A study conducted in ten cities across Romania indicates a satisfaction rate of 43% regarding air quality, although the figure drops in the capital city Bucharest to just 25%. The research was carried out by Active Research for the Urban Nature Network using the random route method, on a sample of 2,180 respondents, with a margin of error of 2.1% at a 95% confidence level, according to Act Media.
Data were collected between June 2024 and November 2025 using the TAPI (Tablet Assisted Personal Interviewing) method, based on a structured questionnaire administered at respondents’ homes in Bucharest, Arad, Bistrita, Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Oradea, Piatra Neamt, Timisoara and Satu Mare.
In terms of overall satisfaction with living in their place of residence, 84% declared themselves satisfied or very satisfied, but only 43% were satisfied with air quality. The data vary by city: in Bucharest, only 25% said they were satisfied or very satisfied with air quality, compared with 52% in Cluj-Napoca and 36.7% in Iasi.
Perceptions of road traffic are predominantly negative, with only 23% of respondents satisfied or very satisfied with this aspect. In the three major cities, the figures are even lower: 15% in Bucharest, 19% in Cluj-Napoca and 19.8% in Iasi.
Perceptions are also largely critical regarding road infrastructure. The overall satisfaction level stands at 39%, reaching 40% in Cluj, 28% in Bucharest and 35% in Iasi.
More than three quarters (78%) of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with public transport (90% in Cluj, 68% in Bucharest and 64.4% in Iasi).
More than a quarter (28.7%) of those surveyed are satisfied or very satisfied with the number of parking spaces. By contrast, assessments are predominantly positive regarding access to children’s playgrounds (over 75%) and access to sports and leisure areas (72.25%).
More than 66% say they are satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of green spaces and urban natural areas.
Across the cities analysed, only 28.8% say they are satisfied or very satisfied with rental prices (19% in Cluj-Napoca, 33% in Bucharest and 36.5% in Iasi).
The Urban Nature Network highlights the link between air quality and the extent of green space in cities. Thus, in 2022, nearly one million Romanians were suffering from asthma, according to the National Institute of Statistics. The prevalence of the disease increases by 50% every ten years, closely linked to air quality, the same source notes.
”Traffic and waste burning pollute, but parks and urban forests can make a difference: they reduce the effects of pollution and make summers easier to bear. (…) Bucharest performs the worst: three out of four residents are dissatisfied with air quality. In Iasi, the figure reaches 63%, while in Cluj-Napoca it is 48%, below the national average, probably also due to the (still) forested hills surrounding the city”, the Urban Nature Network said on Facebook.
According to the study’s authors, the main threats identified to green spaces are uncontrolled real estate development, waste dumping and pollution, followed by excessive deforestation.
”The analysis of awareness of green infrastructure projects reveals a significant lack of public communication. Projects such as the Cluj Metropolitan Green Belt or the Bucharest-Ilfov Green Belt show low levels of recognition, which may limit community mobilisation capacity and participatory legitimacy”, the study states.
The research also highlights a ‘high’ level of social appreciation for green spaces, as well as a potential ”discrepancy” between public preferences and institutional budgetary priorities.
‘The data indicate a generally high level of satisfaction with the place of residence, as well as frequent use of green spaces, which are primarily perceived as areas for relaxation, social interaction and family activities. Their use is predominantly collective (family, partner, friends), confirming their role as urban social infrastructure, not just ecological,’ the study’s authors add.
The research was supported by BRD Groupe Societe Generale as part of the programme ”Rural and urban communities together for conservation and sustainable development”.
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