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

Health

live 4.0 years longer

In Iraq, the average life expectancy is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 76 years (73 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 18.3% less likely to be obese

In Iraq, 39.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 32.4% of people as of 2024.

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see 3.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Iraq spends $843 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Romania spends $2,614 as of 2023.

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have 3.5 times more doctors per person

Iraq has 10.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Romania has 36.2 as of 2022.

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have 32.2% more access to essential health services

Iraq scores 59 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Romania scores 78 as of 2021.

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be 3.2 times more likely to die by suicide

Iraq has a suicide rate of 3.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Romania, it is 9.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 61.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Iraq, 15.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Romania, that number is 6.0% as of 2025.

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make 4.2 times more money

Iraq has a GDP per capita of $5,410 as of 2025, while in Romania, the GDP per capita is $22,538 as of 2025.

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Life

be 81.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Iraq, approximately 66.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Romania, 12.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 18.0% more likely to be literate

In Iraq, the literacy rate is 84.1% as of 2021. In Romania, it is 99.2% as of 2021.

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be 70.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Iraq, approximately 20.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Romania, on the other hand, 6.0 children do as of 2024.

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have 70.7% fewer children

In Iraq, there are approximately 25.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Romania, there are 7.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 12.1% more likely to have internet access

In Iraq, approximately 81.5% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Romania, about 91.3% do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 3.9 times more coastline

Iraq has a total of 58 km of coastline. In Romania, that number is 225 km.

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Safety

be 55.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Iraq, road accidents kill 21.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Romania, they kill 9.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 2.0 times more home broadband

Iraq has 17.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Romania has 35.8 as of 2024.

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live with 87.2% less strain on fresh water

Iraq withdraws 60% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Romania withdraws 8% as of 2022.

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use 87.7% more electricity

Iraq uses 1,377 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Romania uses 2,585 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 47.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In Iraq, air pollution causes 87.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Romania, it causes 46.0 as of 2019.

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emit 28.2% less CO2

Iraq emits 5.2 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Romania emits 3.7 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

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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