Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Romania
Romania: Total shortfall from extreme poverty was 52.81 million international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Romania, 1989–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2023, total shortfall from extreme poverty in Romania stood at 52.81 million international-$ in 2021 prices.
That represents a change of down 56.6% on the previous year and down 92.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total shortfall from extreme poverty in Romania peaked at 1.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1989.
Romania ranks 64th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Romania, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1992 | 0 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1994 | 1.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1995 | 205.53 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -80.0% |
| 1997 | 249.67 million international-$ in 2021 prices | +21.5% |
| 2006 | 891.68 million international-$ in 2021 prices | +257.1% |
| 2007 | 615.23 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -31.0% |
| 2008 | 462.41 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -24.8% |
| 2009 | 327.58 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -29.2% |
| 2010 | 480.33 million international-$ in 2021 prices | +46.6% |
| 2011 | 626.87 million international-$ in 2021 prices | +30.5% |
| 2012 | 698.18 million international-$ in 2021 prices | +11.4% |
| 2013 | 720.55 million international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 779.40 million international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.2% |
| 2015 | 564.85 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -27.5% |
| 2016 | 365.62 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -35.3% |
| 2017 | 389.36 million international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 282.06 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -27.6% |
| 2019 | 227.34 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -19.4% |
| 2020 | 193.47 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -14.9% |
| 2021 | 191.86 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 121.71 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -36.6% |
| 2023 | 52.81 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -56.6% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 52.81 million international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 21.17 million international-$ in 2021 prices, 2.5× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Romania's 52.81 million international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.37 million international-$ in 2021 prices, 6.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Romania changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +257.1% | 249.67 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 891.68 million international-$ in 2021 prices |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 international-$ in 2021 prices | 0 international-$ in 2021 prices | 0 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
| 1990s | 371.03 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 0 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
| 2000s | 574.23 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 327.58 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 891.68 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
| 2010s | 513.46 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 227.34 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 779.40 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 139.96 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 52.81 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 193.47 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
Countries ranked near Romania
- 61 Sweden 63.58 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 62 Chile 55.27 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 63 Poland 54.00 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 65 Hungary 50.24 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 66 Panama 39.84 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 67 Turkey 39.66 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
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 total shortfall from extreme poverty in Romania?
- Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Romania was 52.81 million international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total shortfall from extreme poverty recorded in Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 1.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 1994.
- What is the lowest total shortfall from extreme poverty recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1989.
- How does Romania rank for total shortfall from extreme poverty?
- Romania ranks 64th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total shortfall from extreme poverty rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 92.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Romania data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Total shortfall from extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This is the amount of money that would be theoretically needed to lift the income or consumption of all people in poverty up to $3 per day. However, this is not a measure of the actual cost of eliminating poverty, since it does not take into account the costs involved in making the necessary transfers nor any changes in behavior they would bring about.