Romania ranks 49th in 2025 World Competitiveness Yearbook
Romania ranks 49th in this year's World Competitiveness Yearbook, with Switzerland, Singapore and Hong Kong occupying the podium, according to a press release from CIT-IRECSON - the Technological Information Centre - sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.
According to the 2025 edition of the World Competitiveness Yearbook, Romania drops nine places in the 'Economic Performance' category (down to 56th), but rises four positions in 'Government Efficiency' (44th), four in 'Business Efficiency' (50th) and six places in 'Infrastructure' (45th).
Experts from the Technological Information Centre explain that Romania's decline in 'Economic Performance' is due to the overall sluggishness of the economy, reflected in macroeconomic indicators showing that the economic engine is running at a lower gear. 'Real GDP growth (0.8% in 2024), current account balance (-8.3% in 2024), inflation (5.6% in 2024), food costs (25% of household budgets spent on food in 2024), and youth unemployment (31.5% of young people seeking employment are unable to find jobs) are significant factors contributing to the decline in economic performance,' the release reads.
On the other hand, 'Government Efficiency' improved due to better institutional management and business legislation, with increases of 14 and 11 places, respectively. In this context, improvements were recorded in 'fiscal policy' (up three places compared to 2024), especially regarding tax collection, and in the 'societal framework' (up three places). 'All these improvements helped cushion the sharp eight-place drop in Public Finance, caused primarily by the budget deficit (-8.68% of GDP in 2024) and total public debt (57.44% of GDP in 2024),' the source also shows.
In the 'Business Efficiency' category, Romania climbed four places in the ranking due to improvements in 'Labour Productivity and Efficiency' (+9), 'Management Practices' (+5) and a more business-friendly 'Financial Environment' (+9).
At the same time, progress in 'Infrastructure' significantly influenced Romania's 2025 position, with notable increases across nearly all subcategories: a seven-place rise in Basic Infrastructure, five in Technological Infrastructure, nine in Health & Environment and four in Education.
'The results of the 2025 World Competitiveness Yearbook highlight the urgent need for Romanian society to undertake measures aimed at improving economic performance (where we lost 9 places in 2025) and to address at least three current challenges: inflationary pressures, total government debt and the current account balance. We also point out that the business environment is raising concerns about political instability and expressing fear over the potential failure of their enterprises,' CIT-IRECSON experts said.
CIT-IRECSON is accredited by the National Authority for Research and Development for conducting innovation and technology transfer activities and is a certified provider of professional training by the National Authority for Qualifications, in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation and technology transfer.
The organisation is Romania's official partner of the IMD (International Institute for Management Development) World Competitiveness Center for the preparation of the World Competitiveness Yearbook. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Badea; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)
The content of the www.agerpres.ro website has the exclusive purpose of public informing.
All the information published on this website by AGERPRES is protected by relevant legal dispositions.
It is forbidden to copy, reproduce, recompile, decompile, distribute, publish, display, modify, create derived components or products or full services, as well as any exploitation of the site's content.
Details in the section Terms of Use. If you are interested in picking up AGERPRES news items, please contact the Marketing Department – marketing@agerpres.ro.
The use of the Comments section entails your obligation to respect the AGERPRES terms and conditions in regards to the publishing of comments on the www.agerpres.ro.
