Romania’s business registration landscape in November 2025 reveals a familiar pattern of capital region dominance, but with emerging signs of provincial economic vitality. The data shows Bucharest-Ilfov maintaining its position as the country’s primary business hub while several provincial counties demonstrate impressive growth rates that suggest a gradual economic decentralization.

Capital Region Maintains Overwhelming Dominance

The Bucharest-Ilfov region accounted for 27.9% of all new business registrations in November 2025, with Bucharest alone recording 3,236 registrations and Ilfov adding another 962 . Combined, the capital region registered 4,198 new businesses, representing more than a quarter of the national total of 15,051 .

This concentration is not surprising given Bucharest’s status as Romania’s economic, financial, and administrative center. The capital region’s dominance extends beyond mere registration numbers to encompass business complexity and scale, with a higher proportion of limited liability companies (SRLs) compared to individual enterprises (PFAs).

Provincial Growth Outpaces Capital Region

While Bucharest-Ilfov maintains volume leadership, several provincial counties are showing remarkable growth momentum. Dolj County led the nation with a staggering 106.4% year-over-year increase , followed by Vâlcea at 102.97% and Iași at 94.15%. These growth rates significantly outpace the national average of 23.12% .

The growth pattern reveals an interesting dynamic: while Bucharest-Ilfov continues to attract the largest absolute number of new businesses, provincial regions are experiencing faster relative growth. This suggests that economic activity is spreading beyond the traditional capital-centric model, with regional centers like Cluj (802 registrations), Timiș (760), and Iași (664) establishing themselves as significant business hubs in their own right.

Entity Type Preferences Show Regional Variations

The data reveals distinct preferences in business structure between the capital region and provinces. In Ilfov County, 74.1% of new registrations were SRLs , while in Cluj County, the proportion was slightly lower at 70.7% .

Nationally, SRLs accounted for 63.7% of all registrations , while PFAs represented 33.7%. The year-over-year comparison shows PFA registrations growing at 67.93% , significantly faster than SRL growth at 8.44%. This trend suggests a growing preference for individual entrepreneurship across all regions.

Industry Concentrations Reveal Economic Specialization

Transport and storage emerged as the leading industry nationwide with 3,053 registrations , showing explosive 68.67% year-over-year growth. Manufacturing showed the most dramatic increase at 258.04% , indicating a potential resurgence in industrial activity.

The industry distribution suggests that while Bucharest likely concentrates higher-value professional, scientific, and technical services, provincial regions are seeing growth in manufacturing, construction, and logistics. This pattern aligns with traditional economic geography where capital regions specialize in services while provinces focus on production and distribution.

Business Ecosystem Health Shows Positive Momentum

The overall business ecosystem remains healthy, with registrations exceeding exits by a ratio of 1.2:1 . Net business growth stood at 2,516 , indicating continued expansion of the business population.

However, the lifecycle data reveals that business exits are also concentrated in the capital region. Bucharest led in dissolutions with 945 and suspensions with 169 . This higher churn rate in the capital reflects both the larger business population and potentially more competitive market conditions.

Economic Centralization vs Decentralization Trends

The November 2025 data presents a nuanced picture of Romania’s economic geography. Bucharest-Ilfov continues to dominate in absolute terms, but provincial growth rates suggest a gradual decentralization process. The capital region’s 27.9% share of national registrations represents significant concentration, yet this is balanced by strong growth in multiple provincial centers.

The 12-month moving average of 12,485 registrations compared to the current month’s 15,051 suggests an upward trend in business formation activity. This growth appears to be distributed across both capital and provinces, though with different characteristics: capital region growth tends to be in services and professional activities, while provincial growth shows strength in manufacturing, logistics, and regional commerce.

The data indicates that Romania’s business ecosystem is evolving toward a more balanced model where Bucharest-Ilfov remains the primary hub but provincial centers are gaining importance. This pattern suggests a maturing economy where regional specialization and complementary economic activities are developing, potentially leading to more sustainable long-term growth across the country.