2008 Edition

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.

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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 6.5 cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%) per capita: 299 cu m/yr (2003)

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

30,770 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 39.49% permanent crops: 1.92% other: 58.59% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

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

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 renewable water resources

42.3 cu km (2003)

Age structure

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.)

Birth rate

10.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

11.84 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2005)

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)

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.)

Infant mortality rate

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.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.18 years male: 68.69 years female: 75.89 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.3% male: 98.4% female: 96.3% (2002 census)

Median age

total: 37.3 years male: 35.9 years female: 38.7 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian

Net migration rate

-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

22,246,862 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.136% (2008 est.)

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2006)

Sex ratio

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

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

Capital

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian Cosmin VIERITA chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852

Executive branch

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%

FAX

[1] (202) 232-4748 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

[40] (21) 200-3442

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

Government type

republic

Independence

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)

International organization participation

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

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

Legal system

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

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

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

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

other: various human rights and professional associations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $52.13 billion expenditures: $56.01 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.35% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

"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

Currency code

ROL

Current account balance

-$23.02 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$74.54 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

31 (2005)

Economic aid - recipient

$914.3 million (2004)

Economy - overview

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.

Electricity - consumption

48.43 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

3.362 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

1.277 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

58.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 62.5% hydro: 27.6% nuclear: 9.9% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

lei (RON) per US dollar - 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003)

Exports

$40.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 17.2%, Germany 16.9%, France 7.7%, Turkey 7%, Hungary 5.6%, UK 4.1% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 7.9% industry: 35.6% services: 56.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$166 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$247.1 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 20.8% (2006)

Imports

$64.54 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 17.2%, Italy 12.8%, Hungary 6.9%, Russia 6.3%, France 6.2%, Turkey 5.4%, Austria 4.8% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

10.6% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.8% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

28% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

9.3 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 29.7% industry: 23.2% services: 47.1% (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$45.42 billion (2007)

Natural gas - consumption

17.09 billion cu m (2007)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

4.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

63 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

238,200 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

125,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

219,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

112,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

25% (2005 est.)

Public debt

13% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$39.96 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$915 million (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$60.82 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$58.76 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$25.17 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$34.96 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.ro

Internet hosts

2.195 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

38 (2000)

Internet users

12 million (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

698 (frequency type NA) (2006)

Radios

7.2 million (1997)

Telephone system

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

4.3 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

22.875 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

623 (plus 200 repeaters) (2006)

Televisions

5.25 million (1997)

Airports

61 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

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

total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Heliports

2 (2007)

Merchant marine

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)

Pipelines

gas 3,674 km; oil 2,424 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea

Railways

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

total: 198,817 km paved: 60,043 km (includes 228 km of expressways) unpaved: 138,774 km (2004)

Waterways

1,731 km note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 5,682,299 females age 16-49: 5,557,098 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,572,017 females age 16-49: 4,644,474 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 127,706 female: 121,852 (2008 est.)

Military branches

Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2008)

Military expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Military service age and obligation

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)

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

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 18 December, 2008