The foreign direct investment (FDI) stock in Romania's real estate transactions sector reached approximately €22.1 billion at the end of 2025, accounting for 16.4% of the country's total FDI stock, up from 16% in 2024, according to data from the National Bank of Romania analysed by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. This makes real estate transactions the second-largest sectoral destination for foreign capital, behind manufacturing, which attracted €35.7 billion and a 26.5% share. The construction sector separately recorded a stock of €1.82 billion after attracting net inflows of €74 million during the year.
Over the past decade, the combined FDI stock in construction and real estate transactions grew by 185.7%, rising from approximately €8.4 billion in 2015 to nearly €23.9 billion in 2025, an increase of roughly €15.5 billion. Together, construction and real estate transactions rank second among all sectors, behind industry at 37.8%, ahead of trade at 15.8% and financial intermediation and insurance at 14.8%. These four sectors collectively account for 86.2% of Romania's total net FDI stock.
Net FDI inflows into construction and real estate transactions remained positive in 2025 at €553 million, down 11.8% from €627 million in 2024, with the sector retaining fourth place among economic activities by net inflows. Of this total, €475 million came through equity contributions and €316 million through debt instruments.
"FDI trends confirm the important role that real estate plays in Romania's economy," said Claudia Scarlat, Deputy Head of Valuation & Consulting at Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. "The fact that the FDI stock in construction and real estate transactions has almost tripled over the past decade reflects the maturation of the local market and investors' long-term interest in Romania. Annual inflows may vary depending on the economic environment and investment cycles, but the consistent growth of the FDI stock indicates the continued accumulation of foreign capital in the sector."
At the level of the broader economy, Romania's total net FDI inflows reached €7.9 billion in 2025, up 41.1% year on year, reversing a two-year downward trend and representing the third-highest level of the past decade. Equity investment reached €3.25 billion, more than double the 2024 figure, while reinvested earnings totalled €3.01 billion and debt instruments amounted to €1.65 billion. Romania's total net FDI stock stood at €134.8 billion at year-end, up 7.8% from 2024, having more than doubled from €64.7 billion in 2015.
Geographically, the Bucharest-Ilfov region accounts for 66.9% of Romania's total FDI stock, up from 65.4% in 2024, and also concentrates almost 63% of the country's modern office, retail, industrial and logistics space. While Bucharest retains a dominant role in attracting international capital, the data also highlight the potential for foreign investment to be distributed more evenly towards Romania's main regional economic centres.
