Romania
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
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	Back To Top
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): total: 6.5 cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%) per capita: 299 cu m/yr (2003) Total renewable water resources: 42.3 cu km (2003) 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 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 Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms Map references: Europe Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 25 00 E Natural resources: petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m 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 Geography - note: controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine Area: total: 237,500 sq km land: 230,340 sq km water: 7,160 sq km Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine Coastline: 225 km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon Irrigated land: 30,770 sq km (2003) Environment - current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands 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 Natural hazards: earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides Land use: arable land: 39.49% permanent crops: 1.92% other: 58.59% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: 1.38 children born/woman (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.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 6,500 (2001 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.18 years male: 68.69 years female: 75.89 years (2008 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.3% male: 98.4% female: 96.3% (2002 census) Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) 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) Median age: total: 37.3 years male: 35.9 years female: 38.7 years (2008 est.) Population: 22,246,862 (July 2008 est.) Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2005) Population growth rate: -0.136% (2008 est.) Languages: Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2% Death rate: 11.84 deaths/1,000 population (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.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 350 (2001 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2006) 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.) Birth rate: 10.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) 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) Nationality: noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Jeri GUTHRIE-CORN 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 National holiday: Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Government type: republic Political pressure groups and leaders: other: various human rights and professional associations 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 International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G-9, 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, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members are 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 are elected by popular vote in a mixed electoral system to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held 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 - PSD-PC 114, PDL 115, PNL 65, UDMR 22, ethnic minorities 18 Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 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 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) Country name (Goverment): conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania 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]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA] (formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR) 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 Constitution: 8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003 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 Emil BOC (since 22 December 2008) 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% 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 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
Economy	Back To Top
Exports - partners: Italy 17.2%, Germany 16.9%, France 7.7%, Turkey 7%, Hungary 5.6%, UK 4.1% (2007) Electricity - consumption: 48.43 billion kWh (2006 est.) Central bank discount rate: NA Electricity - imports: 1.277 billion kWh (2007 est.) Current account balance: -$28.03 billion (2008 est.) Debt - external: $92.76 billion (31 December 2008 est.) Unemployment rate: 3.6% (2008 est.) Oil - exports: 125,200 bbl/day (2005) GDP - per capita (PPP): $12,500 (2008 est.) Investment (gross fixed): 31.5% of GDP (2008 est.) Stock of domestic credit: $58.76 billion (31 December 2007) GDP (purchasing power parity): $278.4 billion (2008 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $213.9 billion (2008 est.) Distribution of family income - Gini index: 31 (2005) Exchange rates: lei (RON) per US dollar - 2.5 (2008 est.), 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004) GDP - real growth rate: 8% (2008 est.) Stock of money: $25.17 billion (31 December 2007) Labor force: 9.32 million (2008 est.) Imports - partners: Germany 17.2%, Italy 12.8%, Hungary 6.9%, Russia 6.3%, France 6.2%, Turkey 5.4%, Austria 4.8% (2007) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (2008 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.1% industry: 36% services: 55.9% (2008 est.) Oil - imports: 219,000 bbl/day (2005) Exports: $59.75 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 17.09 billion cu m (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 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 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. Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, metals, agricultural products Industries: electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining Electricity - exports: 3.362 billion kWh (2007 est.) Population below poverty line: 25% (2005 est.) Commercial bank prime lending rate: 13.35% (31 December 2007) Stock of quasi money: $34.96 billion (31 December 2007) Electricity - production: 58.25 billion kWh (2007 est.) Imports: $92.09 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.) Oil - proved reserves: 600 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 29.7% industry: 23.2% services: 47.1% (2006) Natural gas - proved reserves: 63 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $44.47 billion (31 December 2008 est.) Oil - consumption: 238,200 bbl/day (2006 est.) Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $1.015 billion (2008 est.) Public debt: 14.1% of GDP (2008 est.) Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $72.82 billion (2008 est.) Market value of publicly traded shares: $44.93 billion (31 December 2007) Currency code: ROL Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 20.8% (2006) Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products Economic aid - recipient: $914.3 million (2004) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.5% hydro: 27.6% nuclear: 9.9% other: 0% (2001) Natural gas - imports: 4.8 billion cu m (2007 est.) Natural gas - production: 12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.) Budget: revenues: $64.44 billion expenditures: $71.16 billion (2008 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Oil - production: 112,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: 12 million (2007) Telephones - main lines in use: 4.3 million (2007) Televisions: 5.25 million (1997) Internet country code: .ro Radio broadcast stations: 698 (frequency type NA) (2006) Radios: 7.2 million (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 22.875 million (2007) Television broadcast stations: 623 (plus 200 repeaters) (2006) Telephone system: general assessment: domestic and international service improving rapidly, 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 now slightly exceeds 100 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 (2007) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 38 (2000) Internet hosts: 2.195 million (2008)
Transportation	Back To Top
Waterways: 1,731 km note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals (2006) Pipelines: gas 3,674 km; oil 2,424 km (2007) Railways: total: 10,789 km broad gauge: 57 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 10,731 km 1.435-m gauge (3,965 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1 km 0.760-m gauge (2007) Ports and terminals: Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea Heliports: 2 (2007) Merchant marine: total: 17 by type: cargo 11, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 registered in other countries: 49 (Cambodia 1, Georgia 16, North Korea 4, Liberia 2, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 3, Panama 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 3, Syria 2) (2008) 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) Roadways: total: 198,817 km paved: 60,043 km (includes 228 km of expressways) unpaved: 138,774 km (2004) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 22 (2007) Airports: 61 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
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.) Military branches: Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2009) Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 127,706 female: 121,852 (2008 est.) Military expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
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

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