Romania
Europe · Southeast Europe
Fastest internet in Europe and low costs, with a fast-growing tech scene and a brain drain challenge.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
Expat
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Romania's Human Development Index
0.827
Very High human development#52 of 191 countries worldwide, #34 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 73% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Romania
Romania is an Eastern European country of Carpathian mountain forests, painted medieval monasteries in Bucovina, the fortified Saxon towns of Transylvania, and the remarkable birdlife of the Danube Delta. Bucharest has a certain theatrical grandeur and an increasingly vibrant food and arts scene. The country suits those who are drawn to old Europe, folklore, and landscapes that feel genuinely unspoilt.
- Dracula is almost entirely a British fiction — the real Vlad was a defender of Christianity.
- One of the EU's fastest-growing IT and software outsourcing hubs.
- Has the largest gold reserves in Eastern Europe.
Quick Facts
Capital
Bucharest
Language
Romanian
Currency
lei RON
Area
230,080 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
273Mbps
Mobile
83Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
€1,700/mo
Duration
6 months
Renewable
Yes
Application Fee
~€120
~$132
GDP / Capita
$23K
PPP / Capita
$51K
Inflation
7.2%
Unemployment
6.0%
Innovation (GII)
34.3
GNI / Capita
$20K
Tax Revenue
16.2%
FDI Inflows
2.2%
Education Spend
3.3%
Cost of Living
40.6
Price Level Index
50th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.709 → 0.827 (+0.118)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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Romania head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Romania's Human Development Index?
Romania's Human Development Index is 0.827 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #52 of 191 countries.
Is Romania safe?
Romania scores 1.79 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #45 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Romania?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Romania at 40.6 (New York = 100); that is #66 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Romania?
Life expectancy at birth in Romania is 76.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #75 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Romania?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Romania at 143.0, ranked #44 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.