Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan and Romania are nearly matched in population: 20.84 million versus 19.02 million people (2025).
Romania's economy is about 40% larger than Kazakhstan's, at $428.68B versus $306.24B.
Per person, Romania is the wealthier of the two: $22,538 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Romania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $306.24B | Higher: $428.68B | 2025 | $288.41B / $382.77B |
| GDP per capita | $14,692 | Higher: $22,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 7.2% | 2025 | 8.8% / 5.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.8% | 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | Higher: $1,722 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | Higher: $906 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $4.01 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 19.02 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 18.15 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 1.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.5 yrs | Higher: 76.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 52% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 93% | 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 238,391 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 79.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 69 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $8.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 0.7%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 7.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 44 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Romania: $1,722 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 43.2 years.
Life expectancy is 1.9 years longer in Romania (76.5 vs 74.5).
Kazakhstan is considerably more urbanized: 62% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 11 times the size of Romania: 2,724,900 km² versus 238,391 km².
Romania is far more densely settled: 80 people per km² against 8.
Military
Romania spends 7.2 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $8.72B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Romania carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Romania fields the larger armed forces: 128,000 personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than Romania?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while Romania covers 238,391 km², so Kazakhstan is 11 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or Romania?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 19.02 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than Romania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Romania is richer: $22,538 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $428.68B for Romania.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or Romania?
- Romania spends more: $8.72B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).