View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2004 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ro

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

50,807 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

4 million (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: poor domestic service, but improving domestic: 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: country code - 40; 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]

4.3 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

6.9 million (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep

Budget [time series]

revenues: $17.06 billion expenditures: $18.38 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

leu (ROL)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

ROL

Current account balance [time series]

$-3.368 billion (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$18.34 billion (2003 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

31.1 (1998)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Romania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept growth above 4%. An IMF standby agreement, signed in 2001, was accompanied by slow but palpable gains in privatization, deficit reduction, and the curbing of inflation. The IMF Board approved Romania's completion of the standby agreement in October 2003, the first time Romania had successfully concluded an IMF agreement since the 1989 revolution. In July 2004, the Executive Board of the IMF approved a 24-month standby arrangement for $367 million. The Romanian authorities do not intend to draw on this arrangement, viewing it as a precaution. Meanwhile, recent macroeconomic gains have done little to address Romania's widespread poverty, and corruption and red tape handicap the business environment.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

46.1 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

1.6 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

400 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

50.86 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

lei per US dollar - 33,200.1 (2003), 33,055.4 (2002), 29,060.8 (2001), 21,708.7 (2000), 15,332.8 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$17.63 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products

Exports - partners [time series]

Italy 24.3%, Germany 15.7%, France 7.4%, UK 6.7%, Turkey 5.1% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $155 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 13.1% industry: 38.1% services: 48.8% (2003)

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

purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2003 est.)

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

4.9% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 25% (1998)

Imports [time series]

$22.17 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, basic metals, agricultural products

Imports - partners [time series]

Italy 19.6%, Germany 14.9%, Russia 8.3%, France 7.3% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.3% (2003)

Industries [time series]

textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

15.3% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

22.5% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

9.28 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 41.4%, industry 27.3%, services 31.3% (2000)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

19.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

5.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

14.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

111.1 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

215,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

127,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

1.055 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

44.5% (2000)

Public debt [time series]

25.5% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$10.37 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.2% (2003)

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

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]

28,800 sq km (1998 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, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 40.82% permanent crops: 2.25% other: 56.93% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

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

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, hydropower

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]

41 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, Ilfov, 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; revision came into force 29 October 2003

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Jack Dyer CROUCH II embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) telephone: [40] (21) 210-4042 FAX: [40] (21) 210-0395 branch office(s): Cluj-Napoca

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Sorin Dumitru DUCARU chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Calin Popescu TARICEANU (since 29 December 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 28 November 2004, with runoff between the top two candidates held 12 December 2004 (next to be held 28 November 2009 and 12 December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, Adrian NASTASE 48.77%

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]

9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from Turkey; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed 26 March 1881); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, 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 (137 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 (332 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 28 November 2004 (next to be held 28 November 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 28 November 2004 (next to be held 28 November 2008) election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 37.1%, PNL-PD 31.8%, PRM 13.6%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 46, PNL 28, PD 21, PRM 21, PUR 11, UMDR 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 36.6%, PNL-PD 31.3%%, PRM 12.9%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 113, PNL 64, PD 48, PRM 48, UDMR 22, PUR 19, ethnic minorities 18

National holiday [time series]

Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)

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

Democratic Party or PD [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; Humanist Party or PUR [Dan VOICULESCU]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Adrian NASTASE], formerly known as the Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR

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]

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained full independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories following the conflict. In 1940, it allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996, when they were swept from power by a fractious coalition of centrist parties. In 2000, the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) became Romania's leading party, governing with the support of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). The opposition center-right alliance formed by the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Party (PD) scored a surprise victory over the ruling PSD in December 2004 presidential elections. The PNL-PD alliance maintains a parliamentary majority with the support of the UDMR, the Humanist Party (PUR), and various ethnic minority groups. Although Romania completed accession talks with the European Union (EU) in December 2004, it must continue to address rampant corruption - while invigorating lagging economic and democratic reforms - before it can achieve its hope of joining the EU, tentatively set for 2007. Romania joined NATO in March of 2004.

Military

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

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (AMR), Civil Defense

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$985 million (2002)

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

2.47% (2002)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 5,952,834 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 5,007,375 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

20 years of age for compulsory military service, 18 in wartime; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 163,577 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.2% (male 1,861,801; female 1,770,746) 15-64 years: 69.4% (male 7,712,612; female 7,791,900) 65 years and over: 14.4% (male 1,330,994; female 1,887,498) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.69 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.69 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

350 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

6,500 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 27.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 30.41 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

Romanian (official), Hungarian, German

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.12 years male: 67.63 years female: 74.82 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 99.1% female: 97.7% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 36.1 years male: 34.7 years female: 37.5 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

22,355,551 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.11% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 87%, Protestant 6.8%, Catholic 5.6%, other (mostly Muslim) 0.4%, unaffiliated 0.2% (2002)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 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 (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.35 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

has not resolved claims to Ukrainian-administered Zmyinyy (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary despite ongoing talks based on 1997 friendship treaty to find a solution in two years; Hungary amended status law extending special social and cultural benefits to ethnic Hungarians in Romania, who had objected to the law

Illicit drugs [time series]

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos

Transportation

Airports [time series]

62 (2003 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 24 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2003 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 198,603 km paved: 98,308 km (including 113 km of expressways) unpaved: 100,295 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 395,350 GRT/510,232 DWT by type: bulk 7, cargo 26, container 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 4, rail car carrier 2, roll on/roll off 4 foreign-owned: Greece 1, Italy 2 registered in other countries: 39 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2004)

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 1.435-m gauge broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2003)

Waterways [time series]

1,731 km (2004)