Romania

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

• urbanization is not particularly high, and a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations;
• Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania

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

noun:

Romanian(s)

adjective:

Romanian

total:

45.5 years (2024 est.)

male:

44 years

female:

46.9 years

• urbanization is not particularly high, and a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations;
• Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania

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.)

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

total population:

76.9 years (2024 est.)

male:

73.4 years

female:

80.5 years

total:

10.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

5.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

3.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

2.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

28% (2020 est.)

male:

35.9% (2020 est.)

female:

20% (2020 est.)

• soil erosion, degradation, and desertification;
• water pollution;
• air pollution in south from industrial effluents;
• contamination of Danube delta wetlands

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

urban population:

54.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

-0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

particulate matter emissions:

13.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions:

69.26 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions:

27.62 megatons (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

4.895 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

277,547 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

5.7% (2015 est.)

municipal:

1.09 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial:

3.9 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural:

1.43 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

total global geoparks and regional networks:

2

global geoparks and regional networks:

Buzău; Haţeg (2023)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Romania

local long form:

none

local short form:

Romania

former:

Kingdom of Romania, Romanian People's Republic, Socialist Republic of Romania

etymology:

the name derives from the Latin "Romanus" meaning "citizen of Rome" and was used to stress the common ancient heritage of Romania's three main regions - Moldavia, Transylvania, and Wallachia - during their gradual unification between the mid-19th century and early 20th century

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:

• related to the Romanian word "bucura" that is believed to be of Dacian origin and whose meaning is "to be glad (happy)";
• Bucharest's meaning is thus akin to "city of joy"

• 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

history:

several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991

amendments:

• initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania’s counties;
• passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or – if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum;
• articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended;
• amended 2003

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania

dual citizenship recognized:

yes

residency requirement for naturalization:

5 years

chief of state:

President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014)

head of government:

Prime Minister Marcel CIOLACU (since 15 June 2023)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

elections/appointments:

• president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
• election last held in November 2024, but results were annulled, with new election expected in early 2025;
• prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament

election results:

2019: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%; 2014: Klaus IOHANNIS elected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 54.4%, Victor PONTA (PSD) 45.6%

note: Romania's constitutional court has annulled the results of the most recent presidential election in November-December 2024, which resets the election cycle. A new election is expected in early 2025.

highest court(s):

• High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections);
• Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)

judge selection and term of office:

• High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists;
• judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms;
• Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president;
• members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms

subordinate courts:

• Courts of Appeal;
• regional tribunals;
• first instance courts;
• military and arbitration courts

• Alliance for the Fatherland or APP
• Alliance for the Unity of Romanians or AUR
• Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD
• Civic Hungarian Party
• Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR
• Ecologist Party of Romania or PER
• Force of the Right or FD
• Greater Romania Party or PRM
• Green Party
• National Liberal Party or PNL
• Popular Movement Party or PMP
• PRO Romania or PRO
• Romanian Nationhood Party or PNR
• Save Romania Union Party or USR
• Social Democratic Party or PSD
• Social Liberal Humanist Party or PUSL (formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) or PPU-SL)
• S.O.S. Romania
• The Right Alternative or AD
• United Romania Party or PRU
• We are Renewing the European Project in Romania or REPER

chief of mission:

Ambassador Dan-Andrei MURARU (since 15 September 2021)

chancery:

1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 332-4829

FAX:

[1] (202) 232-4748

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://washington.mae.ro/en

consulate(s) general:

Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Kathleen KAVALEC (since 14 February 2023)

embassy:

4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118

mailing address:

5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260

telephone:

[40] (21) 200-3300

FAX:

[40] (21) 200-3442

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://ro.usembassy.gov/

• three equal vertical bands of cobalt blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red;
• modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania;
• the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed

note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

name:

"Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian!)

lyrics/music:

Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN

note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution

total World Heritage Sites:

11 (9 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

• Danube Delta (n);
• Churches of Moldavia (c);
• Monastery of Horezu (c);
• Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (c);
• Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (c);
• Historic Center of Sighişoara (c);
• Wooden Churches of Maramureş (c);
• Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n);
• Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c);
• Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu (c);
• Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia (c)

• high-income EU member economy;
• joined Schengen area as of March 2024;
• euro membership delayed over convergence criteria;
• persistent inflation but recovery driven by consumption and EU-funded investments;
• skilled labor shortage;
• regional economic disparities;
• fiscal reforms to address rising deficits

Fitch rating:

BBB- (2011)

Moody's rating:

Baa3 (2006)

Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2014)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

agriculture:

3.9% (2023 est.)

industry:

27.6% (2023 est.)

services:

59.8% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

21.3% (2023 est.)

male:

21.2% (2023 est.)

female:

21.4% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

25.1% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

5.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

lowest 10%:

1.9% (2021 est.)

highest 10%:

24% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Number of operational nuclear reactors:

2 (2023)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors:

1.3GW (2023 est.)

Percent of total electricity production:

18.9% (2023 est.)

production:

18.16 million metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption:

19.404 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports:

242,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports:

1.338 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves:

291 million metric tons (2022 est.)

total petroleum production:

67,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

221,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

600 million barrels (2021 est.)

production:

9.501 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

consumption:

10.055 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports:

832.421 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports:

2.977 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves:

105.48 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

general assessment:

• Romania’s telecom market has undergone several significant changes in recent years;
• the mobile market is served by network operators that have extensive LTE networks in place, while services based on 5G have been offered under their existing spectrum concessions since 2019;
• the delayed multi-spectrum auction, expected to be completed later in 2021, will enable the operators to expand 5G network capacity and enable consumers to make far greater use of the technology’s potential;
• in line with legislation passed in July 2021 the MNOs will have to replace equipment provided by vendors deemed to be a security risk (2021)

domestic:

fixed-line teledensity is 13 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is119 telephones per 100 persons (2021)

international:

• country code - 40;
• landing point for the Diamond Link Global submarine cable linking Romania with Georgia;
• satellite earth stations - 10;
• digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2019)

• a mixture of public and private TV stations;
• there are 7 public TV stations (2 national, 5 regional) using terrestrial broadcasting and 187 private TV stations (out of which 171 offer local coverage) using terrestrial broadcasting, plus 11 public TV stations using satellite broadcasting and 86 private TV stations using satellite broadcasting;
• state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks and regional and local stations, having in total 20 public radio stations by terrestrial broadcasting plus 4 public radio stations by satellite broadcasting;
• there are 502 operational private radio stations using terrestrial broadcasting and 26 private radio stations using satellite broadcasting

number of registered air carriers:

8 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 60

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

4,908,235 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:

2.71 million (2018) mt-km

total ports:

11 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

2

small:

1

very small:

8

ports with oil terminals:

4

key ports:

Basarabi, Braila, Cernavoda, Constanta, Danube-Black Sea Canal, Galati, Mangalia, Medgidia, Midia, Sulina, Tulcea

• 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women;
• all military inductees contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive 3-year terms until age 36;
• conscription ended in 2006 (2023)