Romania's savings habits focused on financial protection rather than wealth building

A study of 1,921 Romanians conducted in April 2026 found that about 40% of the population currently have savings or active investments. The dominant motive is financial security, with 86% of savers stating they set money aside for unexpected situations, while only 13% cite wealth accumulation.

On average, Romanians save roughly 12% of their income, and 60% keep savings at or below 10% of earnings. Men tend to save larger amounts than women. Urban residents, especially those in Bucharest, and individuals with higher education and incomes exhibit higher saving rates, whereas rural areas and lower‑educated groups save less.

Savings are primarily held in liquid forms: 60% use banking products such as savings accounts or deposits, 42% keep cash at home, and 39% hold funds in current accounts. Investment in private pensions (29%), real estate (26%) and mutual funds (17%) is also common, with gold and real estate viewed as hedges against inflation. Only 19% of savers have reserves sufficient for more than a year, 31% can cover three to five months of expenses, and about one‑third would manage less than three months.

Household savings in Romania are negative (-1%) compared with the EU average of 15%. Looking ahead, one‑third of respondents expect to save less over the next year, only 14% anticipate saving more, and 56% would cut discretionary spending such as dining out and holidays to increase savings.