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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Romania



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Romania Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
   Geography    Romania Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 237,500 sq km
land: 230,340 sq km
water: 7,160 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
225 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 39.49%
permanent crops: 1.92%
other: 58.59% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
30,770 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
42.3 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 6.5 cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%)
per capita: 299 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
   People    Romania Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
22,246,862 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 1,778,864/female 1,687,659)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 7,718,125/female 7,791,102)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,337,915/female 1,933,197) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 37.3 years
male: 35.9 years
female: 38.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-0.136% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.84 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 23.73 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 72.18 years
male: 68.69 years
female: 75.89 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
350 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 98.4%
female: 96.3% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.5% of GDP (2005)
   Government    Romania Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Bucharest
geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004); note - President Traian BASESCU was suspended by vote of parliament on 19 April 2007, but resumed his duties on 23 May 2007 after a popular referendum confirmed that his impeachment should not stand
head of government: Prime Minister Calin Popescu-TARICEANU (since 29 December 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 November 2004 with runoff between the top two candidates held 12 December 2004 (next to be held in November-December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament
election results: percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, Adrian NASTASE 48.77%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (334 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PC 34.2%, PDL 33.6%, PNL 18.7%, UDMR 6.4%, other 7.1%; seats by alliance/party - PSD-PC 49, PDL 51, PNL 28, UDMR 9; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PC 33.1%, PDL 32.4%, PNL 18.6%, UDMR 6.2%, ethnic minorities 3.6%, other 6.1%; seats by alliance/party - PSD-PC 114, PDL 115, PNL 65, UDMR 22, ethnic minorities 18
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges appointed for three-year terms by the president in consultation with the Superior Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister of justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society representatives appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and prosecutors elected by their peers); a separate body, the Constitutional Court, validates elections and makes decisions regarding the constitutionality of laws, treaties, ordinances, and internal rules of the Parliament; it is comprised of nine members serving nine-year terms, with three members each appointed by the president, the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Conservative Party or PC [Daniela POPA] (formerly Humanist Party or PUR); Democratic Liberal Party or PDL [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu-TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romania Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA] (formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
other: various human rights and professional associations
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian Cosmin VIERITA
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas F. TAUBMAN
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300
FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
   Economy    Romania Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Romania, which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Domestic consumption and investment have fueled strong GDP growth in recent years, but have led to large current account imbalances. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to handicap its business environment. Inflation rose in 2007 for the first time in eight years, driven in part by the depreciation of the currency, rising energy costs, a nation-wide drought affecting food prices, and a relaxation of fiscal discipline. Romania hopes to adopt the euro by 2014.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$247.1 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$166 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$11,100 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 7.9%
industry: 35.6%
services: 56.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.3 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 29.7%
industry: 23.2%
services: 47.1% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.1% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 20.8% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
31 (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
28% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $52.13 billion
expenditures: $56.01 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.8% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.35% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$25.17 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$34.96 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$58.76 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.6% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
58.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
48.43 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
3.362 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
1.277 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
112,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
238,200 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
125,200 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
219,000 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
600 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17.09 billion cu m (2007)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
63 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$23.02 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$40.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Italy 17.2%, Germany 16.9%, France 7.7%, Turkey 7%, Hungary 5.6%, UK 4.1% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$64.54 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, metals, agricultural products
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 17.2%, Italy 12.8%, Hungary 6.9%, Russia 6.3%, France 6.2%, Turkey 5.4%, Austria 4.8% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$39.96 billion (31 December 2007)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$74.54 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$60.82 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$915 million (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$45.42 billion (2007)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
"new" leu (RON) was introduced in 2005; "old" leu (ROL) was phased out in 2006; note - because of currency revaluation, 10,000 ROL = 1 RON
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
lei (RON) per US dollar - 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003)
   Communications    Romania Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.3 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
22.875 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially in wireless telephony
domestic: more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic; liberalization in 2003 is transforming telecommunications; fixed-line teledensity is roughly 20 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity now slightly exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 40; the Black Sea Fiber Optic System provides connectivity to Bulgaria and Turkey; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
698 (frequency type NA) (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
623 (plus 200 repeaters) (2006)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ro
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.195 million (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12 million (2007)
   Transportation    Romania Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
61 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 22 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
2 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 3,674 km; oil 2,424 km (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 11,385 km
broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge (3,888 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 198,817 km
paved: 60,043 km (includes 228 km of expressways)
unpaved: 138,774 km (2004)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,731 km
note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals (2006)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 17
by type: cargo 11, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 49 (Cambodia 1, Georgia 16, North Korea 4, Liberia 2, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 3, Panama 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 3, Syria 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea
   Military    Romania Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription officially ended October 2006; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service; subsequent voluntary service contracts are for successive 3-year terms until the age of 36 (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 5,682,299
females age 16-49: 5,557,098 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 4,572,017
females age 16-49: 4,644,474 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 127,706
female: 121,852 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Romania Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to issue a rejoinder, in their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania also opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering, which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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