Ilfov () is the county that surrounds Bucharest, the capital of Romania. It used to be largely rural, but, after the fall of Communism, many of the county's villages and communes developed into high-income commuter towns, which act like suburbs or satellites of Bucharest. The gentrification of the county is continuing, with many towns in Ilfov, such as Otopeni, having some of the highest GDP per capita levels in the country. The county has experienced rapid demographic growth in the 21st century, being the fastest growing Romanian county between 2011 and 2021. Demographics It had a population (excluding Bucharest) of 542,686 at the 2022 Romanian census. The population density is 230.09 per km². 40% of the population commutes and works in Bucharest, although, in recent years, many industrial plants were built outside Bucharest, in Ilfov county. It has an annual growth of about 4%. Romanians - 96.05% Others - 3.95% Geography The county has an area of 1,584 km² and it is situated in the Romanian Plain between the Argeș River and the Ialomița River. The main rivers that pass through the county are: Dâmbovița River, Colentina River and Gruiu River. Several lakes can be found in Ilfov county, notably Lake Cernica, Lake Snagov and Lake Căldărușani. Neighbours Prahova County in the north. Ialomița County in the east. Călărași County in the southeast. Giurgiu County in the southwest. Dâmbovița County in the west. Economy The base occupation used to be the agriculture. Nowadays, due to the economical growth in Bucharest, many companies have opened their offices, production facilities or warehouses in the nearby villages, situated in the Ilfov County, thus making it the most developed county in Romania. The predominant industries in the county are: Food and beverages industry Textile industry Mechanical components industry Chemical industry Paper industry Furniture industry Rubber industry Electrical equipment industry Transport equipment industry Electronic and optical equipment At Otopeni there is the main aerial transport hub in Romania - the Henri Coandă International Airport. Also all the main roads and railways leaving Bucharest pass through the county. Tourism The county has a large surface covered with forests and also due to its lakes, it is a frequent week-end and holiday destinations for the inhabitants of Bucharest. Other notable touristic sites are: The Snagov Monastery The Cernica Monastery The Mogoșoaia Palace The Căldărușani Monastery The Ghica family palace in Moara Vlăsiei The Știrbei Palace in Buftea