Romania

Romania offers Europe’s best value in rural landscapes, with 19 million inhabitants spread over 238,391 square kilometers—roughly 5.7 times the land area of the Netherlands (#10). Emigration has reduced the population by over 15% since 1990, yet the country remains a top agricultural producer, ranking 6th in EU wheat output in 2023. The rural-urban divide is stark: 46% of Romanians live in rural areas, double the EU average of 23%, which preserves traditional villages but strains infrastructure. In contrast to the Netherlands’ dense, planned urbanization, Romania’s spreading settlement pattern keeps land prices 70% lower per square kilometer.