Updated
Overview
Romania and the Netherlands are nearly matched in population: 19.02 million versus 18.09 million people (2025).
The Netherlands' economy is 3.1 times the size of Romania's, at $1.33T versus $428.68B.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $22,538 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Romania | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $428.68B | Higher: $1.33T | 2025 | $382.77B / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $22,538 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.7% | Higher: 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 7.2% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | 5.7% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 44 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,722 | Higher: $6,402 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $906 | Higher: $2,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.01 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 19.02 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 18.15 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 43.2 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.71 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.5 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 52% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 238,391 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 79.8/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 69 Mt | 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $8.72B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 128,000 | 41,000 | 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
The Netherlands is growing faster: 1.8% annual GDP growth versus 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 3.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Romania: a price level of 44 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $1,722 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 43.2 (Romania) and 41.5 (the Netherlands).
Life expectancy is 5.5 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 76.5).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Romania is 5.7 times the size of the Netherlands: 238,391 km² versus 41,850 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 80.
Military
The Netherlands spends 2.7 times as much on defence as Romania: $23.18B versus $8.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Romania fields the larger armed forces: 128,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Romania bigger than the Netherlands?
- Romania is larger by land area. Romania covers 238,391 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so Romania is 5.7 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Romania or the Netherlands?
- Romania has the larger population: 19.02 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Romania richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $22,538. Total GDP tells the same story: $428.68B for Romania versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, Romania or the Netherlands?
- The Netherlands spends more: $23.18B versus $8.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).