Eurostat: Romania and Ireland, the largest economic growth in the EU in Q3 2026

Romania and Ireland recorded the largest economic growth in the European Union in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the previous quarter, according to data published by Eurostat. Romania’s economy advanced by 2.1%, while Ireland posted growth of 5.5%.

Data from the European statistics office place the two countries at the top of the ranking for quarterly developments in gross domestic product. Ireland’s advance was the highest, while Romania was among the EU economies with the strongest momentum during the period analyzed.

By contrast, the comparison with the third quarter of 2025 shows a more modest performance for Romania. The Romanian economy grew by 0.3% year on year, one of the lowest percentages reported by member states.

By comparison, Poland and Ireland recorded annual growth of 3.6%, the highest in the European Union. Eurostat data provide a different picture depending on the period analyzed: Romania performed strongly compared with the previous quarter, but posted limited growth relative to the same period of the previous year.