Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has 3.7 times the population of Romania: 69.49 million people against 19.02 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 9.3 times the size of Romania's, at $4.00T versus $428.68B.
Per person, the United Kingdom is the wealthier of the two: $57,602 against $22,538 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Romania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $428.68B | 2025 | $3.64T / $382.77B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $57,602 | $22,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.4% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.9% | 7.2% | 2025 | 3.3% / 5.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.7% | 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,567 | $1,722 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,532 | $906 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | $4.01 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 19.02 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 18.15 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 1.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 76.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 52% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 238,391 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 79.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 313 Mt | Lower: 69 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.5 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $8.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 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
The United Kingdom is growing faster: 1.4% annual GDP growth versus 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 3.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Romania: a price level of 44 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United Kingdom: $3,567 against $1,722 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United Kingdom is the younger society: median age 40.1 versus 43.2 years.
Life expectancy is 4.9 years longer in the United Kingdom (81.4 vs 76.5).
The United Kingdom is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is almost exactly the same size as Romania: 242,900 km² versus 238,391 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
The United Kingdom is far more densely settled: 286 people per km² against 80.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 9.4 times as much on defence as Romania: $81.76B versus $8.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
The United Kingdom fields the larger armed forces: 153,000 personnel against 128,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Romania?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Romania covers 238,391 km², a difference of under 2%.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Romania?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 19.02 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Romania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $22,538. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $428.68B for Romania.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Romania?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $8.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).