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.

Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N 25 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 238,391 km²
Rank: 83
Land: 229,891 km²
Water: 8,500 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries
Total: 2,508 km
Border countries: (5) 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
Extremes 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 km² (2008)

Total renewable water resources: 42.3 km³ (2003)

Natural hazards: earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides

Geography
Note: controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans Moldova and Ukraine

Population: 21,904,551 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 54
Growth rate: -0.252% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 212
Below poverty line: 25% (2005 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Romanian
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)

Age structure
0-14 years: 14.8%
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.)
Rank: 212

Birth rate: 9.55 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 201

Death rate: 11.81 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 31

Net migration rate: -0.26 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 125

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

Environment
Current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male/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.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 11.02 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 143
Male: 12.44 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 9.52 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.98 years
Rank: 109
Male: 70.5 years
Female: 77.66 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.29 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 209

Physicians density: 1.9166 physicians/1000 population (2006)
Rank: 67

Hospital bed density: 6.54 beds/1000 population (2006)
Rank: 19

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 152
People living with hivaids: 16,000 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 83
Deaths: fewer than 1000 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 70

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 8.6% (2000)
Rank: 58

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.5% (2002)
Rank: 98

Education expenditures: 4.3% of GDP (2007)
Rank: 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)

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
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
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 [Hunor KELEMEN]; 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)

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
In the us chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 332-4,846 4,848 4,851 4,852
In the us fax: [1] (202) 232-4,748
In the us consulate general: Chicago Los Angeles New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Mark GITENSTEIN
From the us embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9 Bucharest
From the us mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Bucharest US Department of State 5,260 Bucharest Place Washington DC 20,521-5,260 (pouch)
From the us telephone: [40] (21) 200-3,300
From the us fax: [40] (21) 200-3,442

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 symbols: golden eagle

National anthem
Name: 'Desteapta-te romane!'
Lyricsmusic: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN
Note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution

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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 48
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 200

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 96
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 12.2%
Industry: 37.6%
Services: 50.2% (2010 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: 5.5% (2010 est.)
Rank: 75

Labor force: 9.258 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 52
By occupation agriculture: 29.7%
By occupation industry: 23.2%
By occupation services: 47.1% (2006)

Unemployment rate: 7.8% (2009 est.)
Rank: 67

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: 28.8 (2003)
Rank: 111

Budget
Revenues: $55.5 billion
Expenditures: $65.91 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -6.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 169

Taxes and other revenues: 34.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 71

Public debt: 30.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 84

Inflation rate consumer prices: 5.6% (2009 est.)
Rank: 167

Central bank discount rate: NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 17.3% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 34

Stock of narrow money: $27.03 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 61

Stock of broad money: $84.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 56

Stock of domestic credit: $77.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 55

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 57

Current account balance: -$6.955 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 178

Exports: $40.67 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 56
Commodities: machinery and equipment textiles and footwear metals and metal products machinery and equipment minerals and fuels chemicals agricultural products
Partners: Germany 18.4% Italy 14.1% France 8.5% Turkey 6.9% Hungary 4.9% (2010)

Imports: $50.28 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 47
Commodities: machinery and equipment fuels and minerals chemicals textile and products metals agricultural products
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: $44.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 34

Debt external: $122.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 34

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $71.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 49

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $1.396 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 70

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 62.03 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Production rank: 42
Consumption: 50.59 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 46
Exports: 2.946 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 2.295 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 10.86 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 41
Consumption: 12.87 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 40
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 165
Imports: 2.01 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 45
Proven reserves: 63 billion m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 61

Telephones
Main lines in use: 4.5 million (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 34
Mobile cellular: 24.64 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 37

Telephone system
General assessment: the telecommunications sector is being expanded and modernized; domestic and international service improving rapidly especially mobile-cellular services
Domestic: more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic; fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity expanding rapidly roughly 115 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 (2009)

Broadcast media: a mixture of public and private TV stations; the public broadcaster operates multiple stations; roughly 100 private national regional and local stations operating; more than 75% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems that provide access to Romanian European and international stations; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks and regional and local stations; more than 100 private radio stations broadcasting (2008)

Internet
Country code: .ro
Hosts: 2.464 million (2010)
Hosts rank: 34
Users: 7.787 million (2009)
Users rank: 37

Military expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Rank: 77

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)

Airports: 54 (2010)
Rank: 88
With paved runways total: 26
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 10
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 11
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 28
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 21 (2010)

Heliports: 3 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 3,652 km; oil 2,424 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 10,784 km
Rank: 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
Rank: 57
Paved: 66,632 km (includes 321 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 15,081 km (2009)

Waterways: 1731 km (includes 1075 km on the Danube River 524 km on secondary branches and 132 km on canals) (2006)
Rank: 47

Merchant marine
Total: 15
Rank: 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

Disputes international: the ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania its 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