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

Health

live 1.7 years longer

In Vietnam, the average life expectancy is 75 years (70 years for men, 79 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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see 3.8 times more spent on your healthcare

Vietnam spends $690 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Romania spends $2,614 as of 2023.

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have 3.3 times more doctors per person

Vietnam has 11.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2021. Romania has 36.2 as of 2022.

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have 14.7% more access to essential health services

Vietnam scores 68 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Romania scores 78 as of 2021.

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be 13.5 times more likely to be obese

In Vietnam, 2.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 32.4% of people as of 2024.

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be 31.8% more likely to die by suicide

Vietnam has a suicide rate of 7.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Romania, it is 9.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 4.4 times more money

Vietnam has a GDP per capita of $5,066 as of 2025, while in Romania, the GDP per capita is $22,538 as of 2025.

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be 3.9 times more likely to be unemployed

In Vietnam, 1.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Romania, that number is 6.0% as of 2025.

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be 4.4 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Vietnam, 4.2% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Romania, however, that number is 18.4% as of 2024.

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Life

be 75.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Vietnam, approximately 48.0 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 50.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Vietnam, approximately 12.0 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 44.1% fewer children

In Vietnam, there are approximately 13.4 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 13.5% more on education

Vietnam spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Romania spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 25.2% more on healthcare

Vietnam spends 4.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Romania, that number is 5.7% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 93.5% less coastline

Vietnam has a total of 3,444 km of coastline. In Romania, that number is 225 km.

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Safety

be 45.8% less likely to die in a road accident

In Vietnam, road accidents kill 17.7 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 51.0% more home broadband

Vietnam has 23.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Romania has 35.8 as of 2024.

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live with 57.9% less strain on fresh water

Vietnam withdraws 18% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Romania withdraws 8% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 11.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Vietnam, air pollution causes 52.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Romania, it causes 46.0 as of 2019.

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emit 12.9% less CO2

Vietnam emits 4.3 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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