The public debt of Romania increases alarmingly: almost 1,000 billion lei

The debt of the Romanian state registered a significant increase in March 2025, reaching 998.62 billion lei, according to the data of the Ministry of Finance analyzed by Profit.ro. This represents an increase of almost 8 billion lei compared to the level registered in February.

Compared to 2019, the last year before Romania enters a period of high budget deficits and rapid accumulation of public debt, the level of debt increased by 625.7 billion lei. In proportional terms, the public debt increased from 35% of GDP in 2019 to 56.1% of GDP in March 2025, reflecting a higher burden on the national economy.

The data of the Ministry of Finance for March confirms a growth trend that led, most likely in April, to exceeding the symbolic threshold of 1,000 billion lei, a threshold recently confirmed by the head of the Finance Treasury, Stefan Nanu. He explained in profit the capital market. Forum that this threshold was a matter of time, given the current rhythm of loans and scheduled maturity.

The evolution of public debt in recent years:

• 2019: 372.9 billion lei (35% of GDP)
• 2020: 498.57 billion lei (46.6% of GDP)
• 2021: 576.34 billion lei (48.3% of GDP)
• 2022: 665.49 billion lei (47.9% of GDP)
• 2023: 784.24 billion lei (48.9% of GDP)
• 2024: 963.94 billion lei (54.8% of GDP)
• 2025 (March): 998.62 billion lei (56.1% of GDP)

For the year 2025, the gross government need is estimated at approximately 232 billion lei, excluding cash management tools. This level is slightly lower than the volume of loans attracted in 2024, when loans were contracted in a total value of 252 billion lei, as a result of the increase of the budget deficit target.

The financing of the budget deficit forecast at 7% of GDP (about 135 billion lei) and the refinancing of the existing debt, in the amount of approximately 97 billion lei, will determine the Ministry of Finance to attract loans of approximately 45% of internal sources and 55% of external sources.