If you lived in Romania instead of United Kingdom, you would:

Health

live 4.9 years less

In United Kingdom, the average life expectancy is 81 years (80 years for men, 83 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 18.4% more likely to be obese

In United Kingdom, 27.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 32.4% of people as of 2024.

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see 60.4% less spent on your healthcare

United Kingdom spends $6,606 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Romania spends $2,614 as of 2023.

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have 11.4% less access to essential health services

United Kingdom scores 88 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Romania scores 78 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 26.1% more likely to be unemployed

In United Kingdom, 4.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Romania, that number is 6.0% as of 2025.

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make 60.9% less money

United Kingdom has a GDP per capita of $57,602 as of 2025, while in Romania, the GDP per capita is $22,538 as of 2025.

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Life

be 50.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In United Kingdom, approximately 8.0 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 46.3% more likely to die during infancy

In United Kingdom, approximately 4.1 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 24.2% fewer children

In United Kingdom, there are approximately 9.9 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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Expenditures

spend 44.5% less on education

United Kingdom spends 5.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Romania spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 48.7% less on healthcare

United Kingdom spends 11.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 5.7% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 98.2% less coastline

United Kingdom has a total of 12,429 km of coastline. In Romania, that number is 225 km.

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Safety

be 4.0 times more likely to die in a road accident

In United Kingdom, road accidents kill 2.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Romania, they kill 9.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 46.8% less strain on fresh water

United Kingdom withdraws 14% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Romania withdraws 8% as of 2022.

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find 15.1% less home broadband

United Kingdom has 42.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Romania has 35.8 as of 2024.

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use 38.4% less electricity

United Kingdom uses 4,195 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Romania uses 2,585 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 11.8% less CO2

United Kingdom emits 4.2 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Romania emits 3.7 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 3.5 times more likely to die from air pollution

In United Kingdom, air pollution causes 13.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Romania, it causes 46.0 as of 2019.

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

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