EY study puts Romania's underground economy at 13.1%
<p>Romania's underground economy has been on a downward trend in recent years, reaching 13.1% of GDP in 2023 (1 percentage point above the global average), from 31.3% of GDP in 2000, 19.5% in 2013 and 15.1% in 2019, according to estimates included in a global study on the topic published by the consulting firm EY.</p>

<p>The problem with these estimates has always been the source and quality of the information used as inputs, which is why estimates have always been questioned, <a href="https://www.ey.com/ro_ro/insights/tax/2025/cum-sta-romania-la-capitolul-economie-subterana" rel="noopener" target="_blank">said </a>Alex Milcev, Partner, Leader of the Tax and Legal Assistance department, EY Romania, in a company press release.</p>

<p>"Romania's underground economy represents around one-eighth of GDP, according to the EY global <a href="https://www.ey.com/en_nl/insights/tax/why-the-shadow-economy-persists-and-how-governments-are-responding" rel="noopener" target="_blank">study </a><em>Shadow&nbsp;Economy Exposed: Estimates for the World and Policy Paths. </em>The good news is that its share in the total economy is decreasing from one year to the next, as part of a trend of over two decades," Milcev said.</p>

<p>The EY study analyzed 131 countries over a 23-year period (2000-2023)</p>

<p>"In this context, the weight attributed to Romania does not look special, but, admittedly, with this level, Romania remains at the bottom of the EU ranking," the report reads.</p>

<p><em>(Photo: <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Tomnex/ Dreamstime</a>)</em></p>

<p><em>iulian@romania-insider.com</em></p>