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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 234 usable: 74 with permanent-surface runways: 26 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 21 with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 24 note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 72,799 km paved: 35,970 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 27,729 km; unsurfaced earth 9,100 km (1985)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

1,724 km (1984)

Merchant marine [time series]

241 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,626,421 GRT/4,017,380 DWT, bulk 49, cargo 167, container 2, oil tanker 14, passenger-cargo 1, rail-car carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports [time series]

Constanta, Galati, Braila, Mangalia; inland ports are Giurgiu, Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Orsova

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

11,275 km total; 10,860 km 1.435-meter gauge, 370 km narrow gauge, 45 km broad gauge; 3,411 km electrified, 3,060 km double track; government owned (1987)

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

poor service; about 2.3 million telephone customers; 89% of phone network is automatic; cable and open wire; trunk network is microwave; present phone density is 9.85 per 100 residents; roughly 3,300 villages with no service (February 1990); new digital international direct dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993); broadcast stations - 12 AM, 5 FM, 13 TV (1990); 1 satellite ground station using INTELSAT

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Paramilitary Forces, Civil Defense

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

137 billion lei, 3% of GDP (1993); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 5,888,452; fit for military service 4,972,834; reach military age (20) annually 193,901 (1994 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $19 billion expenditures: $20 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.1 billion (1991 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 leu (L) = 100 bani

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 22,500,000 kW production: 59 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,540 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

lei (L) per US$1 - 1,387.16 (January 1994), 760.05 (1993), 307.95 (1992), 76.39 (1991), 22.432 (1990), 14.922 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$4 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: metals and metal products 24%, mineral products 14%, textiles 10.7%, electric machines and equipment 9.3%, transport materials 9.2% (1993) 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)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$4 billion (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: minerals 29%, machinery and equipment 17.2%, textiles 10%, agricultural goods 9% (1993) 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)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

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

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6% per month (March 1994)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $63.7 billion (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$2,700 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

1% (1993)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Despite the continuing difficulties in moving away from the former command system, the Romanian economy seems to have bottomed out in 1993. 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 previous year's drought-reduced harvest; food supplies are adequate, but expensive. Bucharest resisted pressure to devalue its currency despite a $638 million trade deficit in the first half of 1993 and the emergence of a black market for hard currency. Unable to support the currency, the national bank, nonetheless, was forced to depreciate the currency 65% over the course of the year. The return of winter revealed that much of Romania's infrastructure had deteriorated over the last four years due to reduced levels of public investment. Residents of the capital reported frequent disruptions of heating and water services.

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (March 1994)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 237,500 sq km land area: 230,340 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

225 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

no official territorial claim by either Moldova or Romania, but nationalists in Romania seek the merger of Moldova with Romania; potential future dispute by Moldova and Romania against Ukraine over former southern and northern Bessarabian areas

Irrigated land [time series]

34,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 2,508 km, 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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 43% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: 28% other: 7%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Bucharest

Constitution [time series]

8 December 1991

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: (vacant) chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851

Executive branch [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

(202) 232-4748 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[40] (1) 210-0395

Flag [time series]

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

Legislative branch (House of Deputies (Adunarea Deputatilor)) [time series]

elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - PDSR 27.5%, CDR 22.5%, PP-(FSN) 11%, others 39%; seats - (341 total) PDSR 117, CDR 82, PP-(FSN) 43, PUNR 30, UDMR 27, PRM 16, PSM 13, other 13

Independence [time series]

1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice, Constitutional Court

Legal system [time series]

former mixture of civil law system and Communist legal theory is being revised to conform with European norms

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

various human rights and professional associations

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Democratic Party (PD-(FSN)), Petre ROMAN; Party of Social Democracy in Romania (PDSR), 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 note: numerous other samll parties exist but almost all failed to gain representation in the most recent election

Legislative branch (Senate (Senat)) [time series]

elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - PDSR 27.5%, CDR 22.5%, PP-(FSN) 11%, others 39%; seats - (143 total) PDSR 49, CDR 34, PP-(FSN) 18, PUNR 14, UDMR 12, PRM 6, PDAR 5, PSM 5

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador John R. DAVIS, Jr. embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: AmEmbassy (Buch), Unit 1315, Bucharest; APO AE 09213-1315 telephone: [40] (1) 210-4042

People

Birth rate [time series]

13.66 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.02 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

19.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

10,945,700 by occupation: industry 38%, agriculture 28%, other 34% (1989)

Languages [time series]

Romanian, Hungarian, German

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.74 years male: 68.81 years female: 74.84 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1978 est.) total population: 98% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

23,181,415 (July 1994 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%

Population growth rate [time series]

0.06% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.82 children born/woman (1994 est.)