1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto 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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 19% (male 2,117,289; female 2,027,940) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,563,695; female 7,663,491) 65 years and over: 13% (male 1,234,760; female 1,727,137) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
10.09 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
11.55 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%, Ukrainian, Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%
Infant mortality rate
18.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Romanian, Hungarian, German
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.83 years male: 67.05 years female: 74.81 years (1999 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
-0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
22,334,312 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.23% (1999 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: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
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
Capital
Bucharest
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 November/December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote--Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion ILIESCU 45.6%
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), MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, 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 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) branch office: Cluj-Napoca
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or PD [Petre DIACONESCU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM 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 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 basis 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 basis 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 holiday
National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; milk, eggs, beef
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 (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$510.1 million (1995)
Economy--overview
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. In February 1997, Romania embarked on a comprehensive macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform program, but reform subsequently has been a stop-and-go process. Restructuring programs include liquidating large energy-intensive industries and major agricultural and financial sector reforms. Today, Romania is continuing its difficult transition to a market-based economy. GDP contracted by an estimated 7.3% in 1998 after a 6.6% decline in 1997. Tight monetary policy and slower exchange rate depreciation earlier in 1998 helped lower inflation to an estimated 41% from 152% in 1997. The large current account deficit and concerns about meeting debt payments in 1999 contributed to increased pressure on the exchange rate towards the end of 1998. Replacing the IMF standby agreement (suspended because of lack of progress on structural reforms), servicing large debt payments, and bringing the budget under control are key priorities for 1999.
Electricity--consumption
60.045 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
800 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
59.245 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 72.11% hydro: 26.35% nuclear: 1.54% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
lei (L) per US$1--11,353.6 (January 1999), 8,875.6 (1998), 7,167.9 (1997), 3,084.2 (1996), 2,033.3 (1995), 1,655.1 (1994)
Exports
$8.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities
textiles and footwear 23%, metals and metal products 18%, machinery and equipment 9%, chemicals 7% (1997)
Exports--partners
Italy 20%, Germany 17%, France 6%, Turkey 4% (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$90.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 19% industry: 41% services: 40% (1997)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$4,050 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
-7.3% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)
Imports
$10.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities
machinery and equipment 23%, fuels and minerals 19%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs (1997)
Imports--partners
Germany 16%, Italy 16%, Russia 12%, France 6% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
-17% (1998 est.)
Industries
mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, machine building, food processing, petroleum production and refining
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
41% (1998 est.)
Labor force
10.1 million (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
NA%
Population below poverty line
21.5% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
9% (1998 est.)
Communications
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
130 (in addition, there are about 400 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
4.58 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
27 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Heliports
2 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 153,358 km paved: 78,213 km (including 113 km of expressways) unpaved: 75,145 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 199 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,996,157 GRT/2,917,895 DWT ships by type: bulk 35, cargo 141, container 2, oil tanker 7, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9, specialized tanker 1 (1998 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: 11,376 km broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 10,889 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 and Security
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: 5,876,912 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 4,938,953 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
20 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 193,264 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
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