Originally under the control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, Romania was occupied by the Soviets after WWII, which was followed by the abdication of its king. It was ruled for decades by an oppressive dictator who was overthrown in 1989, and controlled by communists until 1996. Now, Romania is a member of NATO and the European Union. Its population of over 18 million is 55% urban and is fairly evenly distributed throughout the country. 

10 Facts About Hunger in Romania

1. Poverty in Romania has decreased, but inequalities exist. The National Poverty Line rate in Romania was 21.1% in 2022, but the lower International Poverty Line rate was just 1.8% in 2021. However, the rural poverty rate was almost five times higher than the urban rate. Yet, in 2023, Romania had the EU’s highest rate (approximately a third) of its population at risk of poverty or social exclusion. 
2. Hunger in Romania is low. The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) groups Romania with 22 countries (out of 127 countries ranked) that have a Low score (less than 5; the high is ≥50). All of the GHI’s component indicators for Romania are classified as Very Low. Less than 2.5% of the population is undernourished, 0.7% of children die before reaching their fifth birthday, and of children under 5, 8.1% are stunted and 3.1% are wasted. 
3. Romania receives high marks on the Global Food Security Index. The overall score Romania received on the Global Food Security Index 2022 ranked Romania 45 out of the 113 countries assessed. Its strength was based on affordability (rank 36), availability (rank 50), quality and safety (rank 27). 
4. Romania’s rural food insecurity is related to food availability. Research based on a sample of rural small farmers (published in 2024) concluded that perceived food insecurity was more a matter of the amount of necessary and appropriate food available domestically (food availability) than the resources to acquire that food (access). There was direct access to basic foods while there was a lack of diversity in crops available in the geographical area, and increased dependency on imported products. 
5. Challenges to food security in Romania require a regional response. A study presented at the October 2024, 5th International Electronic Conference on Foods, suggested that food security solutions require collaborative efforts in the region (Romania and the neighboring countries of Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova). Recommendations for coordinated approaches to developing sustainable and resilient food systems identified agricultural diversification, infrastructure, food safety regulations and strategies for climate adaptation. 
6. The war in Ukraine impacts Romania. Action Against Hunger reported that approximately 100,000 Ukrainian refugees are being integrated into Romania, with many considering staying there. Action Against Hunger initiated its program in Romania in 2022, helping almost 12,000 refugees and their host communities last year. The NGO provides monetary assistance for basic needs, in addition to mental health support—psychosocial and psychological services—to refugees. 
7. Romania is a nation of small farmers. Romania’s agricultural land is estimated at 61% (2018), but only 39% (13.5 million hectares) is arable. Nevertheless, the highest percentage of people employed in agriculture in the EU are in Romania—23% of the labor force (3.5 million farmers)—and their farms comprise about a third of the EU’s agricultural holdings. A very large number of these farms (90%) have individual holdings on small plots of land.  
8. Romania needs national agricultural policies. Despite the overall high 2022 GFSI ranking, Romania was 80th on the index’s assessment of sustainability and adaptation, most significantly because of ocean health, with oceans seen as a “crucial source” of protein. The country is also assessed in the middle range with regard to political commitment to adaptation, in large part because of the lack of a national climate change strategy covering adaptation for agriculture, and lack of a national policy/incentives for sustainable agricultural practices. 
9. There is a need to improve the crisis response of Romania’s agricultural systems. A post-COVID-19 study identified the vulnerability of Romania’s agricultural systems, particularly its production systems. This was not unlike the situation in other countries. The agri-food sector supply chains were disrupted, adding to the pandemic restricted access to inputs, technologies, and labor, all of which increased global food insecurity. Conclusions of the study noted several ways to maintain food security during a crisis, including accelerating digitalization, investing in agricultural mechanization and innovation and, in general, maintaining a proactive relationship among agricultural actors in public institutions. 
10. Romania’s CAP Strategic Plan (2023-2027) addresses agricultural sustainability. Romania has developed a plan to implement the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP). The goal of Romania’s CAP is to “develop a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector by increasing the economic viability of farms, reducing disparities between farms, and increasing the market orientation and competitiveness of the agricultural sector.” 

While Romania is not facing a hunger crisis, the country’s vulnerability to climate change demands attention to agricultural practices. It is not unreasonable to assume that developing sustainable agriculture will increase food security. Romania’s attention to agricultural innovation goes hand in hand with maintaining its continuing ability to feed its people. This includes the refugees it has welcomed into the country.

– Staff Reports
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