2020 Edition

Background

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia -- for centuries under the control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire -- secured their autonomy through the Treaty of Paris in 1856. They were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country joined the Allied Powers in World War I and subsequently acquired new territories -- most notably Transylvania -- that more than doubled its size. 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, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in 2024.

Area

land

229,891 sq km

total

238,391 sq km

water

8,500 sq km

Area - comparative

twice the size of Pennsylvania; 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

highest point

Moldoveanu 2,544 m

lowest point

Black Sea 0 m

mean elevation

414 m

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note

controls the most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine; the Carpathian Mountains dominate the center of the country, and the Danube River forms much of the southern boundary with Serbia and Bulgaria

Irrigated land

5,280 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

border countries

Bulgaria 605 km; Hungary 424 km; Moldova 683 km; Serbia 531 km; Ukraine 601 km

total

2,844 km

Land use

agricultural land

55.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 36.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 17% (2023 est.)

forest

30.2% (2023 est.)

other

14.5% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major rivers (by length in km)

Dunărea (Danube) river mouth (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

(Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

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

Population distribution

urbanization is not particularly high, and the population distribution is fairly even throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

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

Age structure

0-14 years

15.4% (male 1,441,359/female 1,362,304)

15-64 years

62% (male 5,618,366/female 5,632,718)

65 years and over

22.6% (2024 est.) (male 1,688,070/female 2,405,338)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

5.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

2.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

10.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

3.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

8.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

0.5% (2021)

women married by age 18

6.9% (2021)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56% (2021 est.)

Death rate

14.28 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

36.4 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

2.7 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

61.3 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

24.9 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

8.8% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

Romanian 89.3%, Hungarian 6%, Romani 3.4%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.1%, other 0.9% (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.79 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.5% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

7.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Romanian (official) 91.6%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 0.7% (2021 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Romanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.5 years

male

73.4 years

total population

76.9 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

99.3% (2021 est.)

male

99% (2021 est.)

total population

99.2% (2021 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.776 million BUCHAREST (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

46.9 years

male

44 years

total

45.8 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.1 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Romanian

noun

Romanian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.5% (2016)

Physician density

3.63 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

9,400,360

male

8,747,795

total

18,148,155 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.86% (2025 est.)

Religions

Romanian Orthodox 85.3%, Roman Catholic 4.5%, Reformed 3%, Pentecostal 2.5%, other 4.7% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 77.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 88.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 22.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 11.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2023 est.)

male

13 years (2023 est.)

total

14 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.7 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

17.9% (2025 est.)

male

36.2% (2025 est.)

total

26.7% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

54.7% of total population (2023)

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, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

the name is said to come from a shepherd named Bucur who is reputed to have founded the town in 1457, but a settlement probably already existed on the site; the name may come from the personal name of an early landowner

geographic coordinates

44 26 N, 26 06 E

name

Bucharest

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendment process

initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania’s counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or – if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended

history

several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Romania

etymology

the name derives from the Latin Romani, meaning "people from Rome;" the area was an outpost of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century A.D., and the current name was adopted when Moldavia and Wallachia merged in 1861

former

Kingdom of Romania, Romanian People's Republic, Socialist Republic of Romania

local long form

none

local short form

Romania

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael L. DICKERSON (since 20 May 2025)

email address and website

ACSBucharest@state.gov https://ro.usembassy.gov/

embassy

4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118

FAX

[40] (21) 200-3442

mailing address

5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260

telephone

[40] (21) 200-3300

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Dan-Andrei MURARU (since 15 September 2021)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

email address and website

washington@mae.ro https://washington.mae.ro/en

FAX

[1] (202) 232-4748

telephone

[1] (202) 332-4829

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Nicușor DAN (since 26 May 2025)

election results

2025: Nicușor DAN elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Nicușor DAN (unaffiliated) 53.6%, George SIMION (AUR) 46.4% 2019: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament

expected date of next election

2030

head of government

Prime Minister Ilie BOLOJAN (since 23 June 2005)

most recent election date

18 May 2025

Flag

description: three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red meaning: the colors come from the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania history: modeled on the French flag; the national coat of arms that used to be centered on the yellow band has been removed

Government type

semi-presidential republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA,UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)

judge selection and term of office

High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists; judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; regional tribunals; first instance courts; military and arbitration courts

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parliament of Romania (Parlamentul României)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

Chamber of Deputies (Camera Deputatilor)

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

November 2028

most recent election date

12/1/2024

number of seats

331 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Social Democratic Party (PSD) (86); Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) (63); National Liberal Party (PNL) (49); Save Romania Union (USR) (40); S.O.S. Romania (28); Party of Young People (POT) (24); Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) (22)

percentage of women in chamber

22.4%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate (Senatul)

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

November 2028

most recent election date

12/1/2024

number of seats

136 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Social Democratic Party (PSD) (36); Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) (28); National Liberal Party (PNL) (22); Save Romania Union (USR) (19); S.O.S. Romania (12); Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) (10); Party of Young People (POT) (7)

percentage of women in chamber

20.9%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution

lyrics/music

Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN

title

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

National color(s)

blue, yellow, red

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Danube Delta (n); Churches of Moldavia (c); Monastery of Horezu (c); Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (c); Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (c); Historic Center of Sighişoara (c); Wooden Churches of Maramureş (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n); Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c); Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia (c)

total World Heritage Sites

11 (9 cultural, 2 natural)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

golden eagle

Political parties

Alliance for the Fatherland or APP  Alliance for the Unity of Romanians or AUR Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD  Civic Hungarian Party Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR  Ecologist Party of Romania or PER  Force of the Right or FD  Greater Romania Party or PRM  Green Party National Liberal Party or PNL Popular Movement Party or PMP  PRO Romania or PRO Romanian Nationhood Party or PNR  Save Romania Union Party or USR  Social Democratic Party or PSD  Social Liberal Humanist Party or PUSL (formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) or PPU-SL) S.O.S. Romania  The Right Alternative or AD  United Romania Party or PRU  We are Renewing the European Project in Romania or REPER 

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

wheat, maize, milk, sunflower seeds, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, grapes, plums, apples (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

6.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

25.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$112.799 billion (2022 est.)

revenues

$93.691 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$27.326 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$24.461 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$31.988 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, EU-member economy; euro membership delayed over macroeconomic indicators; persistent inflation, but consumption and EU-funded investments driving recovery; skilled labor shortage; high public debt and budget deficit; challenges include fiscal sustainability and political instability

Exchange rates

Currency

lei (RON) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

4.244 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

4.16 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

4.688 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

4.574 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

4.598 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$129.286 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$136.488 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$136.253 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

cars, vehicle parts/accessories, insulated wire, garments, wheat (2023)

Exports - partners

Germany 19%, Italy 10%, France 6%, UK 5%, Hungary 4% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

35.6% (2024 est.)

government consumption

18.3% (2024 est.)

household consumption

63.5% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-41.7% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

25.7% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

-1.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.3% (2024 est.)

industry

25% (2024 est.)

services

62.5% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$382.768 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

32.3 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

22.6% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

1.9% (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$149.209 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$153.427 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$159.575 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023)

Imports - partners

Germany 19%, Italy 8%, Hungary 6%, Poland 6%, China 6% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.9% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

13.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

5.7% (2024 est.)

Labor force

8.263 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

21.1% (2022 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2022

50.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$750.091 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$768.126 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$774.376 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

0.8% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$39,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$40,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$40,600 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$55.81 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$73 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$73.391 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.2% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

5.7% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

21.8% (2024 est.)

male

21.1% (2024 est.)

total

21.3% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

15.533 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

290,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

736,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

production

14.752 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

291 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

48.73 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

13.106 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

10.088 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

19.748 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

5.817 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

32.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

32.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

18% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

13% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

59.377 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

9.395 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

2.231 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

2.793 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

9.632 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

105.48 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

1.3GW (2025 est.)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

2 (2025)

Percent of total electricity production

18.9% (2023 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

600 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

220,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

67,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

35 (2023 est.)

total

6.63 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

a mixture of public and private TV stations; 7 public (2 national, 5 regional) and 187 private TV stations using terrestrial broadcasting, plus 11 public and 86 private TV stations using satellite broadcasting; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks, as well as regional and local stations; 502 private radio stations using terrestrial broadcasting, and 26 using satellite broadcasting

Internet country code

.ro

Internet users

percent of population

89% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

1.96 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

118 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

23.2 million (2022 est.)

Airports

103 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YR

Heliports

24 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 9, oil tanker 7, other 111

total

127 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Basarabi, Braila, Cernavoda, Constanta, Danube-Black Sea Canal, Galati, Mangalia, Medgidia, Midia, Sulina, Tulcea

large

0

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

4

small

1

total ports

11 (2024)

very small

8

Railways

total

10,628 km (2020) 4,030 km electrified

Military - note

the Romanian Armed Forces are responsible for territorial defense, fulfilling the country's commitments to European security, and contributing to multinational peacekeeping operations; the military has a variety of concerns, including Russian aggression against Ukraine, Russia's activities in the Black Sea and in Moldova, cyber attacks, hybrid threats, and terrorism; a key focus for the military is equipment modernization Romania joined NATO in 2004, and its membership forms a key pillar of the country’s defense policy; it hosts a NATO multinational divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Southeast) and a French-led ground force battlegroup as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence initiative in the southeastern part of the Alliance, which came about in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine; NATO allies have also sent detachments of fighters to augment the Romanian Air Force since 2014 because of aggressive Russian activity in the Black Sea region; the Romanian military trains with NATO and its member states and has participated in NATO- and EU-led multinational missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Poland; it also participates in UN peacekeeping missions (2025)

Military and security forces

Romanian Armed Forces (Forțele Armate Române or Armata Română): Romanian Land Forces, Romanian Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Romanian Police, Romanian Gendarmerie, Romanian Border Police (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 70,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Military deployments

470 Bosnia Herzegovina (EUFOR); 200 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); up to 120 Poland (NATO); Romania also has small numbers of military personnel deployed on other international missions under the EU, NATO, and UN (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory includes a considerable amount of Soviet-era and older domestically produced weapons systems, although in recent years Romania has launched an effort to acquire more modern and NATO-standard equipment from European countries and the US, including aircraft and armored vehicles (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2021

1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

2.3% of GDP (2025 est.)

Military service age and obligation

typically 18-35 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; compulsory service ended in 2007 (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

184,991 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

297 (2024 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1967-1968 - began participating in Soviet Intercosmos program and established the Romanian Commission for Space Activities to coordinate national space activities 1981 - first Romanian in space on Soviet spacecraft 2010 - domestically developed commercial rocket launched to an altitude of 40,000 m (24.9 mi) 2012 - first domestically produced scientific/experimental microsatellite (Goliat) launched (failed to operate) 2022 - joined US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration  2023 - digital amateur-radio-repeater microsatellite (ROM-2) launched on US commercial rocket

Space agency/agencies

Romanian Space Agency (Agentia Spatiala Romania, ROSA; established 1991) (2025)

Space program overview

develops and produces a range of capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite launch vehicles, remote sensing, human space flight, navigation, and telecommunications; program is integrated into the ESA; participates in EU and international space programs; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial space entities, including those of Azerbaijan, China, Japan, Russia, and the US; also works bilaterally with ESA member states, particularly Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy; has an active space-industry sector with over 50 entities (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

13.07 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

17.444 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

30.902 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

61.416 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

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

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Buzău; Haţeg (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

2

International environmental agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

355.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

325.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

11.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

247.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

14.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

212.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

2.955 billion cubic meters (2022)

industrial

3.94 billion cubic meters (2022)

municipal

1.256 billion cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

5.42 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13% (2022 est.)