2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.7% (male 1,799,072/female 1,708,030) 15-64 years: 69.6% (male 7,724,368/female 7,797,065) 65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,347,392/female 1,927,625) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

61 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2006)

total

25

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m

23 (2006)

Area

land

230,340 sq km

total

237,500 sq km

water

7,160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Background

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

Birth rate

10.7 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$39.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2006 est.)

revenues

$36.89 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

44 26 N, 26 06 E

name

Bucharest

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

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

Coastline

225 km

Constitution

8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Romania

local long form

none

local short form

Romania

Currency (code)

leu (ROL) is being phased out in 2006; "new" leu (RON) was introduced in 2005 due to currency revaluation: 10,000 ROL = 1 RON

Currency code

ROL

Current account balance

$-12.45 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

11.77 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$42.76 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Nicholas F. TAUBMAN

embassy

Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest

mailing address

American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)

telephone

[40] (21) 200-3300

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniela GITMAN

telephone

[1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852

Disputes - international

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

28.8 (2003)

Economy - overview

Romania 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. Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept GDP growth above 4%. However, macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty, while corruption and red tape continue to handicap the business environment. Romanian government confidence in continuing disinflation was underscored by its currency revaluation in 2005, making 10,000 "old" lei equal 1 "new" leu. The economy grew at 6.4% in 2006, the strongest growth in the last decade. Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, and the IMF has praised the country's recent reform efforts in preparation for EU accession.

Electricity - consumption

49.62 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

3.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

2.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

54.53 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

62.5%

hydro

27.6%

nuclear

9.9%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Moldoveanu 2,544 m

lowest point

Black Sea 0 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, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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

Ethnic groups

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)

Exchange rates

lei per US dollar - 2.84 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003), 3 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004)

election results

percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, Adrian NASTASE 48.77%

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 November-December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Calin Popescu-TARICEANU (since 29 December 2004)

Exports

$33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 19.4%, Germany 14%, Turkey 7.9%, France 7.4%, UK 5.5%, Hungary 4.1%, US 4.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 232-4748

[40] (21) 200-3442

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

information office

Cluj-Napoca

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Romania

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 flag of Chad, also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova Economy Romania

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

10.1%

industry

34.7%

services

55.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.4% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$79.17 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$197.3 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic

Heliports

1 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

350 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,500 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

27.6% (2003)

lowest 10%

2.4%

Illicit drugs

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 8 February, 2007

Imports

$46.48 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Italy 15.5%, Germany 14%, Russia 8.3%, France 6.8%, Turkey 4.9%, China 4.1% (2005)

Independence

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

Industrial production growth rate

5.7% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

22.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

28.64 deaths/1,000 live births

total

25.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.8% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.ro

Internet hosts

57,470 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

38 (2000)

Internet users

4.94 million (2005) Transportation Romania

Investment (gross fixed)

25% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

30,770 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

9.33 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

31.6%

industry

30.7%

services

37.7% (2004)

Land boundaries

border countries

Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km

total

2,508 km

Land use

arable land

39.49%

other

58.59% (2005)

permanent crops

1.92%

Languages

Romanian (official), Hungarian, German

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 (137 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (332 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 37.1%, PNL-PD 31.8%, PRM 13.6%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 44, PNL 30, PD 20, PRM 20, PC 11, UDMR 10, independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 36.8%, PNL-PD 31.5%, PRM 13%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 111, PNL 66, PD 45, PRM 34, ex-PRM (Ciontu Group) 12, UDMR 22, PC 20, PIN (GUSA Group) 3, independent 1, ethnic minorities 18

elections

Senate - last held 28 November 2004 (next expected to be held in November 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 28 November 2004 (next expected to be held November 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.34 years (2006 est.)

male

68.14 years

total population

71.63 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.7% (2003 est.) Government Romania

male

99.1%

total population

98.4%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 20-49

4,975,427 (2005 est.)

males age 20-49

5,061,984

Manpower fit for military service

females age 20-49

4,076,288 (2005 est.)

males age 20-49

3,932,579

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 20-49

165,547 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

172,093

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

Median age

female

37.9 years (2006 est.)

male

35.3 years

total

36.6 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 15, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

1 (Italy 1)

registered in other countries

48 (Georgia 11, North Korea 11, Malta 9, Panama 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Syria 3, unknown 4) (2006)

total

23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 198,767 GRT/246,732 DWT

Military branches

Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aerienne Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$985 million (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.47% (2002) Transnational Issues Romania

Military service age and obligation

all military inductees (including women) are volunteers who contract for an initial five-year term of service; subsequent voluntary service contracts are for successive three-year terms until the age of 36; minimum age for voluntary military service is 18 (2006)

National holiday

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

Nationality

adjective

Romanian

noun

Romanian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

18 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

6.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

11.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

300 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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, arable land, hydropower

Net migration rate

-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

212,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

163,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production

119,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

500 million bbl (yearend 2004)

Pipelines

gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Conservative Party or PC [Dan VOICULESCU], formerly Humanist Party or PUR; Democratic Party or PD [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu-TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian 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

various human rights and professional associations

Population

22,303,552 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

25% (2005 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.12% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea Military Romania

Public debt

21.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios

7.2 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

60 km 1.524-m gauge

narrow gauge

427 km 0.760-m gauge (2005)

standard gauge

10,898 km 1.435-m gauge (3,888 km electrified)

total

11,385 km

Religions

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)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$27.88 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

60,043 km (including 228 km of expressways)

total

198,817 km

unpaved

138,774 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

90% of telephone network is automatic; liberalization in 2003 is transforming telecommunications; there has been 20% growth in fixed lines with a penetration rate of 58% of households; nation-wide wireless service is growing even faster with four major providers and a penetration rate of 32%

general assessment

rapidly improving domestic and international service, especially in wireless telephony

international

country code - 40; satellite earth station - 10 (Intelsat 4); digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2005)

Telephones - main lines in use

4.391 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

13.354 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

5.25 million (1997)

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

Total fertility rate

1.37 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.1% (2006 est.)

Waterways

1,731 km

note

includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals (2005)