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Eastern European Transition Economies: Divergent Paths

Compare the economic trajectories of post-communist transition economies in Central and Eastern Europe, examining why some countries converged faster with Western European living standards.

After the fall of communism in 1989-1991, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe embarked on economic transitions with very different outcomes. Poland adopted "shock therapy," the Czech Republic pursued gradual privatization, and others like Ukraine experienced prolonged stagnation. This starter lets you compare growth, trade openness, inflation, and labor market outcomes to understand what drove divergence.

Key Data Points

Ukraine, Romania, Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Croatia -- GDP growth (%), GDP/cap PPP, CPI change (%), Unemployment (%), Exports (% GDP), FDI inflows (% GDP)

GDP growth (%)

Ukraine

2 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
GDP growth (%)

Romania

1 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
GDP growth (%)

Czechia

2.3 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
GDP growth (%)

Poland

3.2 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
GDP growth (%)

Hungary

0.6 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
GDP growth (%)

Croatia

3.1 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
GDP/cap PPP

Ukraine

18,550.46 current international $

2024-01-01World Bank
GDP/cap PPP

Romania

49,076.54 current international $

2024-01-01World Bank
GDP/cap PPP

Czechia

57,285.42 current international $

2024-01-01World Bank
GDP/cap PPP

Poland

51,262.51 current international $

2024-01-01World Bank
GDP/cap PPP

Hungary

48,552.47 current international $

2024-01-01World Bank
GDP/cap PPP

Croatia

49,550.79 current international $

2024-01-01World Bank
CPI change (%)

Ukraine

12.6 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
CPI change (%)

Romania

7.3 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
CPI change (%)

Czechia

2.5 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
CPI change (%)

Poland

3.8 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
CPI change (%)

Hungary

4.5 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
CPI change (%)

Croatia

4.4 % annual

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
Unemployment (%)

Ukraine

11.6%

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
Unemployment (%)

Romania

5.9%

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
Unemployment (%)

Czechia

2.5%

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
Unemployment (%)

Poland

2.9%

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
Unemployment (%)

Hungary

4.3%

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
Unemployment (%)

Croatia

5%

2025-01-01International Monetary Fund
Exports (% GDP)

Ukraine

77.8%

2024-01-01World Bank
Exports (% GDP)

Romania

77.2%

2024-01-01World Bank
Exports (% GDP)

Czechia

131.5%

2024-01-01World Bank
Exports (% GDP)

Poland

100.4%

2024-01-01World Bank
Exports (% GDP)

Hungary

146.5%

2024-01-01World Bank
Exports (% GDP)

Croatia

104.9%

2024-01-01World Bank
FDI inflows (% GDP)

Ukraine

2.1%

2024-01-01World Bank
FDI inflows (% GDP)

Romania

1.9%

2024-01-01World Bank
FDI inflows (% GDP)

Czechia

3.8%

2024-01-01World Bank
FDI inflows (% GDP)

Poland

2.2%

2024-01-01World Bank
FDI inflows (% GDP)

Hungary

-27.9%

2024-01-01World Bank
FDI inflows (% GDP)

Croatia

4.9%

2024-01-01World Bank

Open in the Compare tool to add geographies, change indicators, and export data.

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