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

Health

be 98.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Zimbabwe, 9.8% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 0.2% of people as of 2024.

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live 13.4 years longer

In Zimbabwe, the average life expectancy is 63 years (60 years for men, 65 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 25.4 times more spent on your healthcare

Zimbabwe spends $103 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Romania spends $2,614 as of 2023.

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have 26.7 times more doctors per person

Zimbabwe has 1.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Romania has 36.2 as of 2022.

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have 41.8% more access to essential health services

Zimbabwe scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Romania scores 78 as of 2021.

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be 44.5% less likely to die by suicide

Zimbabwe has a suicide rate of 17.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Romania, it is 9.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.2 times more likely to be obese

In Zimbabwe, 14.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 32.4% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 35.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Zimbabwe, 9.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Romania, that number is 6.0% as of 2025.

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make 7.5 times more money

Zimbabwe has a GDP per capita of $3,021 as of 2025, while in Romania, the GDP per capita is $22,538 as of 2025.

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Life

be 96.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Zimbabwe, approximately 358.0 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 10.5% more likely to be literate

In Zimbabwe, the literacy rate is 89.7% as of 2021. In Romania, it is 99.2% as of 2021.

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be 90.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Zimbabwe, approximately 62.4 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 74.9% fewer children

In Zimbabwe, there are approximately 29.9 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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Basic Needs

be 61.3% more likely to have access to electricity

In Zimbabwe, approximately 62% of people have electricity access (84% in urban areas, and 51% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Romania, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Zimbabwe, approximately 41.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Romania, about 91.3% do as of 2024.

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be 48.8% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Zimbabwe, approximately 67% of people have access to drinking water (94% in urban areas, and 54% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Romania, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 8.6 times more on education

Zimbabwe spends 0.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Romania spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 94.9% more on healthcare

Zimbabwe spends 2.9% 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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Safety

be 83.6% less likely to be murdered

Zimbabwe has a homicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Romania, that number is 1.1 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 67.9% less likely to die in a road accident

In Zimbabwe, road accidents kill 29.9 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 18.5 times more home broadband

Zimbabwe has 1.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Romania has 35.8 as of 2024.

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live with 83.4% less strain on fresh water

Zimbabwe withdraws 46% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Romania withdraws 8% as of 2022.

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use 5.1 times more electricity

Zimbabwe uses 504 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Romania uses 2,585 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 17.9% less likely to die from air pollution

In Zimbabwe, air pollution causes 56.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Romania, it causes 46.0 as of 2019.

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emit 4.8 times more CO2

Zimbabwe emits 0.8 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 (2021). 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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