Romania: Literacy rate: The latest value from 2021 is 99 percent, unchanged from 99 percent in 2011. In comparison, the world average is 86.53 percent, based on data from 48 countries. Historically, the average for Romania from 1992 to 2021 is 98 percent. The minimum value, 97 percent, was reached in 1992 while the maximum of 99 percent was recorded in 2011.

Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) in Romania was reported at 99 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Romania - Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Historical dataset showing Romania literacy rate by year from 1992 to 2021.

Adult literacy rate of Romania remained constant at 99.0 % over the last 1 years. Adult (15+) literacy rate (%). Total is the percentage of the population age 15 and above who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 15 years and over by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.

Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 98.604 % in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 97.298 % for 2002. Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 97.298 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.604 % in 2011 and a record low of 96.710 % in 1992. Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) in Romania was reported at 100 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Romania - Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 99.034 % in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 98.404 % for 2002. Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 98.532 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.034 % in 2011 and a record low of 98.404 % in 2002. Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 98.205 % in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 96.266 % for 2002. Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 96.266 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.205 % in 2011 and a record low of 94.983 % in 1992. Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Romania: Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2021 is 100 percent, an increase from 99 percent in 2011. In comparison, the world average is 93.45 percent, based on data from 58 countries. Historically, the average for Romania from 1992 to 2021 is 99 percent. The minimum value, 98 percent, was reached in 2002 while the maximum of 100 percent was recorded in 2021.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female (%) in Romania was reported at 97.48 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Romania - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data was reported at 99.014 % in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 97.744 % for 2002. Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 99.014 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.180 % in 1992 and a record low of 97.744 % in 2002. Romania RO: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

The average for 2021 based on 15 countries was 99.57 percent. The highest value was in Romania: 100 percent and the lowest value was in Bulgaria: 98.27 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Romania was reported at 98.11 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Romania - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male (%) in Romania was reported at 99.05 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Romania - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Romania RO: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data was reported at 1.000 Ratio in 2011. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.000 Ratio for 2002. Romania RO: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 1.000 Ratio from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.000 Ratio in 2002 and a record low of 0.999 Ratio in 1992. Romania RO: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Gender parity index for youth literacy rate is the ratio of females to males ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

The average for 2021 based on 58 countries was 94.32 percent. The highest value was in Romania: 100 percent and the lowest value was in Burkina Faso: 66.65 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Abstract

The survey is the follow-up of the Diagnostic Review on Consumer Protection and Financial Literacy conducted by the World Bank in 2008-2009. The Diagnostic Review in Romania was the fourth in a World Bank-sponsored pilot program to assess consumer protection and financial literacy in developing and middle-income countries.1 The objectives of this Review were three-fold to: (1) refine a set of good practices for assessing consumer protection and financial literacy, including financial literacy; (2) conduct a review of the existing rules and practices in Romania compared to the good practices; and (3) provide recommendations on ways to improve consumer protection and financial literacy in Romania. The Diagnostic Review was prepared at the request of the National Authority for Consumers' Protection (ANPC), whose request was endorsed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Support was provided by the National Bank of Romania (BNR), which supervises banks and non-bank credit institutions. Further assistance was given by the supervisory commissions for securities (CNVM), insurance (CSA) and private pensions (CSSPP).

The Diagnostic Review found that the basic foundations needed for consumer protection and financial literacy are in place in Romania but they benefit from further strengthening support. The Review proposes improvements in six areas: consumer awareness, information and disclosure for consumers, professional competence, dispute resolution, financial education and financial literacy surveys.

Consequently, in 2010 the World Bank commissioned a nation-wide survey of the levels of financial literacy. A consultant (sociologist Manuela Sofia Stanculescu) developed the survey methodology (sampling methodology and questionnaire) in line with the Financial Literacy Survey in Russia (the World Bank, 2008) and the baseline survey Financial Capability in the UK (Financial Services Authority, 2005).2 The final form of the questionnaire was agreed with representatives of the National Bank of Romania (BNR), the Romanian Banking Institute (IBR), the National Authority for Consumers' Protection (ANPC), and the Financial Companies Association in Romania (ALB). The Institute for World Economy (Romanian Academy) collected the data in May 2010.

The main objective of this work is the establishment (and later the evaluation) of a well targeted national program of financial education.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

Household, individual

Universe

Non-institutionalized persons aged 18 or older

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The sample of the survey is probabilistic, two-stage, stratified, representative at national level with an error of +/- 3% at a 95% confidence level.

