Economy, jobs and prices in Sud-Est, Romania: official figures
GDP per person was 23,600 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 59% of the EU average; 6th highest of 8 regions in Romania. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Sud-Est?
The regional economy produced €33.3 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 9.4% of Romania's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Sud-Est?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 11.3% in 2025, against 6.1% for Romania and 6.0% across the EU; the highest of 8 regions in Romania.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Sud-Est?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 31.4% in 2025, against 26.1% for Romania; 3rd highest of 6 regions in Romania.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does Sud-Est spend on research and development?
Spending on research and development came to 0.09% of GDP in 2024 (0.46% nationally).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in the South-East region of Romania?
The South-East region had 32,731 registered unemployed at the end of August 2026, a rate of 3.77% against 3.26% for Romania, 4th highest of 8 development regions.
Source: Agenția Națională pentru Ocuparea Forței de Muncă (ANOFM) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in the South-East region of Romania?
Employers in the South-East region declared an average gross wage of 6,233 lei a month in July 2026 (Romania: 7,649 lei), the lowest of 8 regions; the highest county average in the region was Tulcea county at 6,896 lei.
Source: Casa Națională de Pensii Publice (CNPP) · saved copyHow many people in Sud-Est are long-term unemployed?
In 2025, 3.1% of the labour force in Sud-Est had been unemployed for 12 months or more (Romania: 2.1%; EU: 1.9%); 2nd highest of 8 statistical regions in Romania. In 2015 it was 4.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Sud-Est?
The unemployment rate for women in Sud-Est was 9.5% in 2025 (Romania: 6.0%; EU: 6.2%); 2nd highest of 8 statistical regions in Romania. In 2015 it was 8.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many women in Sud-Est are in work?
50.1% of women aged 20 to 64 were in work in 2025 (Romania: 59.5%; EU: 71.3%); the lowest of 8 statistical regions in Romania. In 2015 it was 49.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Sud-Est growing?
In real terms the economy of Sud-Est grew by 0.0% in 2024 (gross value added), against 0.2% for Romania as a whole; 3rd lowest of 8 statistical regions in Romania. In 2014 it was 4.5%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Sud-Est?
There were 415 passenger cars per 1,000 people in 2024, against 444 for Romania as a whole; 3rd lowest of 8 statistical regions in Romania. In 2014 it was 222.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Sud-Est?
Average compensation per employee (pay plus employer social contributions) was €8,495 in 2023, against €10,228 across Romania; 4th lowest of 8 statistical regions in Romania.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Sud-Est?
Visitors spent 6.7 million nights in tourist accommodation in 2025, 4% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Sud-Est?
The largest part of the economy of Sud-Est in 2024 was trade, transport, hospitality and communications, at 26.9% of gross value added, followed by industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (21.8%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Sud-Est?
Factories, mines and energy produced 21.8% of the value added in Sud-Est in 2024, against 19.1% for Romania.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Sud-Est growing?
Gross value added rose from €15.0 billion in 2015 to €30.2 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 101% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Sud-Est?
The number of people working in Sud-Est fell by 1.5% between 2015 and 2024, to 961,380.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Within the South-East region, registered unemployment ranged from 2.00% in Vrancea county to 6.12% in Galați county in August 2026. Source: Agenția Națională pentru Ocuparea Forței de Muncă (ANOFM) · saved copy
- The female registered unemployment rate in the South-East region was 4.02% in August 2026, and women were 47.0% of the 32,731 people on the register. Source: Agenția Națională pentru Ocuparea Forței de Muncă (ANOFM) · saved copy
- 17,827 of the unemployed in the South-East region were long-term unemployed in August 2026 (54.5%), and 3,042 were under 25 (9.3%). Source: Agenția Națională pentru Ocuparea Forței de Muncă (ANOFM) · saved copy
- The number of registered unemployed in the South-East region rose from 31,117 in August 2025 to 32,731 in August 2026, a change of 5.2%. Source: Agenția Națională pentru Ocuparea Forței de Muncă (ANOFM) · saved copy
