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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0 note: in 1995, 135 local radio stations were registered

Radios [time series]

4.64 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: poor service; 89% of telephone network is automatic; trunk network is microwave radio relay; roughly 3,300 villages with no service (February 1990 est.) international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat; new digital international direct-dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

2.6 million (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

130 (in addition, there are about 400 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

4.58 million (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; milk, eggs, beef

Budget [time series]

revenues: $10 billion expenditures: $11.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.3 billion (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 leu (L) = 100 bani

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$10 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$510.1 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

After the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in 1989-91, Romania was left with an obsolete industrial base and a pattern of industrial capacity wholly unsuited to its needs. In February 1997, Romania embarked on a comprehensive macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform program, but reform subsequently has been a stop-and-go process. Restructuring programs include liquidating large energy-intensive industries and major agricultural and financial sector reforms. Today, Romania is continuing its difficult transition to a market-based economy. GDP contracted by an estimated 7.3% in 1998 after a 6.6% decline in 1997. Tight monetary policy and slower exchange rate depreciation earlier in 1998 helped lower inflation to an estimated 41% from 152% in 1997. The large current account deficit and concerns about meeting debt payments in 1999 contributed to increased pressure on the exchange rate towards the end of 1998. Replacing the IMF standby agreement (suspended because of lack of progress on structural reforms), servicing large debt payments, and bringing the budget under control are key priorities for 1999.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

60.045 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

800 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

59.245 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 72.11% hydro: 26.35% nuclear: 1.54% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

lei (L) per US$1--11,353.6 (January 1999), 8,875.6 (1998), 7,167.9 (1997), 3,084.2 (1996), 2,033.3 (1995), 1,655.1 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$8.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

textiles and footwear 23%, metals and metal products 18%, machinery and equipment 9%, chemicals 7% (1997)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Italy 20%, Germany 17%, France 6%, Turkey 4% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$90.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 19% industry: 41% services: 40% (1997)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$4,050 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

-7.3% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$10.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and equipment 23%, fuels and minerals 19%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs (1997)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Germany 16%, Italy 16%, Russia 12%, France 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-17% (1998 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

41% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

10.1 million (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

NA%

Population below poverty line [time series]

21.5% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

9% (1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

46 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

31,020 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,508 km border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 41% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 21% forests and woodland: 29% other: 6% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides

Natural resources [time series]

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

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

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James C. ROSAPEPE embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) branch office: Cluj-Napoca

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mircea Dan GEOANA chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Emil CONSTANTINESCU (since 29 November 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Radu VASILE (since 17 April 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 3 November 1996, with runoff between the top two candidates held 17 November 1996 (next to be held NA November/December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote--Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion ILIESCU 45.6%

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (143 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (343 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate--last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); Chamber of Deputies--last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--CDR 30.7%, PDSR 23.1%, USD 13.2%, UDMR 6.8%, PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.2%, others 17.5%; seats by party--CDR 53, PDSR 41, USD 23, UDMR 11, PRM 8, PUNR 7; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--CDR 30.2%, PDSR 21.5%, USD 12.9%, UDMR 6.6% PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.4%, others 19.9%; seats by party--CDR 122, PDSR 91, USD 53, UDMR 25, PRM 19, PUNR 18, ethnic minorities 15

National holiday [time series]

National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)

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

Democratic Party or PD [Petre DIACONESCU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM note: to increase their voting strength several of the above-mentioned parties united under umbrella organizations: PNTCD, PNL, and PNL-CD form the bulk of the Democratic Convention or CDR other small parties failed to gain representation in the most recent election

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

various human rights and professional associations

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$650 million (1996)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2.5% (1996)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 5,876,912 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 4,938,953 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 193,264 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 19% (male 2,117,289; female 2,027,940) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,563,695; female 7,663,491) 65 years and over: 13% (male 1,234,760; female 1,727,137) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.09 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.55 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [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]

18.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Romanian, Hungarian, German

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.83 years male: 67.05 years female: 74.81 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 95% (1992 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

22,334,312 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.23% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

dispute with Ukraine over continental shelf of the Black Sea under which significant gas and oil deposits may exist; agreed in 1997 to two-year negotiating period, after which either party can refer dispute to the International Court of Justice

Illicit drugs [time series]

important transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe

Transportation

Airports [time series]

27 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 21 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 153,358 km paved: 78,213 km (including 113 km of expressways) unpaved: 75,145 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 199 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,996,157 GRT/2,917,895 DWT ships by type: bulk 35, cargo 141, container 2, oil tanker 7, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Braila, Constanta, Galati, Mangalia, Sulina, Tulcea

Railways [time series]

total: 11,376 km broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 10,889 km 1.435-m gauge (3,723 km electrified; 3,060 km double track) narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (1994)

Waterways [time series]

1,724 km (1984)