Updated
Overview
The United States has 18 times the population of Romania: 341.78 million people against 19.02 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 72 times the size of Romania's, at $30.77T versus $428.68B.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $22,538 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Romania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $428.68B | 2025 | $29.18T / $382.77B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $22,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.2% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 7.2% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 5.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.2% | 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $1,722 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,257 | $906 | 2026 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $4.01 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 19.02 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 18.15 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.9 yrs | 76.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 52% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 238,391 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 79.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 69 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $8.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 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 States is growing faster: 2.2% annual GDP growth versus 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 2.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Romania: a price level of 44 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $1,722 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United States is the younger society: median age 38.5 versus 43.2 years.
Life expectancy is 2.4 years longer in the United States (78.9 vs 76.5).
The United States is considerably more urbanized: 80% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, the United States is 41 times the size of Romania: 9,833,517 km² versus 238,391 km².
Romania is far more densely settled: 80 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 114 times as much on defence as Romania: $997.31B versus $8.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 2.3%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 128,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Romania?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Romania covers 238,391 km², so the United States is 41 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Romania?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 19.02 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Romania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $22,538. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $428.68B for Romania.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Romania?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $8.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).