2024 Edition Primary

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, 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, 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

15.4% (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

8.5 births/1,000 population (2024 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

14.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

6.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 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.

note

note: data represent individuals who declared a maternal language in the 2021 national census; 13.1% did not respond

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.5 years

male

73.4 years

total population

76.9 years (2024 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

46.9 years

male

44 years

total

45.5 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.1 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Romanian

noun

Romanian(s)

Net migration rate

-3.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.5% (2016)

Physician density

2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

female

9,400,360 (2024 est.)

male

8,747,795

total

18,148,155

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

-0.94% (2024 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 (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

20% (2020 est.)

male

35.9% (2020 est.)

total

28% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.63 children born/woman (2024 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.rohttps://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 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 in November 2024, but results were annulled, with new election expected in early 2025; prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Marcel CIOLACU (since 15 June 2023)

note

note: Romania's constitutional court has annulled the results of the most recent presidential election in November-December 2024, which resets the election cycle. A new election is expected in early 2025.

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 24, percentage women 17.8%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 265, women 63, percentage women 19.2%; total Parliament percentage women 18.8%

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 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; national colors: blue, yellow, red

Political parties

Alliance for the Fatherland or APP Alliance for the Unity of Romanians or AURChristian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD Civic Hungarian PartyDemocratic 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 PartyNational Liberal Party or PNLPopular Movement Party or PMP PRO Romania or PRORomanian 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, potatoes, rapeseed, grapes, plums, apples (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

5.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

25.1% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$110.163 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$93.681 billion (2022 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 2021

-$20.627 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$27.326 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$24.487 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

high-income EU member economy; joined Schengen area as of March 2024; euro membership delayed over convergence criteria; persistent inflation but recovery driven by consumption and EU-funded investments; skilled labor shortage; regional economic disparities; fiscal reforms to address rising deficits

Exchange rates

Currency

lei (RON) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

4.238 (2019 est.)

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.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$115.879 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$129.286 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$137.337 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

vehicle parts/accessories, cars, insulated wire, refined petroleum, wheat (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 19%, Italy 10%, Hungary 7%, France 6%, Bulgaria 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

39.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption

16.9% (2023 est.)

household consumption

62.2% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-43.9% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.9% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-1.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.9% (2023 est.)

industry

27.6% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

59.8% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$351.003 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

33.9 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

1.9% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$132.056 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$149.209 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$154.106 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, cars (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Germany 17%, Italy 8%, Hungary 6%, Turkey 6%, Poland 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

1.15% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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) 2021

5.05% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

13.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

8.282 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

21.2% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

50.45% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$726.048 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$755.867 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$772.107 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5.71% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.11% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.15% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$38,000 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$39,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$40,500 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

3.19% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

2.94% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

2.76% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$51.886 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$55.81 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$73 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.02% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

5.59% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.61% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

21.4% (2023 est.)

male

21.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

21.3% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

15.319 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

18.67 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

28.604 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

62.594 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

19.404 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

242,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

1.338 million metric tons (2022 est.)

production

18.16 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

291 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

49.805 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

7.429 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

8.653 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

19.126 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

6.204 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

39.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

25.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

nuclear

18.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

3.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

12.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

60.67 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

10.055 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

832.421 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

2.977 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

9.501 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

105.48 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

1.3GW (2023 est.)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

2 (2023)

Percent of total electricity production

18.9% (2023 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

600 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

221,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

67,000 bbl/day (2023 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

11 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

2.222 million (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

118 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

23.219 million (2022 est.)

Airports

82 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YR

Heliports

18 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 9, oil tanker 7, other 111

total

127 (2023)

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

key ports

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

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

Roadways

total

85,387 km (2022)

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 the country'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 Russia's activities in the Black Sea and Romania’s other eastern neighbor, MoldovaRomania 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 has participated in NATO- and EU-led multinational missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Poland (2024)

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 (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 68,000 active-duty military personnel (53,000 Land Forces; 7,000 Naval Forces; 8,000 Air Force) (2024)

Military deployments

up to 120 Poland (NATO); Romania also has small numbers of military personnel deployed on other international missions under the EU, NATO, and UN (2024)

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 (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

2% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.9% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.7% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.3% of GDP (2024 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)

Illicit drugs

a source country for cannabis

Refugees and internally displaced persons

note

note: 16,085 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2024)

refugees (country of origin)

77,250 (Ukraine) (as of 14 April 2024)

stateless persons

297 (2022)

Space agency/agencies

Romanian Space Agency (Agentia Spatiala Romania, ROSA; established 1991) (2024)

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 (2024)

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 the Space Programs reference guide

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 the Terrorism reference guide

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

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Buzău; Haţeg (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

2

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, 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.)