Updated
Overview
Romania has 2.9 times the population of Serbia: 19.02 million people against 6.55 million (2025).
Romania's economy is 4.3 times the size of Serbia's, at $428.68B versus $99.95B.
Per person, Romania is the wealthier of the two: $22,538 against $15,262 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Romania | Serbia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $428.68B | $99.95B | 2025 | $382.77B / $89.08B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $22,538 | $15,262 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.7% | Higher: 2.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 7.2% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | 5.7% / 4.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.0% | 7.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 44 | 45 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $1,722 | $1,559 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $906 | $696 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.01 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 19.02 million | 6.55 million | 2025 | 18.15 million / 6.65 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | -0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 43.2 yrs | 44.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.71 | 1.50 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.5 yrs | 76.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 52% | 63% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 91% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 238,391 km² | 77,474 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 79.8/km² | 84.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 69 Mt | Lower: 42 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 6.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $8.72B | $2.32B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 2.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 128,000 | 32,000 | 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
Serbia is growing faster: 2.0% annual GDP growth versus 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 3.9%.
Average monthly earnings favour Romania: $1,722 against $1,559 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 43.2 (Romania) and 44.4 (Serbia).
Serbia is considerably more urbanized: 63% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Romania is 3.1 times the size of Serbia: 238,391 km² versus 77,474 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Romania spends 3.8 times as much on defence as Serbia: $8.72B versus $2.32B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Romania fields the larger armed forces: 128,000 personnel against 32,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Romania bigger than Serbia?
- Romania is larger by land area. Romania covers 238,391 km² while Serbia covers 77,474 km², so Romania is 3.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Romania or Serbia?
- Romania has the larger population: 19.02 million versus 6.55 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Romania richer than Serbia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Romania is richer: $22,538 against $15,262. Total GDP tells the same story: $428.68B for Romania versus $99.95B for Serbia.
- Who spends more on their military, Romania or Serbia?
- Romania spends more: $8.72B versus $2.32B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).