The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under 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.

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine

slightly smaller than Oregon

temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms

central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower

earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides

soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands

controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

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)

Romanian (official) 91%, Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%

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)

21,848,504 (July 2012 est.)

9.49 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

11.84 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

BUCHAREST (capital) 1.933 million (2009)

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

1.3 children born/woman (2012 est.)

1.9166 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

6.54 beds/1,000 population (2006)

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

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

9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized on 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)

Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)

8 December 1991; revised 29 October 2003

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

note: President BASESCU has had two suspensions to his presidency since assuming the post on 20 December 2004, the first from 20 April-23 May 2007, the second from 10 July-27 August 2012; he survived a referendum on both occasions

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members elected by popular vote in a mixed electoral system to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (334 seats; members elected by popular vote in a mixed electoral system to serve four-year terms)

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

Conservative Party or PC [Daniel CONSTANTIN] (formerly Humanist Party or PUR); Democratic Liberal Party or PDL [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Hunor KELEMEN]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Crin ANTONESCU]; National Union for Romania's Progress or UNPR [Gabriel OPREA]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Victor PONTA] (formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR)

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed

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 fueled strong GDP growth, but led to large current account imbalances. Romania''s macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and to address Romania''s widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to permeate its business environment. Inflation rose in 2007-08, driven by strong consumer demand and high wage growth, rising energy costs, a nation-wide drought, and a relaxation of fiscal discipline. As a result of the global financial crisis, Romania''s GDP fell more than 7% in 2009, prompting Bucharest to seek a $26 billion emergency assistance package from the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders. Drastic austerity measures, as part of Romania''s IMF-led agreement, led to a 1.3% GDP contraction in 2010. The economy returned to positive growth in 2011 due to a strong export performance, but in a deflationary environment caused by bountiful crops and weak domestic demand. In March 2011, Romania and the IMF/EC/World Bank signed a 24-month precautionary stand-by agreement, worth $4.9 billion, to promote compliance with fiscal targets, progress on structural reforms, and financial sector stability. The Romanian authorities have announced that they do not intend to draw funds from the facility.

$270.6 billion (2011 est.)

$264.1 billion (2010 est.)

$268.5 billion (2009 est.)

$189.8 billion (2011 est.)

9.252 million (2011 est.)

24.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

31.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

-4.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

38.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

37.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

5.75% (31 December 2011)

12.13% (31 December 2011 est.)

12.65% (31 December 2010 est.)

$25.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$25.47 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$64.64 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$84.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$88.52 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$84.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$21.2 billion (31 December 2011)

$32.38 billion (31 December 2010)

$30.32 billion (31 December 2009)

wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep

electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining

60.98 billion kWh (2010 est.)

51.46 billion kWh (2010 est.)

3.85 billion kWh (2010 est.)

767 million kWh (2010 est.)

107,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)

196,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

74,080 bbl/day (2010 est.)

163,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

600 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

10.59 billion cu m (2010 est.)

12.88 billion cu m (2010 est.)

2.29 billion cu m (2010 est.)

63 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

-$8.107 billion (2011 est.)

-$7.284 billion (2010 est.)

$62.68 billion (2011 est.)

$49.51 billion (2010 est.)

machinery and equipment, metals and metal products, textiles and footwear, chemicals, agricultural products, minerals and fuels

Germany 18.9%, Italy 13.1%, France 7.6%, Turkey 6.2%, Hungary 5.7% (2011)

$73.12 billion (2011 est.)

$59.56 billion (2010 est.)

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels and minerals, metals, textile and products, agricultural products

Germany 17.2%, Italy 11.4%, Hungary 8.8%, France 5.8%, China 4.6%, Kazakhstan 4.2%, Austria 4% (2011)

$48.06 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$48.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$136.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$121.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$71.71 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$70.31 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.587 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.512 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

lei (RON) per US dollar -

24.64 million (2009)

a mixture of public and private TV stations; the public broadcaster operates multiple stations; roughly 100 private national, regional, and local stations; more than 75% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems that provide access to Romanian, European, and international stations; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks and regional and local stations; more than 100 private radio stations (2008)

2.702 million (2010)

7.787 million (2009)

gas 3,652 km; oil 2,424 km (2010)

1,731 km (includes 1,075 km on the Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals) (2010)

Braila, Constanta, Galati (Galatz), Mancanului (Giurgiu), Midia, Tulcea

Land Forces, Naval Forces (Fortele Naval, FN), Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR) (2010)

18-35 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription ended 2006; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive 3-year terms until age 36 (2009)

1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

the ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea

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