1998 Edition

Area

total: 237,500 sq km land: 230,340 sq km water: 7,160 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate

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

Coastline

225 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Environment-current issues

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

Environment-international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography-note

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

Irrigated land

31,020 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 2,508 km border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km

Land use

arable land: 41% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 21% forests and woodland: 29% other: 6% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 19% (male 2,169,581; female 2,078,515) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,571,619; female 7,668,689) 65 years and over: 13% (male 1,213,406; female 1,694,038) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

9.33 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

11.62 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%, Ukrainian, Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%

Infant mortality rate

18.83 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Romanian, Hungarian, German

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.47 years male: 66.67 years female: 74.47 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 95% (1992 est.)

Nationality

noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian

Net migration rate

-0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

22,395,848 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.32% (1998 est.)

Religions

Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are Uniate), Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.17 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

40 counties (judete, singular-judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea

Constitution

8 December 1991

Country name

conventional long form : none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania

Data code

RO

Executive branch

chief of state: President Emil CONSTANTINESCU (since 29 November 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Radu VASILE (since 17 April 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 3 November 1996, with runoff between the top two candidates held 17 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote-Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion ILIESCU 45.6%

FAX

[1] (202) 232-4748 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James C. ROSAPEPE embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) telephone: [40] (1) 210 01 49, 210 40 42

[40] (1) 210 03 95 branch office: Cluj-Napoca

Flag description

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 flags of Andorra and Chad

Government type

republic

Independence

1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)

International organization participation

ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mircea Dan GEOANA chancery : 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed by the president on recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or PD [Petre ROMAN]; Romanian Social Democratic Party or PSDR [Sergiu CUNESCU]; Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR [Ion ILIESCU]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Mircea IONESCU-QUINTUS]; National Peasants' Christian and Democratic Party or PNTCD [Ion DIACONESCU]; Romanian National Unity Party or PUNR [Valeriu TABARA]; Socialist Labor Party or PSM [Ilie VERDET]; Agrarian Democratic Party of Romania or PDAR [Victor SURDU]; The Democratic Convention or CDR [Ion DIACONESCU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Civic Alliance Party or PAC [Nicolae MANOLESCU, chairman]; Liberal Party '93 or PL-93 [Dinu PATRICIU]; National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention or PNL-CD [Nicolae CERVENI]; Socialist Party or PS [Tudor MOHORA] note: to increase their voting strength several of the above-mentioned parties united under umbrella organizations: PNTCD, PNL, and PNL-CD form the bulk of the Democratic Convention or CDR [Ion DIACONESCU]; PD and PSDR form the Union of Social Democrats or USD [Petre ROMAN]; and PAC and PL-93 form the National Liberal Alliance or ANL [Nicolae MANOLESCU]; PSM, PS, ANL, and numerous other small parties failed to gain representation in the most recent election Political pressure groups and leaders: various human rights and professional associations

Legal system

former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; is now based on the Constitution of France's Fifth Republic

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (143 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (343 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); Chamber of Deputies-last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-CDR 30.7%, PDSR 23.1%, USD 13.2%, UDMR 6.8%, PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.2%, others 17.5%; seats by party-CDR 53, PDSR 41, USD 23, UDMR 11, PRM 8, PUNR 7; Chamber of Deputies-percent of vote by party-CDR 30.2%, PDSR 21.5%, USD 12.9%, UDMR 6.6% PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.4%, others 19.9%; seats by party-CDR 122, PDSR 91, USD 53, UDMR 25, PRM 19, PUNR 18, ethnic minorities 15

National capital

Bucharest

National holiday

National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; milk, eggs, meat

Budget

revenues: $10 billion expenditures: $11.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.3 billion (1997 est.)

Currency

1 leu (L) = 100 bani

Debt-external

$10 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: $NA

Economy-overview

Romania, one of the poorer countries in the region, is continuing its difficult transition to a market-based economy. After the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in 1989-91, Romania was left with an obsolete industrial base and a pattern of industrial capacity wholly unsuited to its needs. For the next few years the country lagged behind most of its neighbors in the pace of restructuring. Then in February 1997, Romania embarked on a comprehensive macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform program. The domestic foreign exchange market was freed, and controls on current-account convertibility were removed in October. Restructuring programs include liquidating large energy-intensive industries, and agricultural and financial sector reform. The private sector share of GDP rose to an estimated 58% in 1997, however, this total includes firms with government-held minority stakes. Although progress has been made in privatizing smalland medium-sized firms, delays in structural reforms-including the postponement of sales of large state-owned enterprises - threaten plans to revive GDP growth. In 1998, GDP will likely be unchanged; and inflation is projected to fall to 45% from 151% in 1997.

Electricity-capacity

22.06 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

2,412 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

55.19 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

lei (L) per US$1-8,293.40 (January 1998), 7,167.94 (1997), 3,084.22 (1996), 2,033.28 (1995), 1,655.09 (1994), 760.05 (1993)

Exports

total value: $8.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: textiles and footwear 27.5%, metals and metal products 16.2%, mineral products 9.0%, chemicals 11.2%, other 36.1% (1996) partners: Germany 18.1%, Italy 16.7%, France 5.6%, Turkey 5%, Netherlands 4.2%, China 3.0% (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$114.2 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 19% industry: 36% services: 45% (1996)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$5,300 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

-6.6% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $10.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: fuels and minerals 24%, machinery and transport equipment 25%, food and agricultural goods 7.6%, chemicals 12.5%, other 30.9% (1996) partners: Germany 17.1%, Italy 15.6%, Russia 12.6%, France 5.0%, US 3.8%, Egypt 3.8% (1996)

Industrial production growth rate

-5.9% (1997 est.)

Industries

mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, machine building, food processing, petroleum production and refining

Inflation rate-consumer price index

151% (1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 10.1 million (1996 est.) by occupation: industry 28.6%, agriculture 34.4%, trade 10.4%, construction 5.1%, other 21.5% (1995)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0 note: in 1995, 135 local radio stations were registered

Radios

4.64 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic: poor service; 89% of telephone network is automatic; trunk network is microwave radio relay; roughly 3,300 villages with no service (February 1990 est.) international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat; new digital international direct-dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993 est.)

Telephones

2.6 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

436 cable TV stations, 66 local TV stations

Televisions

4.58 million (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.8% (1997 est.)

Airports

24 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Heliports

1 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 153,170 km paved: 78,117 km (including 113 km of expressways) unpaved: 75,053 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 227 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,332,117 GRT/3,464,613 DWT ships by type: bulk 39, cargo 160, container 2, oil tanker 12, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 10 note: Romania owns an additional 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 827,625 DWT operating under the registries of The Bahamas, Cyprus, Liberia, and Malta (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km; natural gas 6,400 km (1992) Ports and harbors: Braila, Constanta, Galati, Mangalia, Sulina, Tulcea

Railways

total: 11,365 km broad gauge: 45 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 10,893 km 1.435-m gauge (3,723 km electrified; 3,060 km double track) narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (1994)

Waterways

1,724 km (1984)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Paramilitary Forces, Civil Defense

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$650 million (1996)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

2.5% (1996)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 5,888,775 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 4,951,586 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

20 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 197,036 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

dispute with Ukraine over continental shelf of the Black Sea under which significant gas and oil deposits may exist; agreed in 1997 to two-year negotiating period, after which either party can refer dispute to the International Court of Justice

Illicit drugs

important transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe