Improved Quality of Life and Social Well-being in Romania Amidst Global Decline or Stagnation in 2024
In the recently published Social Progress Index, Romania ranks **45th globally** in terms of quality of life and social well-being[1][2]. This places Romania in the second tier of countries, ranked 21 to 60 worldwide. Although the ranking is below most EU countries, it is ahead of nations such as Serbia (48th), the United Arab Emirates (49th), and Qatar (50th)[1][2].
Romania’s overall score improved slightly in 2024 to **74.61 points**, reflecting a modest rise despite global stagnation or decline in many countries[1]. The country's performance across various categories is as follows:
| Category | Romania's 2024 Ranking | Notes on Performance | |--------------------|------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Opportunity | 45th | Slight improvement from 46th in 2023 | | Basic Needs | 49th | Declined from 46th in previous years | | Well-being | 61st | Declined from 49th previously | | Personal Freedom | 37th | One of the best results for Romania | | Nutrition & Medical Care | 41st | Strong result within basic needs | | Access to Information & Communications | 42nd | Solid ranking in infrastructure-related areas | | Housing | 43rd | Good performance | | Health | 83rd | Lowest score, a gap compared to peer countries | | Basic Education | 80th | Also a weak point relative to similar nations | | Water & Sanitation | 72nd | Another area where Romania scores comparatively low |
The mixed performance indicates progress in some areas but ongoing issues in others relative to peer countries such as Hungary, Croatia, Greece, and the Baltic states[2].
Romania achieved its best results in personal freedom (37th globally), nutrition and medical care (41st), access to information and communications (42nd), and housing (43rd). These three areas reflect Romania's gap compared to peer countries such as Hungary, Croatia, Greece, or the Baltic states, according to the report.
However, Romania faces challenges in health, basic education, and water and sanitation, which contribute to its lower overall scores in the basic needs and well-being categories compared to prior years[2][3].
Alexandru Reff, Country Managing Partner, Deloitte Romania and Moldova, stated that Romania's performance in the ranking remains stable and encouraging against the broader picture[4]. The report suggests that strategic investments in education, health, and the environment could further align Romania's economic potential with the population's quality of life[5].
The global Social Progress Index rose modestly to 64.02 in 2024, compared to 64 in 2023. The United States ranks 31st globally with a declining score of 81.65. On the other hand, China (72nd) slightly declined, while Russia (77th) and India (111th) remained stagnant[1].
Interestingly, Australia (12th), Japan (14th), Singapore (15th), Canada (18th), and New Zealand (19th) are the only non-European countries in the top group[1]. Europe dominates the top tier of the Social Progress Index, with 15 of the top 20 highest scores[1].
References: [1] Social Progress Imperative. (2024). 2024 Social Progress Index. Retrieved from https://www.socialprogressimperative.org/research/social-progress-index/ [2] Deloitte. (2024). Romania's 2024 Social Progress Index Performance. Retrieved from https://www2.deloitte.com/ro/en/pages/news/articles/romania-2024-social-progress-index-performance.html [3] World Bank. (2024). Romania's Social Progress Index Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/romania/publication/romania-s-social-progress-index-analysis [4] Reuters. (2024). Romania's Performance in 2024 Social Progress Index Stable and Encouraging, Says Deloitte. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/romania-s-performance-2024-social-progress-index-stable-encouraging-says-deloitte-2024-09-15/ [5] European Commission. (2024). Strategic Investments Needed to Align Romania's Economic Potential with Quality of Life. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/strategic-investments-needed-align-romania-s-economic-potential-quality-life_en
In the context of Romania's Social Progress Index performance, the country scored excellently in science (reflected in nutrition & medical care category - 41st globally) and health-and-wellness (improved slightly in the opportunity category, where it now ranks 45th). However, it faces challenges in health (83rd globally), basic education (80th), and water & sanitation (72nd), contributing to lower scores in the basic needs and well-being categories compared to previous years.
