Analysis of September 2025 data reveals stark contrasts between Bucharest-Ilfov and regional economies

Romania’s business landscape continues to show a pronounced divide between the capital region and the rest of the country, with September 2025 data revealing both the dominance of Bucharest-Ilfov and the accelerating growth in major provincial centers.

The Capital’s Overwhelming Dominance

Bucharest-Ilfov maintained its position as Romania’s undisputed business hub, accounting for 28.5% of all new company registrations in September 2025. The capital city alone registered 3,366,. Combined, the capital region represented nearly one-third of the national total of 14,810.

The growth rates in the capital region were equally impressive. Bucharest saw a 50.5% increase compared to September 2024,.

Provincial Centers Show Strong Momentum

While the capital dominates in absolute numbers, several provincial centers demonstrated remarkable growth momentum. Cluj County led the way with 742 registrations and a 62.7% year-over-year increase, followed closely by Iași with 629 registrations and a 64.2% growth rate. The most dramatic growth occurred in Dolj County, which more than doubled its registrations with a 102.5% increase, and Alba County, which surged by 146.5% compared to September 2024.

Other major provincial centers showed solid performance:

• Timiș: 581 registrations
• Brașov: 577 registrations
• Constanța: 448 registrations
• Bihor: 434 registrations
• Sibiu: 407 registrations

Entity Type Preferences Reveal Regional Business Cultures

The data reveals distinct preferences for business structures across regions. In Bucharest, the distribution was more balanced between SRLs (60%) and PFAs (40%), suggesting a mix of formal corporate structures and individual entrepreneurship. In contrast, Ilfov showed a stronger preference for SRLs at 78%, indicating a more corporate-oriented business environment in the capital’s immediate periphery.

Industry Concentration Patterns

The national industry breakdown shows Romania’s business ecosystem remains heavily concentrated in traditional sectors. Wholesale and retail trade led with 18,223 registrations, followed closely by transport and storage at 17,828. Professional and technical activities (10,869) and construction (10,513) rounded out the top four sectors.

The transport and storage sector showed particularly strong growth, increasing by 56.7% year-over-year, while manufacturing grew by 28.9% and hospitality by 25.7%.

Business Ecosystem Health

The overall business ecosystem showed positive health indicators. With 14,810 new registrations against 12,951, Romania recorded net growth of 1,859 businesses in September 2025. The health ratio of 1.14 indicates that for every business exit, 1.14 new businesses were created, suggesting a moderately healthy business environment.

What the Data Reveals About Economic Centralization

The September 2025 data confirms several ongoing trends in Romania’s economic geography:

1. Persistent Capital Dominance: Bucharest-Ilfov continues to attract nearly one-third of all new business activity, reinforcing its role as Romania’s primary economic engine.

2. Provincial Renaissance: Major urban centers like Cluj, Iași, Timiș, and Brașov are showing strong growth momentum, suggesting a gradual decentralization of economic activity.

3. Growth Hotspots: Counties like Dolj and Alba demonstrate that rapid business growth is possible outside traditional economic centers, potentially indicating emerging regional hubs.

4. Balanced Ecosystem: The positive net growth and healthy registration-to-exit ratio suggest Romania’s business environment remains dynamic and resilient, with both the capital and provinces contributing to overall economic vitality.

The data paints a picture of an economy where the capital remains dominant but where provincial centers are increasingly asserting their economic importance, creating a more balanced national business landscape than the raw registration numbers might initially suggest.