World Facts Index
 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 of Romania
|
Location:
|
Southeastern Europe,
bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine |
|
Coordinates:
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46 00 N, 25 00 E |
|
Area:
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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 and Montenegro 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east)
169 km |
|
Coastline:
|
225 km |
|
Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
|
Climate:
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temperate; cold, cloudy
winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers
and thunderstorms |
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Terrain:
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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:
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lowest point: Black
Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m |
|
Natural resources:
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petroleum (reserves
declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land,
hydropower |
|
Natural hazards:
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earthquakes, most severe in
south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides |
|
Environment current issues:
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soil erosion and
degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial
effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands |
|
Geography - note:
|
controls most easily
traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
|
Population of Romania
|
Population:
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22,246,862 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 1,799,072/female 1,708,030)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 7,724,368/female 7,797,065)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,347,392/female 1,927,625) |
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Median age:
|
36.6 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
-0.12% |
|
Infant mortality:
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25.5 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 71.63 years
male: 68.14 years
female: 75.34 years |
|
Fertility rate:
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1.37 children born/woman |
|
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% |
|
Religions:
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Eastern Orthodox (including all
sub-denominations) 87%, Protestant 6.8%, Catholic 5.6%, other (mostly Muslim) 0.4%,
unaffiliated 0.2% |
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Languages:
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Romanian (official), Hungarian, German |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.7%
|
Government
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Country name:
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local short form: Romania |
|
Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Bucharest |
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Administrative divisions:
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41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and
1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani,
Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, 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:
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9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from
Turkey; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed
26 March 1881; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947) |
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National holiday:
|
Unification Day (of Romania and
Transylvania), 1 December (1918) |
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Constitution:
|
8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003 |
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Legal system:
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former mixture of civil law system and
communist legal theory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic |
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Suffrage:
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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; prime minister appointed by the president
with the consent of the Parliament. |
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate
or Senat (137 seats; members are elected by direct, 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 direct, popular vote on a proportional
representation basis to serve four-year terms) |
|
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
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:
|
$247.1 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
4.5% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$8,200 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 10.1%
industry: 35%
services: 54.9% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
9% |
|
Labor force:
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9.31 million |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture: 31.6%
industry: 30.7%
services: 37.7% |
|
Unemployment:
|
5.9% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $29.97 billion
expenditures: $31.37 billion |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 62.5%
hydro: 27.6%
other: 0%
nuclear: 9.9% |
|
Industries:
|
textiles and footwear, light machinery and
auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food
processing, petroleum refining |
|
Agriculture:
|
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower
seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep |
|
Exports:
|
textiles and footwear, metals and metal
products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products |
|
Export partners:
|
Italy 18.3%, Germany 14.6%, Turkey 7.7%, France 6.6%,
Austria 5.6%, UK 5.1%, Hungary 4.6%, US 4.5% |
|
Imports:
|
machinery and equipment, fuels and
minerals, chemicals, textile and products, basic metals, agricultural products |
|
Import partners:
|
Germany 16.4%, Italy 15.1%, Russia 6.8%, France 6.3%,
Austria 5.8%, Hungary 5.7%, Turkey 4.1% |
|
Currency:
|
leu (ROL) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |