Romania

republicIndependence 1881 (from Turkey

Romania as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 84 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBucharest

Area237,500 sq km

LocationSoutheastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between

Populationas each edition published it

23.2 million July 1995 est. · 23.27m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.09% 1995 est. · 0.02% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 35.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

72.24 years 1995 est. · 71.25 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.82 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

18.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 19 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,790 1994 est. · $2,700 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.4% 1994 est. · -15% in 1993

Geography

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between | Bulgaria and Ukraine

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Land useshare of 237,500 sq km

arable land 43%permanent crops 3%meadows and pastures 19%forest and woodland 28%other 7%irrigated 34,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

237,500sq km

land area: 230,340 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Coastline

225km

contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

2,508km

total · Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (south) 169 km

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine

International disputes

certain territory of Moldova and Ukraine - including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - are considered by Bucharest as historically a part of Romania;
this territory was incorporated into the former Soviet Union following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940

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 Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

Natural resources

petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt

Environment

current issues:: soil erosion and degradation;
water pollution;
air pollution in south from industrial effluents;
contamination of Danube delta wetlands
natural hazards:: earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
international agreements:: party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Note

controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

People

15 fields

Population

23,198,330

(July 1995 est.)note: the Romanian census of January 1992 gives the population for that date as 22.749 million; the government estimates that population declined in 1993 by 0.3%growth rate: 0.09% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

13.71Death

9.93Net migration

-2.88

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years72.24

69.31 · 75.35

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy97%

98% · 95%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1992)

Religions

Romanian Orthodox 70%Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are Uniate)Protestant 6%unaffiliated 18%

Labor force

11.3million

(1992)by occupation: industry 38%, agriculture 28%, other 34% (1989)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 21% (female 2,413,933; male 2,534,019)
15-64 years:: 67% (female 7,737,531; male 7,732,038)
65 years and over:: 12% (female 1,604,210; male 1,176,599) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Romanian(s)
adjective:: Romanian

Ethnic divisions

Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%, Ukrainian, Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%

Languages

Romanian, Hungarian, German

Government

Republic; President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 June 1990, previously President of Provisional Council of National Unity since 23 December 1989); Prime Minister Nicolae VACAROIU (since November 1992)

23 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

61.4%

Ion ILIESCU 61.4%Emil CONSTANTINESCU 38.6%

Legislature, 143 seatsone dot, one seat

PSDR 49CDR 26DP-FSN 18PUNR 13UDMR 12PRM 6PAC 6PDAR 5PSM 5PL-93 2 other 1

Legislature, 341 seatsseats by party

PSDR 116CDR 56DP-FSN 42PUNR 29UDMR 27PL-93 19PRM 15PSM 13PAC 5other 19

Names

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Romania
local long form:: none
local short form:: Romania

Digraph

Type

republic

Capital

Bucharest

Administrative divisions

40 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, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea

Independence

1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)

National holiday

National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)

Constitution

8 December 1991

Legal system

former mixture of civil law system and Communist legal theory; is now based on the Constitution of France's Fifth Republic

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 June 1990, previously President of Provisional Council of National Unity since 23 December 1989);
election last held 27 September 1992, with runoff between top two candidates on 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - Ion ILIESCU 61.4%, Emil CONSTANTINESCU 38.6%
head of government:: Prime Minister Nicolae VACAROIU (since November 1992)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament

Senate (Senat)

elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - PSDR 34.3%, CDR 18.2%, DP-FSN 12.6%, others 34.9%;
seats - (143 total) PSDR 49, CDR 26, DP-FSN 18, PUNR 13, UDMR 12, PRM 6, PAC 6, PDAR 5, PSM 5, PL-93 2 other 1

House of Deputies (Adunarea Deputatilor)

elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - PSDR 34.0%, CDR 16,4%, DP-FSN 12.3%, others 37.3%;
seats - (341 total) PSDR 116, CDR 56, DP-FSN 42, PUNR 29, UDMR 27, PL-93 19, PRM 15, PSM 13, PAC 5, other 19

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice, Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party (DP-FSN), Petre ROMAN;
Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSDR), Adrian NASTASE;
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), Bela MARKO;
National Liberal Party (PNL), Mircea IONESCU-QUINTUS;
National Peasants' Christian and Democratic Party (PNTCD), Corneliu COPOSU;
Romanian National Unity Party (PUNR), Gheorghe FUNAR;
Socialist Labor Party (PSM), Ilie VERDET;
Agrarian Democratic Party of Romania (PDAR), Victor SURDU;
The Democratic Convention (CDR), Emil CONSTANTINESCU;
Romania Mare Party (PRM), Corneliu Vadim TUDOR;
Civic Alliance Party (PAC), Nicolae MANOLESCU, chairman

note: numerous other small parties exist but almost all failed to gain representation in the most recent election