The sample is based on two stratification criteria: (i) historical region (8 regions) and (ii) type of locality (7 types depending on the city size, in urban areas, and on the synthetic index of community development,4 in the rural ones).

The sample volume is 2048,5 out of which 148 cases represent a boost of persons aged 16, 17 or those had their 18th birthday after November 2009.6 Respondents were randomly selected from electoral registers corresponding to 185 voting sections (randomly selected), located in 141 localities (77 communes, 63 towns/cities and the capital Bucharest).

The sample includes a slight over-representation of men, rural respondents, and elderly particularly due to the boost of young but also to the fact that people left abroad concentrate among the 25-44 age category. Nevertheless, the sample fairly reproduces the structure (by gender, age categories and area of residence) of the country population 16+ years according to the data for 2009 provided by the National Institute for Statistics. Socio-demographic structure of the sample is presented in table 3 of the survey report.

Demographic data and data regarding the use of financial services were collected for all members of respondents? households. In the respondents? households live 5406 persons overall. This extended sample has also a slight over-representation of rural respondents and an under-representation of children (0-14 years) and persons 25-24 years (most probably young people who left abroad with children).

MORE INFORMATION ON THE SAMPLING METHODOLOGY

Sample volume: 2,200 non-institutionalized persons aged 18 or older. In addition, the sample will be boosted with 180 persons aged 16-18 years old. Overall, at least 2,000 valid questionnaires should be completed during fieldwork.

Type of the sample: Probabilistic, two-stage, stratified, representative at national level, with an error of +/- 2.8% at a 95% confidence level.

Stratification criteria: The sampling scheme is based on two stratification criteria

(a) Historical region (8 regions) (b) Type of locality, with 7 theoretical strata

i. Urban areas - 4 strata 1. very small towns under 30 thou inhabitants 2. small towns 30,001-100 thou inhabitants 3. medium cities 100,001-199 thou inhabitants 4. large cities 200 thou inhabitants or more

ii. Rural areas - 3 strata determined based on the synthetic index of community development 37 1. poor communes (the 30% communes with the lowest level of development within the country) 2. medium developed communes 3. developed communes (the 30% communes with the highest level of development within the country).

Sampling stages: The sampling scheme includes two stages.

Sampling units: There are two sampling units corresponding to the two sampling stages. In the first sampling stage, voting sections are selected and in the second stage, non-institutionalized persons aged 18 years or more.

Selection: Random selection in all sampling stages.

Sampling scheme: In the first stage the sample is distributed proportionally with the volume of population for each of the 56(= 8 x 7) theoretical strata different from zero.

The corresponding number of voting sections for each strata is determined taking into account on the one hand, the volume of each strata sub-sample (= sample size x share of total population in that strata) and, on the other hand, a minimum level of 10 questionnaires for each sampling point. The voting sections which will represent sampling points are then randomly selected based on the exhaustive national list of voting sections (the latest available from the Permanent Electoral Authority).

The sample has 188 sampling points (voting sections) of which 104 are in urban areas, and 84 are in rural localities, including the capital city.

For each sampling point is computed the number of corresponding questionnaires by dividing the strata sub-sample by the number of sampling points of that strata. In the second sampling stage, the electoral registers corresponding to the voting sections (selected as sampling points) are used as sampling frame. Non-institutionalized persons aged 18 or more are randomly selected from the electoral registers based on the mechanical step method.

In those localities where the electoral registers are not available (or the municipality do not grant access), the random route method will be used. All these cases will be specified and explained in the fieldwork report, except for Bucharest, where the random route method will be used for all voting sections, as the rate of replacement from electoral registers is high in all national representative surveys.

The electoral registers include only persons 18 years or more. Accordingly, the sample will include a boost of persons aged 16, 17 or persons that had their 18th birthday after November 2009.39 For each voting section, one person aged 16-18 years will be added. They will be selected based on the random route method.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Response rate

The overall response rate of the survey is 95.2%. More detailed information is provided in "Table 2 Response rates and quality of the sampling frame by sampling method (%) " of the survey report.

The average for 2021 based on 58 countries was 92.58 percent. The highest value was in Romania: 100 percent and the lowest value was in Afghanistan: 42 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Survey dataset on financial well-being and financial literacy in Romania

Literacy rate, youth (ages 15-24), gender parity index (GPI) in Romania was reported at 1 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Romania - Ratio of young literate females to males (% ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.