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Romania



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Introduction - Romania:
CountryRomania

BackgroundThe 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 peoples 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.

Location - Romania:
LocationSoutheastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine

Geographic coordinates46 00 N, 25 00 E

Map referencesEurope

Areatotal: 237,500 sq km
land: 230,340 sq km
water: 7,160 sq km

Area comparativeslightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundariestotal: 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

Coastline225 km

Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climatetemperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms

Terraincentral 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 extremeslowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Natural resourcespetroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower

Land usearable land: 39.49%
permanent crops: 1.92%
other: 58.59% (2005)

Irrigated land30,770 sq km (2003)

Natural hazardsearthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides

Environment current issuessoil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands

Environment international agreementsparty 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 notecontrols most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

People - Romania:
Population22,276,056 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure0-14 years: 15.6% (male 1,787,334/female 1,696,270)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 7,721,160/female 7,793,063)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,344,673/female 1,933,556) (2007 est.)

Median agetotal: 36.9 years
male: 35.5 years
female: 38.2 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate-0.127% (2007 est.)

Birth rate10.67 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate11.81 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratioat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.054 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.991 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.695 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality ratetotal: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birthtotal population: 71.91 years
male: 68.41 years
female: 75.62 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate1.38 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hiv aids adult prevalence rateless than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Hiv aids people living with hiv aids6,500 (2001 est.)

Hiv aids deaths350 (2001 est.)

Nationalitynoun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian

Ethnic groupsRomanian 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)

ReligionsEastern 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)

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

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

Government - Romania:
Country nameconventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania

Government typerepublic

Capitalname: 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 divisions41 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

Independence9 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)

National holidayUnification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)

Constitution8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003

Legal systembased on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage18 years of age; universal

Executive branchchief 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 (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%

Legislative branchbicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members are elected by 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 popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 28 November 2004 (next expected to be held in November 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 28 November 2004 (next expected to be held November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 37.1%, PNL-PD 31.8%, PRM 13.6%, UDMR 6.2%, other 11.3%; seats by party - PSD 44, PNL 30, PD 20, PRM 20, PC 11, UDMR 10, independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 36.8%, PNL-PD 31.5%, PRM 13%, UDMR 6.2%, other 12.5%; seats by party - PSD 111, PNL 66, PD 45, PRM 34, UDMR 22, PC 20, ex-PRM (Ciontu Group) 12, PIN (GUSA Group) 3, independent 1, ethnic minorities 18

Judicial branchSupreme 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 leadersConservative Party or PC [Dan VOICULESCU] (formerly Humanist Party or PUR); Democratic Party or PD [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu-TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romania Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA] (formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR)

Political pressure groups and leadersvarious human rights and professional associations

International organization participationACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, 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, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the uschief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge dAffaires Daniela GITMAN
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 uschief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas F. TAUBMAN
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
information office: Cluj-Napoca

Flag descriptionthree 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

Economy - Romania:
Economy overviewRomania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the countrys needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept GDP growth above 4%. However, macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romanias widespread poverty, while corruption and red tape continue to handicap the business environment. Romanian government confidence in continuing disinflation was underscored by its currency revaluation in 2005, making 10,000 old lei equal 1 new leu. The economy grew at 6.4% in 2006, the strongest growth in the last decade. Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, and the IMF has praised the countrys recent reform efforts in preparation for EU accession.

Gdp purchasing power parity $202.2 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate $80.11 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp real growth rate7.7% (2006 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp $9,100 (2006 est.)

Gdp composition by sectoragriculture: 10.1%
industry: 34.7%
services: 55.2% (2006 est.)

Labor force9.33 million (2006 est.)

Labor force by occupationagriculture: 31.6%
industry: 30.7%
services: 37.7% (2004)

Unemployment rate6.1% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line25% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage sharelowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 27.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income gini index28.8 (2003)

Inflation rate consumer prices 6.8% (2006 est.)

Investment gross fixed 25% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budgetrevenues: $36.89 billion
expenditures: $39.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt21.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture productswheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep

Industriestextiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining

Industrial production growth rate5.7% (2006 est.)

Electricity production54.53 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity consumption49.62 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity exports3.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity imports2.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil production119,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil consumption212,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil exportsNA bbl/day

Oil imports181,100 bbl/day (2004)

Oil proved reserves955.6 million bbl (1 January 2005)

Natural gas production11.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas consumption18 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas exports0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas imports6.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas proved reserves300 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance-$12.45 billion (2006 est.)

Exports$33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Exports partnersItaly 16.1%, Germany 15.3%, Turkey 7.8%, Hungary 6.4%, France 6.3%, Austria 4.7%, UK 4.5% (2006)

Imports$46.48 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports commoditiesmachinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, basic metals, agricultural products

Imports partnersGermany 16.6%, Italy 12.9%, China 11.3%, Russia 6.1%, Hungary 5.8%, France 5.3%, Austria 4.9%, Turkey 4.3% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$27.88 billion (2006 est.)

Debt external$42.76 billion (2006 est.)

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

Exchange rateslei per US dollar - 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003), 3 (2002)

Communications - Romania:
Fiscal yearcalendar year

Telephones main lines in use4.386 million (2005)

Telephones mobile cellular13.354 million (2005)

Telephone systemgeneral assessment: rapidly improving domestic and international service, especially in wireless telephony
domestic: 90% of telephone network is automatic; liberalization in 2003 is transforming telecommunications; there has been 20% growth in fixed lines with a penetration rate of 58% of households; nation-wide wireless service is growing even faster with 4 major providers and a penetration rate of 32%
international: country code - 40; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2005)

Radio broadcast stationsAM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)

Television broadcast stations48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)

Internet country code.ro

Internet hosts57,470 (2006)

Internet users5.063 million (2006)

Transportation - Romania:
Airports61 (2006)

Airports with paved runwaystotal: 25
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2006)

Airports with unpaved runwaystotal: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Heliports1 (2006)

Pipelinesgas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2006)

Railwaystotal: 11,385 km
broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge (3,888 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)

Roadwaystotal: 198,817 km
paved: 60,043 km (includes 228 km of expressways)
unpaved: 138,774 km (2004)

Waterways1,731 km
note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals (2006)

Merchant marinetotal: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 198,767 GRT/246,732 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 15, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Italy 1)
registered in other countries: 48 (Georgia 11, North Korea 11, Malta 9, Panama 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Syria 3, unknown 4) (2006)

Ports and terminalsBraila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea

Military - Romania:
Military branchesLand Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2006)

Military service age and obligationall military inductees (including women) are volunteers who contract for an initial 5-year term of service; subsequent voluntary service contracts are for successive 3-year terms until the age of 36; minimum age for voluntary military service is 18 (2006)

Manpower available for military servicemales age 20-49: 5,061,984
females age 20-49: 4,975,427 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military servicemales age 20-49: 3,932,579
females age 20-49: 4,076,288 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annuallymales age 18-49: 172,093
females age 20-49: 165,547 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures percent of gdp2.47% (2005 est.)

Disputes internationalthe 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 Ukraines reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea


This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007
Source: CIA >>>

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