- 60,662 employers in the South-East region filed social insurance returns for July 2026, covering 550,715 insured people, 8.9% of Romania's total. Source: Casa Națională de Pensii Publice (CNPP) · saved copy
How Sud-Est compares with other statistical regions
Registered unemployment rate, 31 August 2026 (%) (August 2026)
Sud-Est ranks 4 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Registered unemployment rate, 31 August 2026 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | 6.23% |
| 2 | Nord-Est | 4.64% |
| 3 | Sud-Muntenia | 4.39% |
| 4 | Sud-Est | 3.77% |
| 5 | Centru | 3.57% |
| 6 | Nord-Vest | 2.77% |
| 7 | Vest | 2.56% |
Average gross monthly wage, July 2026 (lei) (July 2026)
Sud-Est ranks 8 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average gross monthly wage, July 2026 (lei) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Vest | 7,193 lei |
| 3 | Nord-Vest | 7,096 lei |
| 4 | Centru | 6,966 lei |
| 5 | Sud-Muntenia | 6,786 lei |
| 6 | Nord-Est | 6,438 lei |
| 7 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | 6,351 lei |
| 8 | Sud-Est | 6,233 lei |
Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) (2025)
Sud-Est ranks 2 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sud-Muntenia | 4.2% |
| 2 | Sud-Est | 3.1% |
| 3 | Vest | 2.1% |
| 4 | Centru | 2.0% |
| 5 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | 1.8% |
| 6 | Nord-Est | 1.6% |
| 7 | Nord-Vest | 1.3% |
Unemployment rate, women (2025)
Sud-Est ranks 2 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sud-Muntenia | 10.2% |
| 2 | Sud-Est | 9.5% |
| 3 | Nord-Est | 7.7% |
| 4 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | 6.3% |
| 5 | Nord-Vest | 5.3% |
| 6 | Vest | 4.1% |
| 7 | Centru | 3.5% |
Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)
Sud-Est ranks 8 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Nord-Vest | 63.2% |
| 3 | Centru | 60.7% |
| 4 | Vest | 58.4% |
| 5 | Nord-Est | 57.0% |
| 6 | Sud-Muntenia | 55.4% |
| 7 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | 52.0% |
| 8 | Sud-Est | 50.1% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Sud-Est ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Nord-Vest | 0.2% |
| 3 | Vest | 0.2% |
| 4 | Centru | 0.1% |
| 5 | Nord-Est | 0.0% |
| 6 | Sud-Est | 0.0% |
| 7 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | 0.0% |
| 8 | Sud-Muntenia | -0.1% |
Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)
Sud-Est ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Vest | 476 |
| 3 | Nord-Vest | 436 |
| 4 | Centru | 433 |
| 5 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | 428 |
| 6 | Sud-Est | 415 |
| 7 | Sud-Muntenia | 403 |
| 8 | Nord-Est | 344 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2023)
Sud-Est ranks 5 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Vest | €10,241 |
| 3 | Centru | €9,994 |
| 4 | Nord-Vest | €9,135 |
| 5 | Sud-Est | €8,495 |
| 6 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | €8,214 |
| 7 | Sud-Muntenia | €8,075 |
| 8 | Nord-Est | €7,320 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Sud-Est ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sud-Est | 6.7 million |
| 2 | Centru | 6.0 million |
| 3 | Bucureşti-Ilfov | 4.5 million |
| 4 | Nord-Vest | 3.6 million |
| 5 | Nord-Est | 2.7 million |
| 6 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | 2.2 million |
| 7 | Sud-Muntenia | 2.0 million |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Sud-Est ranks 5 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sud-Muntenia | 27.1% |
| 3 | Centru | 24.6% |
| 4 | Vest | 24.3% |
| 5 | Sud-Est | 21.8% |
| 6 | Nord-Vest | 20.5% |
| 7 | Nord-Est | 14.8% |
| 8 | Bucureşti-Ilfov | 10.2% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Sud-Est ranks 5 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Nord-Est | 18.5% |
| 3 | Centru | 18.3% |
| 4 | Nord-Vest | 17.5% |
| 5 | Sud-Est | 16.9% |
| 6 | Sud-Muntenia | 16.8% |
| 7 | Vest | 15.2% |
| 8 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | 14.3% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)
Sud-Est ranks 3 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nord-Est | 22.6% |
| 2 | Sud-Vest Oltenia | 19.4% |
| 3 | Sud-Est | 19.2% |
| 4 | Centru | 18.6% |
| 5 | Nord-Vest | 18.1% |
| 6 | Vest | 17.7% |
| 7 | Sud-Muntenia | 17.5% |
More on Sud-Est: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Romania
Sources
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- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tour_occ_nin2: Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 06f6a82909c0…)
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