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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

30 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios [time series]

7.2 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: poor service; 90% of telephone network is automatic; trunk network is mostly microwave radio relay, with some fiber-optic cable; about one-third of exchange capacity is digital; roughly 3,300 villages have no service international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; new digital international direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest; note - Romania is an active participant in several international telecommunication network projects (1999)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

3.84 million (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

52,000 (1999)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

130 (plus about 400 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

5.25 million (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $11.2 billion expenditures: $12.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 leu (L) = 100 bani

Debt - external [time series]

$9 billion (1999 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 frustrating stop-and-go process. Restructuring programs include liquidating large energy-intensive industries and major agricultural and financial sector reforms. In 1999 Romania's economy contracted for a third straight year - by an estimated 4.8%. Romania reached an agreement with the IMF in August for a $547 million loan, but release of the second tranche was postponed in October because of unresolved private sector lending requirements and differences over budgetary spending. Bucharest avoided defaulting on mid-year lump-sum debt payments, but had to significantly draw down reserves to do so; reserves rebounded to an estimated $1.5 billion by yearend 1999. The government's priorities include: obtaining renewed IMF lending, tightening fiscal policy, accelerating privatization, and restructuring unprofitable firms. Romania was invited by the EU in December 1999 to begin accession negotiations.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

49.552 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

537 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1.269 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

52.495 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 59% hydro: 31.67% nuclear: 9.33% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

lei (L) per US$1 - 17,996.4 (December 1999), 15,332.8 (1999), 8,875.6 (1998), 7,167.9 (1997), 3,084.2 (1996), 2,033.3 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$8.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

textiles and footwear 33.4%, metals and metal products 19.1%, machinery and equipment 9.5%, minerals and fuels 6.1% (1998)

Exports - partners [time series]

Italy 22%, Germany 19.6%, France 5.9%, US 3.8% (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $87.4 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 23% industry: 51% services: 26% (1997)

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

purchasing power parity - $3,900 (1999 est.)

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

-4.8% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$9.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment 23%, fuels and minerals 14.2%, chemicals 8.7%, textiles and footwear 17.1% (1998)

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 17.5%, Italy 17.4%, France 6.9%, US 4.2% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-8.7% (1999 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

44% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

9.6 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 36.5%, industry 34.4%, services 29.1% (1994)

Population below poverty line [time series]

21.5% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (1999 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 [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 [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, arable land, hydro power

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) telephone: [40] (1) 210 01 49, 210 40 42 FAX: [40] (1) 210 03 95 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 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 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 Mugur ISARESCU (since 22 December 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 flag of Chad, also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

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, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, 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 fall 2000); Chamber of Deputies - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held fall 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]

Agrarian Democratic Party of Romania or PDAR [Mihai BERCA]; Alliance Party for Romania or APR [Tedor MELESCANU]; Civic Alliance Party or PAC [Nicolae MANOLESCU, chairman]; Democratic Party or PD [Petre ROMAN]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; Liberal Party '93 or PL-93 [Dinu PATRICIU]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Mircea IONESCU-QUINTUS]; National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention or PNL-CD [Nicolae CERVENI]; National Peasants' Christian and Democratic Party or PNTCD [Ion DIACONESCU]; Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR [Ion ILIESCU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Romanian National Unity Party or PUNR [Valeriu TABARA]; Romanian Social Democratic Party or PSDR [Alexamdru ATHANASIU]; Socialist Labor Party or PSM [Ilie VERDET]; Socialist Party or PS [Tudor MOHORA]; The Democratic Convention or CDR [Ion DIACONESCU] 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 [Ion DIACONESCU]; PD and PSDR form the Union of Social Democrats or USD [Petre ROMAN]; and PAC and PL-93 form the National Liberal Alliance or ANL [Nicolae MANOLESCU]; PSM, PS, ANL, and numerous 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

Introduction

Background [time series]

Soviet occupation following World War II led to the formation of a communist Peoples Republic in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of President Nicolae CEAUSESCU became increasingly draconian through the 1980s. He was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Much economic restructuring remains to be carried out before Romania can achieve its hope of joining the EU.

Military

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$650 million (FY96)

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

2.5% (FY96)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 5,899,912 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 4,960,011 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 190,083 (2000 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18% (male 2,111,320; female 2,015,347) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,597,958; female 7,707,498) 65 years and over: 14% (male 1,237,368; female 1,741,630) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.76 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.29 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 7.1%, Roma 1.8%, German 0.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, other 0.8% (1992)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

19.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

Romanian, Hungarian, German

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 69.93 years male: 66.1 years female: 73.99 years (2000 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]

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

22,411,121 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.21% (2000 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: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.35 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Transnational Issues

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 ICJ

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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Transportation

Airports [time series]

62 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 25 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 37 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 23 (1999 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 153,359 km paved: 103,671 km (including 133 km of expressways) unpaved: 49,688 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 142 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,154,127 GRT/1,612,314 DWT ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 110, container 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 5, rail car carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off 6, specialized tanker 1 (1999 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: 11,385 km (3,888 km electrified) standard gauge: 10,898 km narrow gauge: 487 km (1996)

Waterways [time series]

1,724 km (1984)