Updated
Overview
Germany has 4.4 times the population of Romania: 83.49 million people against 19.02 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 12 times the size of Romania's, at $5.05T versus $428.68B.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $22,538 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Germany | Romania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $5.05T | $428.68B | 2025 | $4.66T / $382.77B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $60,496 | $22,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.2% | Higher: 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.2% | 7.2% | 2025 | 2.3% / 5.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.7% | 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 80 | 44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $4,647 | $1,722 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,442 | $906 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $4.01 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 83.49 million | 19.02 million | 2025 | 84.01 million / 18.15 million |
| Population growth | 0.0% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.5 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 80.8 yrs | 76.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 82% | 52% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 93% | 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 357,114 km² | 238,391 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 233.8/km² | 79.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 572 Mt | Lower: 69 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.8 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $88.46B | $8.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 183,000 | 128,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (0.2% for Germany, 0.7% for Romania).
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 2.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Romania: a price level of 44 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $1,722 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Romania is the younger society: median age 43.2 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 4.3 years longer in Germany (80.8 vs 76.5).
Germany is considerably more urbanized: 82% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Germany is 50% larger than Romania: 357,114 km² versus 238,391 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Germany is far more densely settled: 234 people per km² against 80.
Military
Germany spends 10 times as much on defence as Romania: $88.46B versus $8.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Germany fields the larger armed forces: 183,000 personnel against 128,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Germany bigger than Romania?
- Germany is larger by land area. Germany covers 357,114 km² while Romania covers 238,391 km², so Germany is 50% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Germany or Romania?
- Germany has the larger population: 83.49 million versus 19.02 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Germany richer than Romania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $22,538. Total GDP tells the same story: $5.05T for Germany versus $428.68B for Romania.
- Who spends more on their military, Germany or Romania?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $8.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).