North-West becomes Romania's second most prosperous region

Data from the National Institute of Statistics reveals that the North-West region has become the second most prosperous region in Romania, following Bucharest-Ilfov. As of January 1, 2026, average monthly household income in the North-West reached 9,994 lei, exceeding the national average of 9,525 lei.

The economic strength of the North-West is driven largely by the Cluj-Oradea axis. Salaries constitute the primary income source in the region, accounting for 70.8% (7,072 lei) of total household income, while pensions contribute 15.2% (1,522 lei). The region also reports the highest income from property at 62 lei per household, though this represents only 0.6% of total earnings.

In comparison, the Bucharest-Ilfov region maintains the highest average monthly income at 13,034 lei, which is 37% above the national average. The Central region follows closely with an average income of 9,505 lei, nearly matching the national mean. The West region reported average monthly incomes of 9,094 lei.