Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Romania instead of South Korea, you would:

Health

live 7.2 years less

In South Korea, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022. In Romania, that number is 76 years (72 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.8 times more likely to be obese

In South Korea, 4.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Romania, that number is 22.5% of people as of 2016.

Economy

pay a 57.9% lower top tax rate

South Korea has a top tax rate of 38.0% as of 2016. In Romania, the top tax rate is 16.0% as of 2016.

make 20.0% less money

South Korea has a GDP per capita of $50,600 as of 2023, while in Romania, the GDP per capita is $40,500 as of 2023.

be 2.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In South Korea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Romania, that number is 5.6% as of 2023.

be 47.2% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Korea, 14.4% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Romania, however, that number is 21.2% as of 2021.

Life

have 22.8% more children

In South Korea, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Romania, there are 8.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 25.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In South Korea, approximately 8.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Romania, 10.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.0 times more likely to die during infancy

In South Korea, approximately 2.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Romania, on the other hand, 5.8 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 14.3% less likely to have internet access

In South Korea, approximately 98.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Romania, about 84.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 21.3% less on education

South Korea spends 4.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Romania spends 3.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 25.0% less on healthcare

South Korea spends 8.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Romania, that number is 6.3% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 90.7% less coastline

South Korea has a total of 2,413 km of coastline. In Romania, that number is 225 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF), National Tax Service, South Korea.

Romania: At a glance

Romania is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 229,891 sq km. The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
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How big is Romania compared to South Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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