BNR: Romania's external debt rose to over 227 billion euros in 2025, almost 24 billion above the level of the previous year
Romania's total external debt continued to grow in 2025, reaching 227.347 billion euros, according to data published by the National Bank of Romania. Compared to the end of 2024, the debt level is higher by 23.837 billion euros, marking one of the fastest growth rates in recent years.
The data were published on Wednesday by the BNR. PHOTO Archive Truth
“In the period January-December 2025p, the current account of the balance of payments recorded a deficit of 30,127 million euros, compared to 28,853 million euros in the period January-December 2024. In its structure, the balance of goods recorded a deficit smaller by 637 million euros, the balance of services recorded a larger surplus by 369 million euros, the balance of primary incomes recorded a deficit larger by 1 861 million euros, and the secondary income balance recorded a smaller surplus of 419 million euros”, states the BNR in a statement sent on Wednesday, February 16.
Direct investments by non-residents in Romania totaled 8.153 billion euros (compared to 5.602 billion euros in the period January – December 2024), of which equity participations (including the estimated reinvested profit) totaled a net value of 6.185 billion euros, and intragroup loans recorded a net value of 1.968 billion euros.
Between January and December 2025, the total external debt increased by 23.837 billion euros, up to 227.347 billion euros. In structure: the long-term external debt amounted to 179.431 billion euros on December 31, 2025 (78.9% of the total external debt), increasing by 14.8% compared to December 31, 2024, according to the National Bank of Romania.
What happened to short-term foreign debt?
The short-term external debt recorded on December 31, 2025 the level of 47.916 billion euros (21.1% of the total external debt), increasing by 1.6% compared to December 31, 2024.
The long-term external debt service rate was 17.2% in the period January – December 2025, compared to 21.5% in 2024. The degree of coverage of imports of goods and services on December 31, 2025 was 6.0 months, compared to 5.7 months on December 31, 2024.
The degree of coverage of the short-term external debt, calculated at the residual value, with foreign exchange reserves at the NBR on December 31, 2025 was 104.8%, compared to 103.6% on December 31.
Full data, HERE.
