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Romania Country Guide
Explore Romania in Europe
The terrain features central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps. The average density of population is approximately 94 per km². The notable climate conditions in Romania can be described as temperate with cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog and sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms. Potential natural disasters are earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest or geologic structure and climate promote landslides.
To reach someone in Romania dial +40 prior to a number. There are 5,313,000 installed telephones. And there are 25,377,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 900/1800 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".ro". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 230V - 50Hz.
About the flag and history of Romania
Three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and 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.
The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania 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. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
National administrative regions of Romania
- Alba
- Arad
- Arges
- Bacau
- Bihor
- Bistrita-Nasaud
- Botosani
- Braila
- Brasov
- Bucuresti
- Buzau
- Calarasi
- Caras-Severin
- Cluj
- Constanta
- Covasna
- Dambovita
- Dolj
- Galati
- Giurgiu
- Gorj
- Harghita
- Hunedoara
- Ialomita
- Iasi
- Ilfov
- Judetul Vrancea
- Maramures
- Mehedinti
- Mures
- Neamt
- Olt
- Prahova
- Romania (general)
- Salaj
- Satu Mare
- Sibiu
- Suceava
- Teleorman
- Timis
- Tulcea
- Valcea
- Vaslui
Geography Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: Europe Neighbours: Moldova, Hungary, Ukraine, , Bulgaria, Serbia Capital: Bucharest |
| Size | 237,500 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 91,699 square miles (mi² or sqmi) slightly smaller than Oregon |
| Population | 22,246,000 |
| Currency | Name Leu, Currency Code:RON |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .ro |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +40 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 25,377,000 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 5,313,000 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 238,391 (sq km) | 83 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,790,479 | 56 |
| Population growth rate | -0.27 (%) | 215 |
| Birth rate | 9.40 (births/1,000 population) | 202 |
| Death rate | 11.86 (deaths/1,000 population) | 30 |
| Net migration rate | -0.25 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 121 |
| Maternal mortality rate | 27.00 (deaths/100,000 live births) | 128 |
| Infant mortality rate | 10.44 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 142 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.45 (years) | 110 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.31 (children born/woman) | 213 |
| Health expenditures | 5.60 (% of GDP) | 118 |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.10 (%) | 156 |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 16,000 | 83 |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 1,000 | 78 |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 19.10 (%) | 101 |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 3.50 (%) | 100 |
| Education expenditures | 4.30 (% of GDP) | 101 |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | 23.70 (%) | 40 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 277,900,000,000 | 48 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 0.30 (%) | 174 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 13,000 | 101 |
| Labor force | 9,156,000 | 52 |
| Unemployment rate | 6.50 (%) | 69 |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 33.20 | 97 |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 26.40 (% of GDP) | 41 |
| Taxes and other revenues | 32.90 (% of GDP) | 78 |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -2.50 (% of GDP) | 98 |
| Public debt | 37.20 (% of GDP) | 97 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 5.00 (%) | 139 |
| Central bank discount rate | 5.75 (%) | 62 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate | 12.12 (%) | 68 |
| Stock of narrow money | 25,400,000,000 | 64 |
| Stock of broad money | 63,440,000,000 | 65 |
| Stock of domestic credit | 88,530,000,000 | 56 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 21,200,000,000 | 62 |
| Industrial production growth rate | 0.10 (%) | 144 |
| Current account balance | -7,488,000,000 | 171 |
| Exports | 67,720,000,000 | 52 |
| Imports | 78,310,000,000 | 39 |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 46,790,000,000 | 41 |
| Debt - external | 132,100,000,000 | 42 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 74,490,000,000 | 47 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 1,506,000,000 | 72 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 60,390,000,000 (kWh) | 44 |
| Electricity - consumption | 53,740,000,000 (kWh) | 45 |
| Electricity - exports | 2,940,000,000 (kWh) | 38 |
| Electricity - imports | 1,040,000,000 (kWh) | 64 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 24,980,000 (kW) | 33 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 61.70 (% of total installed capacity) | 135 |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 9.40 (% of total installed capacity) | 22 |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 27.00 (% of total installed capacity) | 82 |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 1.90 (% of total installed capacity) | 60 |
| Crude oil - production | 92,140 (bbl/day) | 51 |
| Crude oil - imports | 169,000 (bbl/day) | 38 |
| Crude oil - proved reserves | 600,000,000 (bbl) | 47 |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 298,200 (bbl/day) | 47 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 218,200 (bbl/day) | 55 |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 107,300 (bbl/day) | 41 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 34,250 (bbl/day) | 83 |
| Natural gas - production | 11,080,000,000 (cu m) | 44 |
| Natural gas - consumption | 14,200,000,000 (cu m) | 41 |
| Natural gas - imports | 3,120,000,000 (cu m) | 41 |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 63,000,000,000 (cu m) | 64 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 78,430,000 (Mt) | 45 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 4,680,000 | 31 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 23,400,000 | 44 |
| Internet hosts | 2,667,000 | 35 |
| Internet users | 7,787,000 | 37 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 53 | 88 |
| Railways | 10,785 (km) | 21 |
| Roadways | 82,386 (km) | 55 |
| Waterways | 1,731 (km) | 46 |
| Merchant marine | 5 | 127 |
Military
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Military expenditures | 1.90 (% of GDP) | 73 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases
List of current world heritage sites
| Name | Since |
|---|---|
| Churches of Moldavia These eight churches of northern Moldavia, built from the late 15th century to the late 16th century, their external walls covered in fresco paintings, are masterpieces inspired by Byzantine art. They are authentic and particularly well preserved. Fa ... | 1993 |
| Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains Built in the 1st centuries B.C. and A.D. under Dacian rule, these fortresses show an unusual fusion of military and religious architectural techniques and concepts from the classical world and the late European Iron Age. The six defensive works, the ... | 1999 |
| Danube Delta The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea, form the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas. The Danube delta hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes. ... | 1991 |
| Historic Centre of Sighişoara Founded by German craftsmen and merchants known as the Saxons of Transylvania, Sighişoara is a fine example of a small, fortified medieval town which played an important strategic and commercial role on the fringes of central Europe for several centu ... | 1999 |
| Monastery of Horezu Founded in 1690 by Prince Constantine Brancovan, the monastery of Horezu, in Walachia, is a masterpiece of the 'Brancovan' style. It is known for its architectural purity and balance, the richness of its sculptural detail, the treatment of its religi ... | 1993 |
| Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania These Transylvanian villages with their fortified churches provide a vivid picture of the cultural landscape of southern Transylvania. The seven villages inscribed, founded by the Transylvanian Saxons, are characterized by a specific land-use system, ... | 1993 |
| Wooden Churches of Maramureş These eight churches are outstanding examples of a range of architectural solutions from different periods and areas. They show the variety of designs and craftsmanship adopted in these narrow, high, timber constructions with their characteristic tal ... | 1999 |