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Introduction | Romania

Background: | The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.

Geography | Romania

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
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural resources: | petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use: | arable land: 39.49% permanent crops: 1.92% other: 58.59% (2005)
Irrigated land: | 30,770 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: | 42.3 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): | total: 6.5 cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%) per capita: 299 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards: | earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Environment - current issues: | soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: | controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

People | Romania

Population: | 22,246,862 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 15.6% (male 1,778,864/female 1,687,659) 15-64 years: 69.7% (male 7,718,125/female 7,791,102) 65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,337,915/female 1,933,197) (2008 est.)
Median age: | total: 37.3 years male: 35.9 years female: 38.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: | -0.136% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: | 10.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: | 11.84 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: | -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 23.73 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26.81 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 72.18 years male: 68.69 years female: 75.89 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 1.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 6,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 350 (2001 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups: | Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)
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)

Government | Romania

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
Administrative divisions: | 41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence: | 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
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; seats by party as of February 2008 - PSD 44, PDL 27, PNL 24, PRM 16, PC 10, UDMR 10, independents 6; 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; seats by party as of February 2008 - PSD 104, PDL 73, PNL 56, PRM 25, UDMR 22, PC 16, independents 18, 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 [Daniela POPA] (formerly Humanist Party or PUR); Democratic Liberal Party or PDL [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [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, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G-9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, 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
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian Cosmin VIERITA chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas F. TAUBMAN embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: 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
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 | Romania

Economy - overview: | Romania, which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Domestic consumption and investment have fueled strong GDP growth in recent years, but have led to large current account imbalances. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to handicap its business environment. Inflation rose in 2007 for the first time in eight years, driven in part by the depreciation of the currency, rising energy costs, a nation-wide drought affecting food prices, and a relaxation of fiscal discipline. Romania hopes to adopt the euro by 2014.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $245.5 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $166 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $11,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 7.9% industry: 35.6% services: 56.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force: | 9.35 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 29.7% industry: 23.2% services: 47.1% (2006)
Unemployment rate: | 4.1% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 25% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 20.8% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 31 (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 4.8% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 28% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $56.29 billion expenditures: $60.41 billion (2007)
Public debt: | 18.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products: | wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep
Industries: | electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: | 10.6% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production: | 60.52 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 62.5% hydro: 27.6% nuclear: 9.9% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 58.49 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - exports: | 3.33 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports: | 1.29 billion kWh (2007)
Oil - production: | 122,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 236,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports: | 92,510 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: | 181,100 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: | 955.6 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 12.24 billion cu m (2007)
Natural gas - consumption: | 17.09 billion cu m (2007)
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2007)
Natural gas - imports: | 4.851 billion cu m (2007)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 96.41 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance: | -$23.13 billion (2007)
Exports: | $40.25 billion f.o.b. (2007)
Exports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products
Exports - partners: | Italy 17.9%, Germany 15.7%, Turkey 7.7%, France 7.5%, Hungary 4.9%, UK 4.7% (2006)
Imports: | $64.33 billion f.o.b. (2007)
Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, metals, agricultural products
Imports - partners: | Germany 15.2%, Italy 14.5%, Russia 7.8%, France 6.5%, Turkey 4.9%, China 4.3% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient: | $914.3 million (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $37.24 billion (31 December 2007)
Debt - external: | $72.36 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $50.39 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $288 million (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares: | $45.42 billion (2007)
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 - 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

Communications | Romania

Telephones - main lines in use: | 4.231 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 17.4 million (2006)
Telephone system: | general assessment: rapidly improving domestic and international service, especially in wireless telephony domestic: more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic; liberalization in 2003 is transforming telecommunications; fixed-line teledensity is roughly 20 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is approaching 80 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 40; the Black Sea Fiber Optic System provides connectivity to Bulgaria and Turkey; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2005)
Radio broadcast stations: | 698 (frequency type NA) (2006)
Radios: | 7.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 623 (plus 200 repeaters) (2006)
Televisions: | 5.25 million (1997)
Internet country code: | .ro
Internet hosts: | 1.406 million (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 38 (2000)
Internet users: | 5.063 million (2006)

Transportation | Romania

Airports: | 61 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 25 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 22 (2007)
Heliports: | 2 (2007)
Pipelines: | gas 3,674 km; oil 2,424 km (2007)
Railways: | total: 11,385 km broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge (3,888 km electrified) narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)
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: 19 ships (1000 GRT or over) 146,307 GRT/165,548 DWT by type: cargo 13, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 registered in other countries: 50 (Cambodia 1, Georgia 15, North Korea 6, Malta 10, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 8, Sierra Leone 2, St Kitts and Nevis 1, St Vincent and The Grenadines 1, Syria 4, Tuvalu 1, unknown 4) (2007)
Ports and terminals: | Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea

Military | Romania

Military branches: | Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2008)
Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription officially ended October 2006; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service; subsequent voluntary service contracts are for successive 3-year terms until the age of 36 (2006)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 5,682,299 females age 16-49: 5,557,098 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 4,572,017 females age 16-49: 4,644,474 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: | males age 16-49: 127,706 females age 16-49: 121,852 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.9% (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues | Romania

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

This page was last updated on 19 June, 2008