2023 Edition

Background

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under 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

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, while the Danube River forms much of the southern boundary with Serbia and Bulgaria

Irrigated land

4,730 sq km (2020)

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

60.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 39.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 19.7% (2018 est.)

forest

28.7% (2018 est.)

other

10.6% (2018 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, Czechia, 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 a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania

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

15.63% (male 1,472,449/female 1,391,671)

15-64 years

62.13% (male 5,689,908/female 5,696,224)

65 years and over

22.24% (2023 est.) (male 1,682,695/female 2,393,380)

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

8.6 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

6.3% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

54.8% (2023)

Death rate

14.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

29.1

potential support ratio

3.4 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

53.7

youth dependency ratio

24.6

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

note

note: data represent individuals who declared an ethnic group in the 2021 national census; 13% did not respond; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–11% of Romania's population

Gross reproduction rate

0.79 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

6.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Languages

Languages

Romanian (official) 91.6%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 0.7% (2021 est.)note: data represent individuals who declared a maternal language in the 2021 national census; 13.1% did not respond

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 years

male

72.9 years

total population

76.3 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.7% (2021)

male

99.1%

total population

98.9%

Major urban areas - population

1.776 million BUCHAREST (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

10 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

46.5 years

male

43.6 years

total

45.1 years (2023 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.1 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Romanian

noun

Romanian(s)

Net migration rate

-3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.5% (2016)

Physicians density

2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

18,326,327 (2023 est.)

Population distribution

urbanization is not particularly high, and a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania

Population growth rate

-1.01% (2023 est.)

Religions

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

note

note: data represent individuals who declared a religion in the 2021 national census; 13.9% did not respond

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 76% of population

improved: total

total: 87.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 96.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 24% of population

unimproved: total

total: 12.7% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 3.1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2020)

male

14 years

total

14 years

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 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

20% (2020 est.)

male

35.9% (2020 est.)

total

28% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.63 children born/woman (2023 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

related to the Romanian word "bucura" that is believed to be of Dacian origin and whose meaning is "to be glad (happy)"; Bucharest's meaning is thus akin to "city of joy"

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

amendments

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; amended 2003

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 "Romanus" meaning "citizen of Rome" and was used to stress the common ancient heritage of Romania's three main regions - Moldavia, Transylvania, and Wallachia - during their gradual unification between the mid-19th century and early 20th century

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 Kathleen KAVALEC (since 14 February 2023)

email address and website

ACSBucharest@state.govhttps://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; office@roembus.orgEmbassy of Romania - Washington, DC (roembus.org)

FAX

[1] (202) 232-4748

telephone

[1] (202) 332-4829; [1] (202) 332-4846

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014)

election results

2019: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%2014: Klaus IOHANNIS elected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 54.4%, Victor PONTA (PSD) 45.6%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 November 2019 with a runoff on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in November 2024); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Marcel CIOLACU (since 15 June 2023); Deputy Prime Ministers Sorin GRINDEANU (since 25 November 2021) and Hunor KELEMEN (since 23 December 2020)

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of cobalt blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion 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 1862 to form Romania; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed

note

note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

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

description

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of:Senate or Senat (136 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 2 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (330 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 4 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - PSD 29.3%, PNL 25.6%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.9%, AUR 9.2%, UDMR 5.9%, other 14.1%; seats by party - PSD 47, PNL 41, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 25, AUR 14, UDMR 9; composition - men 111, women 25, percent of women 18.4%Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSD 28.9%, PNL 25.2%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.4%, AUR 9.1%, UDMR 5.7%, other 15.7%; seats by party - PSD 110, PNL 93, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 55, AUR 33, UDMR 21, other 18; composition - men 267, women 63, percent of women 19.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 18.9%

elections

Senate - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024)Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN

name

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

note

note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution

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 (n); Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c)

total World Heritage Sites

9 (7 cultural, 2 natural)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

golden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

2020 USR-PLUS Alliance [Dan BARNA and Dacian CIOLOS] (dissolved 16 April 2021)Alliance for the Fatherland or APP [Codrin STEFANESCU]Alliance for the Unity of Romanians or AUR [George SIMION]Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD [Aurelian PAVELESCU]Civic Hungarian Party [Zsolt BIRO]Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Hunor KELEMEN]Ecologist Party of Romania or PER [Danut POP]Force of the Right or FD [Ludovic ORBAN]Greater Romania Party or PRM [Victor IOVICI]Green Party [Marius LAZAR and Lavinia COSMA]National Liberal Party or PNL [Nicolae CIUCA]Party of Liberty, Unity, and Solidarity or PLUS [Dacian CIOLOS] (dissolved 16 April 2021)Popular Movement Party or PMP [Eugen TOMAC]PRO Romania or PRO [Victor PONTA]Romanian Nationhood Party or PNR [Ninel PEIA]Save Romania Union Party or USR [Catalin DRULA]Social Democratic Party or PSD [Marcel CIOLACU]Social Liberal Humanist Party or PUSL [Daniel IONASCU] (formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) or PPU-SL)S.O.S. Romania [Diana IOVANOVICI-SOSOACA]The Right Alternative or AD [Adela MIRZA]United Romania Party or PRU [Robert BUGA]We are Renewing the European Project in Romania or REPER [Dacian CIOLOS; Ramona STRUGARIU; Dragos PISLARU]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

maize, wheat, milk, sunflower seed, potatoes, barley, grapes, sugar beet, rapeseed, plums/sloes

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

5.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on food

27.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$83.59 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$72.193 billion (2019 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BBB- (2011)

Moody's rating

Baa3 (2006)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BBB- (2014)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2019

-$12.184 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

-$12.535 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$20.627 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$115.803 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$117.829 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, service- and industrial-based European economy; EU member but non-euro user until convergence criteria met; sustained growth prior to COVID-19; major FDI recipient; flat taxation structure; digital hub of Eastern Europe

Exchange rates

Currency

lei (RON) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

4.052 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

3.942 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

4.238 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

4.244 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

4.16 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$100.901 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2020

$93.024 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2021

$115.879 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

cars and vehicle parts, insulated wiring, refined petroleum, electrical control boards, seats (2019)

Exports - partners

Germany 22%, Italy 10%, France 7% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

41.4% (2017 est.)

government consumption

7.7% (2017 est.)

household consumption

70% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-43.6% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.6% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.9% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

4.2% (2017 est.)

industry

33.2% (2017 est.)

services

62.6% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$249.543 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

34.8 (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

7.6% (2014 est.)

lowest 10%

15.3%

Imports

Imports 2019

$111.184 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$103.899 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2021

$132.056 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, insulated wiring, broadcasting equipment (2019)

Imports - partners

Germany 19%, Italy 9%, Hungary 7%, Poland 6%, China 5%, France 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

4.07% (2021 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) 2019

3.83% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

2.63% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

5.05% (2021 est.)

Labor force

8.381 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

23.8% (2018 est.)

Public debt

note

note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds

Public debt 2018

42.56% of GDP (2018 est.)

Public debt 2019

43.21% of GDP (2019 est.)

Public debt 2020

57.11% of GDP (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$581.272 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$559.896 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$588.451 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

3.85% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-3.68% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5.1% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$30,000 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$29,100 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$30,800 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$42.007 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$52.191 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$51.886 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2019

3.91% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

5.03% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

5.17% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

20.1%

male

20.9%

total

20.6% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

20.891 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

20.588 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

27.268 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

68.746 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

16.412 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

2,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

1.384 million metric tons (2020 est.)

production

15.002 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

291 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

50,039,421,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

5.459 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports

8.252 billion kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

20.528 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

6.501 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

32.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

29.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

20.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

3.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

13.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

71.736 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

11,087,528,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

11.185 million cubic meters (2019 est.)

imports

2,800,985,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

production

10,367,941,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves

105.48 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

1.3GW (2023)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

2 (2023)

Percent of total electricity production

18.5% (2021)

Percent of total energy produced

12.9% (2021)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

1,400 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

161,600 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

600 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

222,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

74,000 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

103,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

49,420 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

232,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

30 (2020 est.)

total

5,684,782 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

a mixture of public and private TV stations; there are 7 public TV stations (2 national, 5 regional) using terrestrial broadcasting and 187 private TV stations (out of which 171 offer local coverage) using terrestrial broadcasting, plus 11 public TV stations using satellite broadcasting and 86 private TV stations using satellite broadcasting; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks and regional and local stations, having in total 20 public radio stations by terrestrial broadcasting plus 4 public radio stations by satellite broadcasting; there are 502 operational private radio stations using terrestrial broadcasting and 26 private radio stations using satellite broadcasting

Internet country code

.ro

Internet users

percent of population

84% (2021 est.)

total

15.96 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is 13 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is119 telephones per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

Romania’s telecom market has undergone several significant changes in recent years; the mobile market is served by network operators that have extensive LTE networks in place, while services based on 5G have been offered under their existing spectrum concessions since 2019; the delayed multi-spectrum auction, expected to be completed later in 2021, will enable the operators to expand 5G network capacity and enable consumers to make far greater use of the technology’s potential; in line with legislation passed in July 2021 the MNOs will have to replace equipment provided by vendors deemed to be a security risk (2021)

international

country code - 40; landing point for the Diamond Link Global submarine cable linking Romania with Georgia; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

13 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

2.606 million (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

119 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

22.929 million (2021 est.)

