Romania claims third place in the EU for female entrepreneurship, outpacing the bloc average as women-owned businesses proliferate over the past decade. Around 620,000 women hold shares or partnerships in active companies, The Business Alliance shows.

Another 185,000 operate as independent freelancers (PFA, sole proprietors or family businesses), totalling nearly 800,000 directly engaged in the economy. Among firms with turnover above RON 10,000, 47% boast at least one female stakeholder, and a striking 25% are exclusively women-led.

The rise is stark: a decade ago, women accounted for about 29% of entrepreneurs; today, that share nears 38%. Globally, female-led ventures drive economic growth and innovation, and Romania’s ascent signals untapped potential in a market ripe for gender-balanced scaling.

EU leaders for female entrepreneurship: Greece, Poland and Romania

According to Eurostat data, the top EU spots for women in entrepreneurship stack up as follows: Greece leads at 40-45%, followed closely by Poland (38-40%) and Romania (38%). Spain (36-38%), Portugal (35-37%), Italy (34-36%), France (33-35%), Netherlands (32-34%), Sweden (31-33%) and Germany (30-32%) trail in the pack.