Romania Economy 2026: GDP, Growth Rate & World Ranking

Romania has the 39th-largest nominal GDP of the 189 economies SOTW covers for 2026: $470.09 billion (IMF projection). It sits just behind South Africa ($489.08 billion) and ahead of Hong Kong ($455.16 billion). The IMF projects a real GDP contraction of 0.5% and inflation of 8.2% for 2026. Romania's population was 19.0 million in 2025.

Nominal GDP: $470.09B; Reference year 2026 (IMF projection); current US dollars; International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook); Series and history →; Unrounded value
470091000000 current US dollars
Real GDP growth: -0.5%; Reference year 2026 (IMF projection); annual percent change in real GDP; International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook); Series and history →; Unrounded value
-0.5 annual percent change in real GDP
Inflation (annual-average CPI): 8.2%; Reference year 2026 (IMF projection); annual percent change in average consumer prices; International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook); Series and history →; Unrounded value
8.2 annual percent change in average consumer prices
Unemployment: 6.5%; Reference year 2026 (IMF projection); percent of labor force; International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook); Series and history →; Unrounded value
6.5 percent of labor force
GDP per person: $24,741; Reference year 2026 (IMF projection); current US dollars per person; International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook); Series and history →; Unrounded value
24741.485 current US dollars per person
Population: 19.0M; Reference year 2025; people; World Bank (World Development Indicators); Series and history →; Unrounded value
19020271 people
General government gross debt: 62.6%; Reference year 2026 (IMF projection); percent of GDP; International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook); Series and history →; Unrounded value
62.6 percent of GDP
Life expectancy at birth: 76.5 years; Reference year 2024; years; World Bank (World Development Indicators); Series and history →; Unrounded value
76.4585365853659 years

IMF projection: a forecast from the IMF World Economic Outlook, revised at each release, not a measured value.

About these figures

Each figure keeps its own year, unit and source, shown on its card. Missing values are not zero: a card that says Not reported has no figure for this economy.

IMF figures for the current year and later are projections from the World Economic Outlook and change with each edition. Earlier IMF years can still be estimates. Some economies report on a fiscal year rather than a calendar year, and the source data do not record each country-specific fiscal-year mapping, so the same year label may not cover the same twelve months everywhere.

The GDP rank compares economies with a positive IMF figure for the same year; older figures and regional aggregates are not ranked. Nominal GDP is in US dollars at market exchange rates. GDP per person is output per person, not a typical income. General government gross debt covers every level of government, so it is broader than central-government debt.

Population follows the World Bank's midyear-estimate definition. Open a card's Unrounded value for the full figure, or its series link for the history.

Romania Economic Overview

Romania has been one of the EU's fastest-growing economies since accession in 2007, with GDP roughly tripling in nominal terms. With a population of 19.0 million in 2025, it is one of the EU's larger members and has undergone rapid modernization. The IT and software sector is a standout: Romania has more IT professionals per capita than most Western European countries, fueled by strong mathematics education, competitive wages, and a flat 10% income tax that attracts talent. Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca have become genuine European tech hubs.

Romania's economy is diversified across automotive manufacturing (Dacia/Renault is the country's largest industrial employer, Ford also has a major plant), agriculture (one of Europe's largest grain producers), energy (significant oil, gas, and Black Sea offshore reserves), and services. The country has the fastest internet speeds in Europe — a quirk of late infrastructure development that allowed direct fiber deployment.

Challenges include significant brain drain (millions of Romanians have emigrated to Western Europe for higher wages), corruption (improving but still above EU average), rural poverty, and infrastructure gaps. GDP per capita at $24,741 in 2026 (IMF projection) is converging toward the EU average but remains roughly 30% below. Romania has not yet adopted the euro and maintains the Romanian leu. EU structural funds are a significant investment driver.

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Questions about Romania's figures

What is Romania's nominal GDP for 2026?

Romania's nominal GDP is $470.09B (current US dollars; reference year 2026, an IMF projection). Source: International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook). Rank 39 among 189 covered IMF economies for reference year 2026.

What is Romania's real GDP growth for 2026?

Romania's real GDP growth is -0.5% (annual percent change in real GDP; reference year 2026, an IMF projection). Source: International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook).

What is Romania's population for 2025?

Romania's population is 19.0M (people; reference year 2025). Source: World Bank (World Development Indicators). The World Bank definition describes midyear population estimates.

What is Romania's life expectancy at birth for 2024?

Romania's life expectancy at birth is 76.5 years (years; reference year 2024). Source: World Bank (World Development Indicators).