Other news in category
Code Yellow heatwave warnings for counties in Crisana, Banat, Transylvania, Oltenia on Wednesday and Thursday
The National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued new Code Yellow heatwave warnings, in force on Wednesday and Thursday in several areas of Crisana, Banat, Transylvania and Oltenia. According to meteorologists, the first Code Yellow warning will be in force on Wednesday, between 12:00 and 18:00, in Banat, Crisana, Maramures, western Transylvania and sout
Russian citizen who plotted acts of diversion and sabotage in Romania placed under pre-trial arrest
The Bucharest Court of Appeal ordered on Tuesday the 30-day pre-trial arrest of a Russian citizen accused of attempted acts of diversion, a form of hybrid sabotage targeting military objectives. The Russian national had been detained earlier in the day by the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) and brought before the court with
Acting ForMin Oana Toiu to attend funeral of King Harald V of Norway
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana Toiu, will participate on Wednesday, in Oslo, in the funeral of King Harald V of Norway, who died on August 28, at the age of 89. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The funeral of King Harald V of Norway will take place on Wednesday, at the Oslo Cathedral. The cer
OPIA highlights Romania's strategic defence role at French-Romanian Security & Defence Business Forum
During the third edition of the French-Romanian Security & Defence Business Forum, the Romanian Defence Industry Employers' Organisation (OPIA) underscored the strategic importance of Romania's defence industry for strengthening security on the Eastern Flank and highlighted the need to develop Europe's industrial resilience. Held at the Dacia B
Nicusor Dan: Public policies aimed at supporting students at educational risk are necessary
Public policies prioritizing the early identification and support of students at educational risk are necessary, Mayor Nicusor Dan stated on Tuesday following the release of the PISA test results. 'The results of the PISA 2025 study represent a major wake-up call that we cannot afford to ignore, regardless of the political or economic context. Romania'
PNL accuses PSD of political deal with AUR over Romanian public broadcaster leadership
The National Liberal Party (PNL) on Tuesday accused the Social Democratic Party (PSD) of 'putting public television in the hands of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR)', following a decision by the joint Standing Bureaus of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate on the appointment of interim heads of Romanian Television and public radio, namely journalist Sorin
Romanian president seeks Parliament's approval for military participation in multinational command supporting Ukraine
President Nicusor Dan has asked Parliament to approve the participation of up to 20 Romanian military personnel in the Operational Headquarters for the Multinational Force supporting Ukraine and its subordinate command-and-control structures. The joint Standing Bureaus of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate decided on Tuesday to refer the request to the def
Flights at Iasi International Airport suspended after RO-ALERT incoming drone warning
Flights at Iasi International Airport were suspended on Tuesday after authorities issued a RO-ALERT warning about possible falling objects from the airspace, airport director Romeo Vatra told AGERPRES. 'There are no cancelled flights. For now all flights are suspended until the situation is clarified,' Vatra said. Iasi Prefect Constantin
Sorina Matei and Razvan Dinca to head Romanian TV and Radio public service broadcasters, respectively
Parliament's joint Standing Bureaus approved on Tuesday new interim leadership teams at the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation (SRR) and the Romanian Television Broadcasting Corporation (SRTV). Razvan Dinca was designated president-director general of the public radio broadcaster, while journalist Sorina Matei was appointed director general and chair
Erbasu: We need to make investments planned by us, not ones imposed by Brussels
Romania must make investments using its own resources—rather than those imposed by the European Union, which has already carried out necessary, foundational investments—stated Cristian Erba?u, President of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs and Investors in Romania (CAIR), on Tuesday. 'For 30 years, we have talked only about European funds. We
Russian national detained on suspicion of attempted acts of sabotage
The Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) announced on Tuesday that it had ordered the detention of a 40-year-old Russian national accused of attempting to commit acts of sabotage. 'Evidence gathered in the case shows that, between February and July 2026, with a view to committing acts of hybrid diversion/sabotage, under the
Danube's low levels boost slow, sustainable tourism in Tulcea
The low levels of the Danube are boosting sustainable tourism carried out on engineless or low-capacity engine boats that do not affect the ecosystems, and colonies of pelicans in the Delta can be seen more often on the canals of the Danube Delta Reserve, as visitors get a chance to watch the birds from shorter and shorter distances. The director of a travel a
Interim PM Bolojan, at meeting with foreign investors, reiterates Romania's committment to continue fiscal consolidation
Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan reaffirmed Romania's commitment to continuing the process of fiscal consolidation and reducing risks associated with public finance at a meeting he held at Victoria Palace on Tuesday with a delegation of investors comprising representatives of J.P. Morgan, foreign-owned companies and international financial institutions.
Romania's Ambassador to Greece visits Crete, while Romanian historic ships were in the Souda port
The Ambassador of Romania to the Hellenic Republic, Mrs. Carmen-Ileana Mihalcescu, paid an official visit to the island of Crete from September 4 to 7, 2026, during which the 'Mircea' and 'Regele Ferdinand' ships were also in the port of Souda, informs the Romanian Embassy in Athens on Tuesday. According to the same source, the visit is part of
Pietroasele Roman Baths exhibition to mark European Heritage Days
The Buzau County Museum is organising an exhibition at the Pietroasele Roman Baths to mark European Heritage Days, offering visitors an opportunity to discover how the thermal baths operated as well as to learn valuable information about the famous 'Closca cu puii de aur' (The hatching hen with the golden chicken) treasure. The event, organised by the