked economic progress characterized by a significant reduction in poverty, consistent growth in GDP per capita, a substantial decrease in unemployment rates, and managed inflation, aligning its economic trajectory closer to those of its Central European peers than to countries with high-income economies.

Romania has experienced a notable population decline, significant net migration loss, decreased fertility rates, and an improvement in life expectancy, reflecting wider demographic challenges faced by Eastern European countries post-transition.

Romania has seen substantial improvements in basic needs, achieving universal access to electricity and near-universal access to clean cooking fuels, while also making significant strides in safely managed drinking water and sanitation facilities, though progress in these areas remains slower compared to high-income peers, reflecting common challenges in transitional economies.

Romania has demonstrated notable progress in human development, evidenced by improved Human Development Index (HDI) scores, a significant reduction in child mortality rates, a nearly universal literacy rate, and an increase in learning-adjusted years of schooling, positioning it on an upward trajectory similar to its Eastern European peers, yet still striving to match the benchmarks set by high-income countries.

Romania has seen a significant reduction in per capita CO₂ emissions, an increase in renewable energy production, maintained renewable freshwater resources, and gradual expansion of forest areas, reflecting a notable shift towards sustainable environmental practices common among its Eastern European neighbors yet distinct in the extent of its renewable energy sector growth and forest conservation efforts.

Romania has experienced significant growth in internet usage and mobile phone subscriptions, indicating a rapidly developing digital infrastructure that, while lagging behind high-income countries, shows a dynamic adoption of technology, albeit with a slower increase in research and development spending and scientific output compared to its Central European peers.

Romania has experienced modest yet significant cultural and societal transformations, marked by a gradual increase in immigrants, improved life satisfaction, slowly narrowing gender inequalities, and an increasing age dependency ratio, reflecting trends both unique and common among its Eastern European peers.

Romania has experienced notable improvements in the rule of law, reduced corruption perceptions, enhanced political civil liberties, and greater press freedom, positioning it as a country making significant strides towards governance reforms comparable to its Eastern European counterparts.