2010 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

land

229,891 sq km

total

238,391 sq km

water

8,500 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

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-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)

per capita

299 cu m/yr (2003)

total

6.5 cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%)

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

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%

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, arable land, hydropower

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

42.3 cu km (2003)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.5% (male 1,772,583/female 1,681,539) 15-64 years: 69.7% (male 7,711,062/female 7,784,041) 65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,332,120/female 1,934,076) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

9.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

11.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2007)

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% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

350 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

15,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

12.76 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.32 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.42 years (2010 est.)

male

70.26 years

total population

73.74 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.3% (2002 census)

male

98.4%

total population

97.3%

Median age

female

39.9 years (2010 est.)

male

36.9 years

total

38.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Romanian

noun

Romanian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

21,959,278 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.247% (2010 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)

female

15 years (2008)

male

14 years

total

15 years

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

54% of total population (2008)

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

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)

Constitution

8 December 1991; revised 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 Mark GITENSTEIN

embassy

Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest

FAX

[40] (21) 200-3442

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

chancery

1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Adrian Cosmin VIERITA

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 232-4748

telephone

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004)

election results

Traian BASESCU reelected president; percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 50.3%, Mircea GEOANA 49.7%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 November 2009 with runoff on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in November-December 2014); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Emil BOC (since 22 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Marko BELA (since 23 December 2009)

Flag description

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 1861 to form Romania; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker; 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, CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, 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, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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 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)

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 - PDL 115, PSD-PC 114, PNL 65, UDMR 22, ethnic minorities 18

elections

Senate - last held on 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution

name

"Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian)

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

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 [Bela MARKO]; 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)

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

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.28% (31 December 2009 est.) 14.99% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$7.934 billion (2010 est.) -$7.139 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$108.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $110 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32 (2008) 28.8 (2003)

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 2007-08, driven in part by strong consumer demand and high wage growth, rising energy costs, a nation-wide drought affecting food prices, and a relaxation of fiscal discipline. Romania's GDP contracted markedly in the last quarter of 2008 as the country began to feel the effects of a global downturn in financial markets and trade, and 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 further 1.9% GDP contraction in 2010. The economy is expected to return to positive growth in 2011.

Electricity - consumption

49.44 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

5.169 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

921 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

58.28 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

lei (RON) per US dollar - 3.2 (2010), 3.0493 (2009), 2.5 (2008), 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006)

Exports

$51.91 billion (2010 est.) $40.6 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 18.76%, Italy 15.42%, France 8.2%, Turkey 4.99%, Hungary 4.33% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

12.8%

industry

36%

services

51.2% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,500 (2010 est.) $11,700 (2009 est.) $12,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-1.9% (2010 est.) -7.1% (2009 est.) 7.1% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$158.4 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$253.3 billion (2010 est.) $258.2 billion (2009 est.) $277.9 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$59.84 billion (2010 est.) $50.03 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 17.3%, Italy 11.78%, Hungary 8.36%, France 6.14%, China 4.91%, Austria 4.75% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2010 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)

6% (2010 est.) 5.6% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.1% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

9.35 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

29.7%

industry

23.2%

services

47.1% (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$30.32 billion (31 December 2009) $19.92 billion (31 December 2008) $44.93 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

16.92 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

5.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

11.42 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

63 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

214,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

115,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

217,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

117,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

25% (2005 est.)

Public debt

34.8% of GDP (2010 est.) 24% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$50.51 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $44.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$63.67 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $61.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.831 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.731 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$80.16 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $73.96 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$77.46 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $72.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$24.39 billion (31 December 2010 est) $26.03 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

8.2% (2010 est.) 7.8% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

a mixture of public and private TV stations; the public broadcaster operates multiple stations; roughly 100 private national, regional, and local stations operating; 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 broadcasting (2008)

Internet country code

.ro

Internet hosts

2.464 million (2010)

Internet users

7.787 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic; fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, expanding rapidly, roughly 115 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

the telecommunications sector is being expanded and modernized; domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially mobile-cellular services

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 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

5.313 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

25.377 million (2009)

Airports

54 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

26 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

28 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 21 (2010)

Heliports

3 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 10, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1

registered in other countries

35 (Cambodia 1, Georgia 7, Liberia 3, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 2, Moldova 2, North Korea 1, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 4, Syria 1, Togo 1, unknown 1) (2010)

total

15

Pipelines

gas 3,588 km; oil 2,424 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

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

Railways

broad gauge

57 km 1.524-m gauge

standard gauge

10,731 km 1.435-m gauge (3,965 km electrified) (2008)

total

10,788 km

Roadways

paved

60,043 km (includes 281 km of expressways)

total

198,817 km

unpaved

138,774 km (2008)

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: 5,617,144 females age 16-49: 5,487,510 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,513,619 females age 16-49: 4,566,620 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

115,258 (2010 est.)

male

121,391

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Military service age and obligation

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

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 page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================