Romania is one of the lower-income countries in Europe. Its gross domestic profit (GDP) per capita in 2024 was only $20,080, significantly lower than that of other European countries such as Spain, at $35,326, or Italy, at $40,429.

Communist Rule in Romania

Nicolae Ceaușescu ruled Romania as a communist dictator from 1965 to 1989, first as head of the Communist Party and, from 1974, as the country’s president. Romania was one of the poorest countries in Europe during this period.

During this time, domestic violence, particularly against women, was not punished by law. This issue only gained attention in Romania after the fall of communism in 1989. Even after 1989, married women or women with partners were still not protected, as the Criminal Code and Law 1991 did not incriminate violence such as severe bodily harm if the wife was the victim. Other forms of violence against women, such as marital rape and sexual harassment, were also not punished. This highlights the government’s neglect in addressing domestic violence and poverty in Romania at the time.

Romania’s Economic Incline

Ceaușescu’s focus on quickly paying off Romania’s foreign debt led to a severe shortage of food items like bread, milk and meat. Other necessities, such as heating and electricity, were severely restricted, even in harsh winters, causing civilians to live in severe deprivation. This also affected Romania in the years following the end of communism, as their GDP per capita did not surpass $2,000 until 2002. However, since 2002, Romania’s GDP per capita has consistently increased and reached $25,693 in 2026. Additionally, while Romania has one of the lowest minimum wage salaries in the European Union in 2026, at around $972 per month, this represents a 6.8% increase from the previous year, indicating gradual economic improvement.

Domestic Violence Policy Changes

Laws regarding domestic violence in Romania have gradually improved over the years. In 2003, Law 217/2003 was established, allowing the National Agency for Family Protection to be implemented within the Ministry of Labor, Family and Equal Opportunities. The agency aimed to develop various aspects of the domestic violence justice system, such as punishment for perpetrators and shelters for victims. Law 211/2004 also granted victims of domestic violence free counseling sessions and financial compensation from the government. Furthermore, in 2012, the government established Law 25/2012, which made changes to Law 217/2003. Law 25/2012 stated that domestic violence includes physical, verbal, psychological, sexual, social and spiritual violence. Victims are allowed to ask the court for a restraining order, which can expel the aggressor from the home and require a 200-meter distance from the victim.

Poverty in Romania

Romania’s poverty rate has consistently decreased over the years. In 2017, 23.6% of the population, or about 4.6 million people, lived in poverty; by 2023, that figure had declined to around 19%, or roughly 3.6 million people, according to World Bank data. Separately, Romanian police recorded more than 40,000 domestic violence cases nationwide in just the first four months of 2025, according to Romania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs — nearly identical numbers between urban areas (19,984) and rural areas (20,046).

Conclusion

Both domestic violence and poverty in Romania have decreased since the country’s emancipation from communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu in 1989. Although both issues remain prominent today, Romania continues to make improvements in its justice system and economy.

– Bianca Burdulea

Bianca is based in Sunderland, UK, and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr