The main indicator is: population in rural areas (% of total population). According to statistical data in 2016, Romania is on the antepenultimate place in the European Union (45.25%), after Slovenia (50.37%) and Slovakia (46.53%), but on the last place in the EU regarding the total number of people in rural areas. Continuing urbanization represents an essential condition for Romania’s modernization and improved quality of life. Immediately after 1990, rural population increased; afterwards, this process was reversed, with decreasing numbers of people living in rural areas. The decrease is partly owed to migration to urban areas or to other countries (active population). Migration has triggered an unfavourable trend, the severe aging of rural population.

Secondary indicators focus on identifying access to health services (especially basic specialized services) and to electricity (based on World Bank criteria). To stabilize the young population in rural areas and limit poverty, creating jobs is crucial, a process that cannot be accomplished without encouraging industrial activities in the rural areas to some extent.