Romania

Romania

Introduction

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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 238,391 sq km
country comparison to the world: 83 land:229,891 sq km
water:8,500 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 Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern 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

31,570 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

42.3 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 6.5cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%)
per capita:299cu 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 and Society

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)

Languages

Romanian (official) 91%, Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%

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)

Population

21,904,551 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.8% (male 1,667,894/female 1,579,458)
15-64 years:70.4% (male 7,684,514/female 7,725,957)
65 years and over:14.8% (male 1,314,132/female 1,932,596) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 38.7 years
male:37.3 years
female:40.2 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.252% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212

Birth rate

9.55 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Death rate

11.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Net migration rate

-0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Urbanization

urban population: 57% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

BUCHAREST (capital) 1.933 million (2009)

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 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 116

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.02 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 143 male:12.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female:9.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.98 years
country comparison to the world: 109 male:70.5 years
female:77.66 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.29 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209

Health expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 131

Physicians density

1.9166 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 67

Hospital bed density

6.54 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 19

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 88% of population
rural: 54% of population
total: 72% of population
unimproved:
urban: 12% of population
rural: 46% of population
total: 28% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

16,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

8.6% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 58

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.5% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 98

Education expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 92

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:97.3%
male:98.4%
female:96.3% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years
male:14 years
female:15 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 20.8%
country comparison to the world: 51 male:21.2%
female:20.2% (2009)

Government

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 on 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

revised 29 October 2003

Legal system

civil law system

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004)
head of government:Prime Minister Emil BOC (since 22 December 2008)

Deputy Prime Minister Marko BELA (since 23 December 2009)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 22 November 2009 with runoff on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in November-December 2014)

prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament
election results:Traian BASESCU reelected president

percent of vote – Traian BASESCU 50.3%, Mircea GEOANA 49.7%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats

members elected by popular vote in a mixed electoral system to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (334 seats

members elected by popular vote in a mixed electoral system to serve four-year terms)
elections:Senate – last held on 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012)

Chamber of Deputies – last held on 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012)
election results:Senate – percent of vote by alliance/party – PSD-PC 34.2%, PDL 33.6%, PNL 18.7%, UDMR 6.4%, other 7.1%

seats by alliance/party – PSD-PC 49, PDL 51, PNL 28, UDMR 9

Chamber of Deputies – percent of vote by alliance/party – PSD-PC 33.1%, PDL 32.4%, PNL 18.6%, UDMR 6.2%, ethnic minorities 3.6%, other 6.1%

seats by alliance/party – PDL 115, PSD-PC 114, PNL 65, UDMR 22, 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 [Daniel CONSTANTIN] (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 [Crin ANTONESCU]

National Union for Romania’s Progress or UNPR [Gabriel OPREA]

Social Democratic Party or PSD [Victor PONTA] (formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR)

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: various human rights and professional associations

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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 Mark GITENSTEIN
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

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:now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker

also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

National symbol(s)

golden eagle

National anthem

name: “Desteapta-te romane!” (Wake up, Romanian!)
lyrics/music:Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN
note:adopted 1990

the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution

Economy

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 2007-08, driven in part by strong consumer demand and high wage growth, rising energy costs, a nation-wide drought affecting food prices, and a relaxation of fiscal discipline. Romania’s GDP contracted markedly in the last quarter of 2008 as the country began to feel the effects of a global downturn in financial markets and trade, and GDP fell more than 7% in 2009, prompting Bucharest to seek a $26 billion emergency assistance package from the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders. Drastic austerity measures, as part of Romania’s IMF-led agreement led to a further 1.9% GDP contraction in 2010. The economy is expected to return to positive growth in 2011.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$254.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48 $257.4 billion (2009 est.)
$277 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$161.6 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

-1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200 -7.1% (2009 est.)
7.3% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$11,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96 $11,700 (2009 est.)
$12,600 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 12.2%
industry:37.6%
services:50.2% (2010 est.)

Labor force

9.258 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 29.7%
industry:23.2%
services:47.1% (2006)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69 7.8% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

25% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%:24.5% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

31.2 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 111 28.8 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Budget

revenues: $55.5 billion
expenditures:$65.91 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

34.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Public debt

33.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84 30.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167 5.6% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.11% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34 17.3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$25.47 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61 $27.03 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$82.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56 $84.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$77.91 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55 $77.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$32.38 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 57 $30.32 billion (31 December 2009)
$19.92 billion (31 December 2008)

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

5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Electricity – production

62.03 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Electricity – consumption

50.59 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity – exports

2.946 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

2.295 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

107,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Oil – consumption

196,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Oil – exports

95,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Oil – imports

193,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

Oil – proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas – production

10.86 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Natural gas – consumption

12.87 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Natural gas – imports

2.01 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas – proved reserves

63 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Current account balance

-$7.093 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178 -$6.955 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$49.41 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56 $40.67 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products

Exports – partners

Germany 18.4%, Italy 14.1%, France 8.5%, Turkey 6.9%, Hungary 4.9% (2010)

Imports

$57.22 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47 $50.28 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, metals, agricultural products

Imports – partners

Germany 16.8%, Italy 11.6%, Hungary 8.7%, France 6%, China 5.5%, Russia 4.4%, Austria 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$48.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34 $44.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$143.5 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34 $122.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$70.06 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49 $71.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$1.487 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70 $1.396 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

lei (RON) per US dollar -
3.2 (2010)
3.0493 (2009)
2.5 (2008)
2.43 (2007)
2.809 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

54 (2010)
country comparison to the world:88

Airports – with paved runways

total: 26
over 3,047 m:4
2,438 to 3,047 m:10
1,524 to 2,437 m:11
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 28
914 to 1,523 m:7
under 914 m:21 (2010)

Heliports

3 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 3,652 km

oil 2,424 km (2010)

Railways

total: 10,784 km
country comparison to the world: 21 broad gauge:57 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge:10,645 km 1.435-m gauge (4,002 km electrified)
narrow gauge:5 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 81,713 km (does not include urban roads)
country comparison to the world: 57 paved:66,632 km (includes 321 km of expressways)
unpaved:15,081 km (2009)

Waterways

1,731 km (includes 1,075 km on the Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals) (2006)
country comparison to the world: 47

Merchant marine

total: 15
country comparison to the world: 102 by type:cargo 10, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries:35 (Cambodia 1, Georgia 7, Liberia 3, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 2, Moldova 2, North Korea 1, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 4, Syria 1, Togo 1, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Braila, Constanta, Galati (Galatz), Mancanului (Giurgiu), Midia, Tulcea

Military

Military branches

Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-35 years of age for male and female voluntary military service

conscription officially ended October 2006

all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive contracts for 3-year terms until age 36 (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 5,601,234
females age 16-49:5,428,939 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,550,409
females age 16-49:4,507,880 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 117,798
female:111,607 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Transnational Issues

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