The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Geographic coordinates
46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total
237,500 sq km
land
230,340 sq km
water
7,160 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries
total
2,508 km
border countries
Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km
Coastline
225 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
contiguous zone
24 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain
central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)
Religions
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)
Languages
Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
97.3%
male
98.4%
female
96.3% (2002 census)
Country name
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Romania
local long form
none
local short form
Romania
Government type
republic
Capital
name
Bucharest
geographic coordinates
44 26 N, 26 06 E
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday
Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Constitution
8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003
Legal system
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004); note - President Traian BASESCU was suspended by vote of parliament on 19 April 2007, but resumed his duties on 23 May 2007 after a popular referendum confirmed that his impeachment should not stand
head of government
Prime Minister Calin Popescu-TARICEANU (since 29 December 2004)
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 November 2004 with runoff between the top two candidates held 12 December 2004 (next to be held in November-December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament
election results
percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, Adrian NASTASE 48.77%
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (332 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 28 November 2004 (next expected to be held in November 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 28 November 2004 (next expected to be held November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 37.1%, PNL-PD 31.8%, PRM 13.6%, UDMR 6.2%, other 11.3%; seats by party - PSD 44, PNL 30, PD 20, PRM 20, PC 11, UDMR 10, independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 36.8%, PNL-PD 31.5%, PRM 13%, UDMR 6.2%, other 12.5%; seats by party - PSD 111, PNL 66, PD 45, PRM 34, UDMR 22, PC 20, ex-PRM (Ciontu Group) 12, PIN (GUSA Group) 3, independent 1, ethnic minorities 18
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges appointed for three-year terms by the president in consultation with the Superior Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister of justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society representatives appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and prosecutors elected by their peers); a separate body, the Constitutional Court, validates elections and makes decisions regarding the constitutionality of laws, treaties, ordinances, and internal rules of the Parliament; it is comprised of nine members serving nine-year terms, with three members each appointed by the president, the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies
Political parties and leaders
Conservative Party or PC [Dan VOICULESCU] (formerly Humanist Party or PUR); Democratic Party or PD [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu-TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romania Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA] (formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR)
Political pressure groups and leaders
various human rights and professional associations
International organization participation
ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
pouch: American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
telephone
[40] (21) 200-3300
FAX
[40] (21) 200-3442
information office
Cluj-Napoca
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
Economy - overview
Romania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept GDP growth above 4%. However, macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty, while corruption and red tape continue to handicap the business environment. Romanian government confidence in continuing disinflation was underscored by its currency revaluation in 2005, making 10,000 "old" lei equal 1 "new" leu. The economy grew at 6.4% in 2006, the strongest growth in the last decade. Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, and the IMF has praised the country's recent reform efforts in preparation for EU accession.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$202.2 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$80.11 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
7.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$9,100 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
10.1%
industry
34.7%
services
55.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force
9.33 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
31.6%
industry
30.7%
services
37.7% (2004)
Unemployment rate
6.1% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
25% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.4%
highest 10%
27.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
28.8 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
25% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$36.89 billion
expenditures
$39.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2006 est.)
textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate
5.7% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production
54.53 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel
62.5%
hydro
27.6%
nuclear
9.9%
other
0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption
49.62 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports
3.7 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports
2.6 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production
119,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption
212,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports
163,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves
500 million bbl (yearend 2004)
Natural gas - production
11.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
18 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports
6.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
300 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance
-$12.45 billion (2006 est.)
Exports
$33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities
textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products
Exports - partners
Italy 16.1%, Germany 15.3%, Turkey 7.8%, Hungary 6.4%, France 6.3%, Austria 4.7%, UK 4.5% (2006)
Imports
$46.48 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, basic metals, agricultural products
Imports - partners
Germany 16.6%, Italy 12.9%, China 11.3%, Russia 6.1%, Hungary 5.8%, France 5.3%, Austria 4.9%, Turkey 4.3% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$27.88 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$42.76 billion (2006 est.)
Currency (code)
"new" leu (RON) was introduced in 2005; "old" leu (ROL) was phased out in 2006; note - because of currency revaluation, 10,000 ROL = 1 RON
Currency code
ROL
Exchange rates
lei per US dollar - 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003), 3 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
4.391 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
13.354 million (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
rapidly improving domestic and international service, especially in wireless telephony
domestic
90% of telephone network is automatic; liberalization in 2003 is transforming telecommunications; there has been 20% growth in fixed lines with a penetration rate of 58% of households; nation-wide wireless service is growing even faster with 4 major providers and a penetration rate of 32%
international
country code - 40; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2005)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios
7.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations
48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions
5.25 million (1997)
Internet country code
.ro
Internet hosts
57,470 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
38 (2000)
Internet users
4.94 million (2005)
Airports
61 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
25
over 3,047 m
4
2,438 to 3,047 m
9
1,524 to 2,437 m
12 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
36
1,524 to 2,437 m
2
914 to 1,523 m
11
under 914 m
23 (2006)
Heliports
1 (2006)
Pipelines
gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2006)
Railways
total
11,385 km
standard gauge
10,898 km 1.435-m gauge (3,888 km electrified)
broad gauge
60 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge
427 km 0.760-m gauge (2005)
Roadways
total
198,817 km
paved
60,043 km (includes 228 km of expressways)
unpaved
138,774 km (2004)
Waterways
1,731 km
note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals (2006)
Merchant marine
total
23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 198,767 GRT/246,732 DWT
by type
bulk carrier 1, cargo 15, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned
1 (Italy 1)
registered in other countries
48 (Georgia 11, North Korea 11, Malta 9, Panama 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Syria 3, unknown 4) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea
Military branches
Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2006)
Military service age and obligation
all military inductees (including women) are volunteers who contract for an initial 5-year term of service; subsequent voluntary service contracts are for successive 3-year terms until the age of 36; minimum age for voluntary military service is 18 (2006)
Manpower available for military service
males age 20-49
5,061,984
females age 20-49
4,975,427 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 20-49
3,932,579
females age 20-49
4,076,288 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
172,093
females age 20-49
165,547 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
2.47% (2005 est.)
Disputes - international
the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to issue a rejoinder, in their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania also opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea
Illicit drugs
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering, which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos
