Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Romania
Romania: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 17.5% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Romania, 1989–2023
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
Romania recorded 17.5% for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in 2023.
The figure is down 14.2% on the previous year and down 36.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Romania peaked at 30.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 11.7%, in 1989.
Romania ranks 75th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Romania, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 11.7% | — |
| 1992 | 16.5% | +41.0% |
| 1994 | 30.0% | +81.8% |
| 1995 | 21.2% | -29.3% |
| 1997 | 21.1% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 22.4% | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 26.4% | +17.9% |
| 2000 | 27.5% | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 25.6% | -6.9% |
| 2002 | 25.9% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 24.5% | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 23.3% | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 21.7% | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | +33.6% |
| 2007 | 26.3% | -9.3% |
| 2008 | 23.8% | -9.5% |
| 2009 | 23.9% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 24.8% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 26.4% | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 26.8% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 27.5% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 27.2% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 25.8% | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 24.6% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 24.1% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 21.4% | -11.2% |
| 2019 | 22.2% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 21.6% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 20.1% | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 20.4% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 17.5% | -14.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.7% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 22.9% | 16.5% | 30.0% | 6 |
| 2000s | 25.1% | 21.7% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.1% | 21.4% | 27.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.9% | 17.5% | 21.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More poverty & inequality data for Romania
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.71 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 4,021 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 10.64 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 27.54 (2022)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 27.5% (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Romania?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Romania was 17.5% in 2023, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 30.0% in 1994.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.7% in 1989.
- How does Romania rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- Romania ranks 75th out of 123 countries with data for 2023.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Romania data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2021 U.S. dollars and defined as max($3.00, $1.30 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $3.00. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.