Updated
Overview
Romania has about 90% more people than Israel: 19.02 million against 10.12 million (2025).
Israel's economy is about 40% larger than Romania's, at $610.78B versus $428.68B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $22,538 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Romania | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $428.68B | Higher: $610.78B | 2025 | $382.77B / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $22,538 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.7% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 7.2% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | 5.7% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 44 | 101 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,722 | Higher: $3,383 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $906 | Higher: $1,589 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.01 | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 19.02 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 18.15 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 43.2 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.71 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.5 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 52% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 91% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 238,391 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 79.8/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 69 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $8.72B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 128,000 | 178,000 | 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
Israel is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 3.0%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Romania: a price level of 44 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Israel: $3,383 against $1,722 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Israel is the far younger society: median age 29.2 versus 43.2 years.
Life expectancy is 6.7 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 76.5).
Israel is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Romania is 11 times the size of Israel: 238,391 km² versus 20,770 km².
Israel is far more densely settled: 487 people per km² against 80.
Military
Israel spends 5.3 times as much on defence as Romania: $46.51B versus $8.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 2.3%.
Israel fields the larger armed forces: 178,000 personnel against 128,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Romania bigger than Israel?
- Romania is larger by land area. Romania covers 238,391 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so Romania is 11 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Romania or Israel?
- Romania has the larger population: 19.02 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Romania richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $22,538. Total GDP tells the same story: $428.68B for Romania versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, Romania or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $8.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).