Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia were the EU countries with the lowest GDP per capita last year expressed in terms of purchasing power standard (PPS), namely about half the average recorded in EU member states, according to the EU’s statistical office Eurostat.

Romania’s GDP accounted for 57% of the EU average, up from 55% in 2013 and 2014. In the case of Bulgaria, the GDP per capita represented 47% of the EU average whereas Croatia’s GDP per capita totaled 58% of the EU average.

At the opposite end, Luxembourg recorded a GDP per capita of 267% of the EU average. Also, Austria and the Netherlands saw a GDPs per capita of 128% of the EU average.

Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania were also last in the EU for the actual individual consumption (AIC) per capita. Bulgaria’s AIC was 53% of the EU average, Croatia’s was 58%, and Romania’s was 59%.

However, the actual individual consumption in Romania increased significantly, from just 54% of the EU average in 2013 and 56% in 2014, due to the tax cuts and salary increases, which stimulated domestic demand.

editor@romania-insider.com