GeoRealityMatch
Captivating night view of Bucharest's riverside with illuminated buildings and reflections on the water.Elegant neoclassical architecture in Bucharest against a clear blue sky.

Romania

Europe · Southeast Europe

High safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

Human development is high, and locals speak English well. Incomes are low for Europe.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 273 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development, high safety and affordable cost of living.
vs Polandvs Bulgariavs Hungary
Safety

45th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.788lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#45 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.1per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
67.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the European median

Median disposable income
€8,187per adult, a year, after tax and transfersVery low
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
12.0New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
10.5years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 291% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 83% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$30K$60K$50,895 PPP$22,538Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $5,758 a person, $11,554 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2007, $8,360 a person, $13,703 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2008, $10,435 a person, $16,782 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2009, $8,548 a person, $16,641 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2010, $8,400 a person, $17,355 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2011, $9,561 a person, $18,804 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2012, $8,930 a person, $19,807 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2013, $9,498 a person, $19,678 at PPP, inflation 4%2014, $10,032 a person, $20,633 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2015, $8,977 a person, $21,625 at PPP, inflation -0.6%2016, $9,405 a person, $23,905 at PPP, inflation -1.5%2017, $10,728 a person, $26,943 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2018, $12,416 a person, $29,383 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2019, $12,910 a person, $33,425 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2020, $13,009 a person, $34,194 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2021, $14,908 a person, $37,534 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2022, $15,503 a person, $41,979 at PPP, inflation 13.8%2023, $18,244 a person, $45,982 at PPP, inflation 10.4%2024, $20,080 a person, $49,077 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2025, $22,538 a person, $50,895 at PPP, inflation 7.2%$0$30K$60KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $5,758 a person, $11,554 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2007, $8,360 a person, $13,703 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2008, $10,435 a person, $16,782 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2009, $8,548 a person, $16,641 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2010, $8,400 a person, $17,355 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2011, $9,561 a person, $18,804 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2012, $8,930 a person, $19,807 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2013, $9,498 a person, $19,678 at PPP, inflation 4%2014, $10,032 a person, $20,633 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2015, $8,977 a person, $21,625 at PPP, inflation -0.6%2016, $9,405 a person, $23,905 at PPP, inflation -1.5%2017, $10,728 a person, $26,943 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2018, $12,416 a person, $29,383 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2019, $12,910 a person, $33,425 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2020, $13,009 a person, $34,194 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2021, $14,908 a person, $37,534 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2022, $15,503 a person, $41,979 at PPP, inflation 13.8%2023, $18,244 a person, $45,982 at PPP, inflation 10.4%2024, $20,080 a person, $49,077 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2025, $22,538 a person, $50,895 at PPP, inflation 7.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
76.5years, at birthHigh
#75 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
77WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
10.4PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Among the highest youth unemployment in Europe

Youth unemployment
26.1%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceVery high
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
273 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
605EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet273 MbpsVery fast
Mobile83 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
€1,700 a month
Duration
6 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
€120about $132
  • Tax treatmentExempt
  • Processing timeAbout 30 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyYes
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official page
Elegant neoclassical architecture in Bucharest against a clear blue sky.
How it changed

Romania's Human Development Index

0.845Very high human development

55th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 35th of 44 in Europe.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #54Seychelles0.848
  2. #55Bulgaria0.845
  3. #55Romania0.845
  4. #57Georgia0.844
  5. #58Saint Kitts and Nevis0.840
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.719 in 1990 to 0.845 in 2023.

0.650.780.900.84519902000201020231990: 0.7191991: 0.7051992: 0.6941993: 0.6921994: 0.6951995: 0.7011996: 0.7071997: 0.7091998: 0.7151999: 0.7242000: 0.7302001: 0.7372002: 0.7452003: 0.7492004: 0.7572005: 0.7652006: 0.7812007: 0.7922008: 0.8152009: 0.8262010: 0.8222011: 0.8232012: 0.8172013: 0.8212014: 0.8202015: 0.8232016: 0.8232017: 0.8282018: 0.8332019: 0.8382020: 0.8322021: 0.8292022: 0.8402023: 0.8450.650.780.9019902000201020231990: 0.7191991: 0.7051992: 0.6941993: 0.6921994: 0.6951995: 0.7011996: 0.7071997: 0.7091998: 0.7151999: 0.7242000: 0.7302001: 0.7372002: 0.7452003: 0.7492004: 0.7572005: 0.7652006: 0.7812007: 0.7922008: 0.8152009: 0.8262010: 0.8222011: 0.8232012: 0.8172013: 0.8212014: 0.8202015: 0.8232016: 0.8232017: 0.8282018: 0.8332019: 0.8382020: 0.8322021: 0.8292022: 0.8402023: 0.845

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
76.5 years2024at birthUp 4.5 years from 71.9 years in 2005
Internet users
91%2024of people onlineUp 67 points from 25% in 2006
Urban population
52%2025of people in towns and citiesDown 1 point from 53% in 2006
Births per woman
1.392024births per womanDown 0.01 from 1.40 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
24%2021of energy usedUp 6 points from 17% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 4 points from 96% in 2005
Infant mortality
62024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 10 from 16 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
3.7 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 1.2 t from 4.9 t in 2005
Forest area
30%2023of land under forestUp 2 points from 28% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Fastest internet in Europe and low costs, with a fast-growing tech scene and a brain drain challenge. The case for living here is very high human development and good English among locals. The case against is low incomes and high youth unemployment, both for Europe.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBucharest
  • LanguagesRomanian
  • CurrencyRomanian leu (RON)
  • Area230,080 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Romania's Human Development Index?

Romania's Human Development Index is 0.845 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #55 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Romania safe?

Romania scores 1.79 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #45 of 161 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.