Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Romania instead of Ukraine, you would:

Health

live 2.3 years longer

In Ukraine, the average life expectancy is 73 years (69 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022. In Romania, that number is 76 years (72 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.5 times more money

Ukraine has a GDP per capita of $16,200 as of 2023, while in Romania, the GDP per capita is $40,500 as of 2023.

be 43.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Ukraine, 9.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2021. In Romania, that number is 5.6% as of 2023.

pay a 11.1% lower top tax rate

Ukraine has a top tax rate of 18.0% as of 2016. In Romania, the top tax rate is 16.0% as of 2016.

be 13.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Ukraine, 1.6% live below the poverty line as of 2020. In Romania, however, that number is 21.2% as of 2021.

Life

be 41.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Ukraine, approximately 17.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Romania, 10.0 women do as of 2020.

be 20.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Ukraine, approximately 7.3 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.

have 11.5% fewer children

In Ukraine, there are approximately 9.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020. In Romania, there are 8.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 11.1% less likely to have internet access

In Ukraine, approximately 94.5% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Romania, about 84.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 31.5% less on education

Ukraine spends 5.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Romania spends 3.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 17.1% less on healthcare

Ukraine spends 7.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Romania, that number is 6.3% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 91.9% less coastline

Ukraine has a total of 2,782 km of coastline. In Romania, that number is 225 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine, National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF).

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.
Read more

How big is Romania compared to Ukraine? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Romania.or Ukraine It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.