Other political or pressure groups

various human rights and professional associations

Member of

ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI (associate members), EBRD, ECE, FAO, G- 9, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mihai Horia BOTEZ
chancery:: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851

FAX

[1] (202) 232-4748; consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Alfred H. MOSES
embassy:: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address:: American Consulate General (Bucharest), Unit 1315, Bucharest; APO AE 09213-1315
telephone:: [40] (1) 210 01 49, 210 40 42

FAX

[40] (1) 210 03 95; branch office: Cluj-Napoca

Flag

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 flags of Andorra and Chad

Economy

Despite the continuing difficulties in moving away from the | former command system, the Romanian economy seems to have bottomed out | in 1993-94.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$2,790

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

3.4%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate -1% (1993 est.); accounts for 45% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

62%

(1994)

Unemployment rate

10.9%

(December 1994)

Budget

Revenues

$8.3 billionExpenditures

$9.4 billion (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 22,180,000 kW

Electricity production

50.8 billionElectricity consumption per capita

2,076 (1993)

Overview

Despite the continuing difficulties in moving away from the former command system, the Romanian economy seems to have bottomed out in 1993-94. Market oriented reforms have been introduced fitfully since the downfall of CEAUSESCU in December 1989, with the result a growing private sector, especially in services.

The slow pace of structural reform, however, has exacerbated Romania's high inflation rate and eroded real wages. Agricultural production rebounded in 1993 from the drought-reduced harvest of 1992. The economy continued its recovery in 1994, further gains being realized in agriculture, construction, services, and trade.

Food supplies are adequate but expensive. Romania's infrastructure had deteriorated over the last five years due to reduced levels of public investment. Residents of the capital reported frequent disruptions of heating and water services. The slow and painful process of conversion to a more open economy will continue in 1995.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $64.7 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: metals and metal products 17.6%, mineral products 11.9%, textiles 18.5%, electric machines and equipment 8.4%, transport materials 6.5% (1994)
partners:: EC 36.1%, developing countries 27.4%, East and Central Europe 14.9%, EFTA 5.1%, Russia 5%, Japan 1.4%, US 1.3% (1993)

Imports

$6.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: minerals 21.1%, machinery and equipment 19.7%, textiles 11.5%, agricultural goods 9.2% (1994)
partners:: EC 45.8%, East and Central Europe 8.6%, developing countries 22.6%, Russia 11%, EFTA 6.2%, US 5.0%, Japan 0.8% (1993)

External debt

$4.4 billion (1994)

Industries

mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, machine building, food processing, petroleum production and refining

Agriculture

accounts for 18% of GDP and 28% of labor force;
major wheat and corn producer;
other products - sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, milk, eggs, meat, grapes

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine transiting the Balkan route

Economic aid

$NA

Currency

1 leu (L) = 100 bani

Exchange rates

lei (L) per US$1 - 1,776.00 (January 1995), 1,655.09 (1994), 760.05 (1993), 307.95 (1992), 76.39 (1991), 22.432 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 156 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

108

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

461,880Railroads

11,365Inland waterways

1,724 (1984)

Highways: paved: 235,559 km (113 km of expressways) · unpaved: 226,321 km (1992) · Railroads: broad gauge: 45 km 1.524-m gauge · standard gauge: 10,893 km 1.435-m gauge (3,723 km electrified; 3,060 km double track) · narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (1994)

Railroads

total:: 11,365 km
broad gauge:: 45 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge:: 10,893 km 1.435-m gauge (3,723 km electrified; 3,060 km double track)
narrow gauge:: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (1994)

Highways

total:: 461,880 km
paved:: 235,559 km (113 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 226,321 km (1992)

Pipelines

crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km; natural gas 6,400 km (1992)

Ports

Braila, Constanta, Galatz, Mangalia, Sulina, Tulcea

Merchant marine

total:: 238 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,528,971 GRT/3,849,943 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 46, cargo 167, container 2, oil tanker 14, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7

note: in addition, Romania owns 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,207,388 DWT that operate under Liberian, Maltese, Cypriot, and Bahamian registry

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

about 2.3 million telephones;
99 telephones/1,000 persons;
89% of phone network is automatic;
poor service;
cable and open wire

local:: NA
intercity:: trunk network is microwave; roughly 3,300 villages with no service (February 1990)
international:: 1 INTELSAT earth station; new digital international direct dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993)