Airports

45 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

26

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

19

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YR

Heliports

2 (2021)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 11, oil tanker 6, other 108

total

125 (2022)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

2.71 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

4,908,235 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

60

number of registered air carriers

8 (2020)

Pipelines

3,726 km gas, 2,451 km oil (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Constanta, Midia

river port(s)

Braila, Galati (Galatz), Mancanului (Giurgiu), Tulcea (Danube River)

Railways

total

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

Roadways

paved

49,873 km (2012) (includes 337 km of expressways)

total

84,185 km (2012)

unpaved

34,312 km (2012)

Waterways

1,731 km (2010) (includes 1,075 km on the Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals)

Military - note

the Romanian Armed Forces are responsible for territorial defense, fulfilling Romania’s commitments to European security, and contributing to multinational peacekeeping operations; the military has a variety of concerns, including cyber attacks and terrorism, but its primary focus is Russian aggression against neighboring Ukraine and its activities in the Black Sea and Romania’s other eastern neighbor, Moldova; Romania joined NATO in 2004, and the Alliance 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 regularly with NATO and its member states and participates in NATO- and EU-led multinational missions in Bosnia andHerzegovina, Kosovo, and Polandthe military is a professional and all-volunteer force equipped largely with Soviet-era or other aging weapons systems, although since joining NATO it has embarked on an effort to acquire more modern, NATO-compatible weapons systems, such as armored vehicles, combat aircraft, and naval vessels; the main combat formations of the Land Forces are two combined arms infantry divisions, each comprised of three or four mechanized and mountain infantry brigades, plus artillery, reconnaissance, and other combat support forces; the Army also has a tactical missile brigade; the military’s special operations forces were consolidated into a special operations command in 2018the Romanian Navy operates on the Black Sea and the Danube River; the Black Sea fleet command has three frigates and seven corvettes organized into flotillas and divisions, as well as divisions of mine warfare vessels, naval missiles, and coastal defense; the Danube River flotilla has gunboats and a marine infantry regiment the Air Force had approximately 400 Soviet-made combat aircraft when Romania was a member of the Warsaw Pact, but by the 2020s the number was down to a few dozen that were being replaced by secondhand US-origin F-16 fighter aircraft acquired from NATO partners; in 2023, Romania retired the last of its Soviet-era fighters and signed a contract to acquire about 30 additional F-16s from Norway (2023)

Military and security forces

Romanian Armed Forces (Forțele Armate Române or Armata Română): Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air ForceMinistry of Internal Affairs: General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police, the Romanian Gendarmerie (Jandarmeria Română), the Romanian Border Police, the General Directorate for Internal Protection, and the Directorate General for Anticorruption (2023)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 75,000 active-duty military personnel (58,000 Land Forces; 7,000 Naval Forces; 10,000 Air Force) (2023)

Military deployments

up to 120 Poland (NATO) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is comprised mostly of Soviet-era and older domestically produced weapons systems, although in recent years it has launched an effort to acquire more Western-origin equipment from European countries and the US, including aircraft and armored vehicles (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

1.8% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

2% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.9% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; all military inductees contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive 3-year terms until age 36; conscription ended in 2006 (2023)

Disputes - international

Romania-Bulgaria: none identified Romania-Hungary: none identified Romania-Moldova: none identified Romania-Serbia: none identified Romania-Ukraine: the International Court of Justice ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; in 2007, Romania opposed Ukraine's construction of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea, arguing that it runs through a unique ecological area, the Danube Delta

Illicit drugs

a source country for cannabis

Refugees and internally displaced persons

note

note: 15,377 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-November 2023)

refugees (country of origin)

83,405 (Ukraine) (as of 3 December 2023)

stateless persons

297 (2022)

Space agency/agencies

Romanian Space Agency (Agentia Spatiala Romania, ROSA; established 1991) (2023)

Space program overview

space program is integrated into the European Space Agency (ESA) and dates back to the 1960s; program is involved in the development and production of a wide range of capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs), remote sensing, human space flight, navigation, telecommunications, and other space-related applications; in addition to the ESA/EU and their member states (particularly Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy), it cooperates with a variety of other space agencies and commercial space entities, including those of Azerbaijan, China, Japan, Russia, and the US; also participates in international programs; has an active space industry sector with over 50 entities involved in space-related activities (2023)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

69.26 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

27.62 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

13.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international 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

Land use

agricultural land

60.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 39.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 19.7% (2018 est.)

forest

28.7% (2018 est.)

other

10.6% (2018 est.)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Dunărea (Danube) river mouth (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, 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)

Revenue from coal

0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.16% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

212 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.43 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

3.9 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

1.09 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

54.7% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

4.895 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

277,547 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

5.7% (2015 est.)