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
Total: 238,391 km²
Land: 229,891 km²
Water: 8,500 km²
Comparative: twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries
Total: 2,844 km
Border countries (5): (5) Bulgaria 605 km; Hungary 424 km; Moldova 683 km; Serbia 531 km; Ukraine 601 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
Highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 414 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 55.3% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 17% (2023 est.)
Forest: 30.2% (2023 est.)
Other: 14.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 5,280 km² (2022)

Major rivers: 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

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

Geography
Note: controls the most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine; the Carpathian Mountains dominate the center of the country, and the Danube River forms much of the southern boundary with Serbia and Bulgaria

Population
Total: 18,148,155 (2024 est.)
Male: 8,747,795
Female: 9,400,360
Distribution: urbanization is not particularly high, and the population distribution is fairly even throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Growth rate: -0.94% (2024 est.)

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

Religions: Romanian Orthodox 85.3%, Roman Catholic 4.5%, Reformed 3%, Pentecostal 2.5%, other 4.7% (2021 est.)
Note: data represent individuals who declared a religion in the 2021 national census; 13.9% did not respond

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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 61.3 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 24.9 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 36.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 2.7 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 45.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 44 years
Female: 46.9 years

Population growth rate: -0.94% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 8.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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

Population distribution: urbanization is not particularly high, and the population distribution is fairly even throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Urbanization
Urban population: 54.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.776 million BUCHAREST (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 73.4 years
Female: 80.5 years

Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 22.1% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 11.5% of population (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.4% (2024 est.); 5.6% (2023 est.); 5.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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
Etymology: the name is said to come from a shepherd named Bucur who is reputed to have founded the town in 1457, but a settlement probably already existed on the site; the name may come from the personal name of an early landowner

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

Legal system: civil law system

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Nicușor DAN (since 26 May 2025)
Head of government: Prime Minister Ilie BOLOJAN (since 23 June 2005)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament
Most recent election date: 18 May 2025
2025: Nicușor DAN elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Nicușor DAN (unaffiliated) 53.6%, George SIMION (AUR) 46.4%
2019: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%
Expected date of next election: 2,030
Note: the prime ministerial position will be rotated in 2,027 from BOLOJAN to another coalition party member as part of a power-sharing agreement

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament of Romania (Parlamentul României)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red

National anthem
Title: 'Desteapta-te romane!' (Wake up, Romanian!)
Lyrics/music: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN
History: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 11 (9 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 0.8% (2024 est.); 2.4% (2023 est.); 4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 0.8% (2024 est.); 2.4% (2023 est.); 4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 63.5% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 18.3% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 25.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: -1.4% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 35.6% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -41.7% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Industry: 25% (2024 est.)
Services: 62.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: electric machinery and equipment, auto assembly, textiles and footwear, light machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining, mining, timber, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate: -0.9% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 8.263 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.4% (2024 est.); 5.6% (2023 est.); 5.7% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.4% (2024 est.); 5.6% (2023 est.); 5.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $93.691 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $112.799 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 16.2% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $136.253 billion (2024 est.); $136.488 billion (2023 est.); $129.286 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, insulated wire, garments, wheat (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $159.575 billion (2024 est.); $153.427 billion (2023 est.); $149.209 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 19.748 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 48.73 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 13.106 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 10.088 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 5.817 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 32.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 18% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 13% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 32.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 14.752 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 15.533 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 290,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 736,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 291 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 67,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 220,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 600 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 9.632 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 9.395 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 2.231 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.793 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 105.48 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 61.416 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 13.07 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 30.902 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 17.444 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 59.377 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1.96 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 23.2 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 6.63 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2025 est.); 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Airports: 103 (2025)

Heliports: 24 (2025)

Railways
Total: 10,628 km (2020) 4,030 km electrified

Merchant marine
Total: 127 (2023)
By type: general cargo 9, oil tanker 7, other 111