Romania

Broadcast media

a mixture of public and private TV stations; there are 7 public TV stations (2 national, 5 regional) using terrestrial broadcasting and 187 private TV stations (out of which 171 offer local coverage) using terrestrial broadcasting, plus 11 public TV stations using satellite broadcasting and 86 private TV stations using satellite broadcasting; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks and regional and local stations, having in total 20 public radio stations by terrestrial broadcasting plus 4 public radio stations by satellite broadcasting; there are 502 operational private radio stations using terrestrial broadcasting and 26 private radio stations using satellite broadcasting (2014)

Internet country code

.ro

Internet users

total: 12,852,696 | percent of population: 59.5% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Telephone system

general assessment: the telecommunications sector is being expanded and modernized; domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially mobile-cellular services | domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 20 telephones per 100 persons; mobile market served by five mobile network operators; mobile-cellular teledensity over 105 telephones per 100 persons | international: country code - 40; the Black Sea Fiber-Optic Cable System provides connectivity to Bulgaria and Turkey; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 4.11 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 22.9 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $55.12 billion | expenditures: $59.62 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2015) | 2.75% (31 December 2014) | country comparison to the world: 119

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.71% (31 December 2016 est.) | 6.77% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Current account balance

$-4.389 billion (2016 est.) | $-2.171 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Debt - external

$93.71 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $95.96 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Distribution of family income - Gini index

27.3 (2012) | 28.2 (2010) | country comparison to the world: 136

Economy - overview

Romania, which joined the EU on 1 January 2007, began the transition from communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and to address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to permeate the business environment. | In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, Romania signed a $26 billion emergency assistance package from the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders, but GDP contracted until 2011. In March 2011, Romania and the IMF/EU/World Bank signed a 24-month precautionary standby agreement, worth $6.6 billion, to promote fiscal discipline, encourage progress on structural reforms, and strengthen financial sector stability; no funds were drawn. In September 2013, Romanian authorities and the IMF/EU agreed to a follow-on standby agreement, worth $5.4 billion, to continue with reforms. This agreement expired in September 2015, and no funds were drawn. Progress on structural reforms has been uneven, and the economy still is vulnerable to external shocks. | Economic growth rebounded in the 2013-16 period, driven by strong industrial exports and excellent agricultural harvests, and the fiscal deficit was reduced substantially. Industry outperformed other sectors of the economy in 2016. Exports remained an engine of economic growth, led by trade with the EU, which accounts for roughly 70% of Romania trade. Domestic demand was a second driver, due to the mid-2015 cut, from 24% to 9%, of the VAT levied upon foodstuffs. In 2015, the Government of Romania succeeded in meeting its annual target for the budget deficit, the external deficit remained low, even if it rose due to increasing imports. For the first time since 1989, inflation turned into deflation, allowing for a gradual loosening of monetary policy throughout the period. | An aging population, significant tax evasion, insufficient health care, and an aggressive loosening of the fiscal package jeopardize the low fiscal deficit and public debt and are the economy's top vulnerabilities.

Exchange rates

lei (RON) per US dollar - | 4.0592 (2016 est.) | 4.0592 (2015 est.) | 4.0057 (2014 est.) | 3.3492 (2013 est.) | 3.47 (2012 est.)

Exports

$57.72 billion (2016 est.) | $54.49 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, other manufactured goods, agricultural products and foodstuffs, metals and metal products, chemicals, minerals and fuels, raw materials

Exports - partners

Germany 21.5%, Italy 11.6%, France 7.2%, Hungary 5.2%, UK 4.3% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$187.6 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$441.6 billion (2016 est.) | $416 billion (2015 est.) | $396 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 43

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 68.5% | government consumption: 7.4% | investment in fixed capital: 22.7% | investment in inventories: 2.4% | exports of goods and services: 41.4% | imports of goods and services: -42.3% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 4.4% | industry: 34.2% | services: 63.3% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$22,300 (2016 est.) | $21,200 (2015 est.) | $20,300 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 83

GDP - real growth rate

4.8% (2016 est.) | 3.9% (2015 est.) | 3.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Gross national saving

22.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | 23.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | 24% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 15.3% | highest 10%: 7.6% (2014 est.)

Imports

$67.94 billion (2016 est.) | $63.12 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, other manufactured goods, chemicals, agricultural products and foodstuffs, fuels and minerals, metals and metal products, raw materials

Imports - partners

Germany 20.5%, Italy 10.3%, Hungary 7.5%, France 5.6%, Poland 5.1%, China 5.1%, Netherlands 4.1% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.6% (2016 est.) | -0.6% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5

Labor force

8.979 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 28.3% | industry: 28.9% | services: 42.8% (2014)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$36.5 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $41.04 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $42.59 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Population below poverty line

22.4% (2012 est.)

Public debt

37.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | 38% of GDP (2015 est.) | note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds | country comparison to the world: 141

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$40 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $38.71 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Stock of broad money

$72.97 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $68.99 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$5.963 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $3.794 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$76.93 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $73.27 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Stock of domestic credit

$60.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $64.47 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Stock of narrow money

$41.82 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $36.06 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Taxes and other revenues

29.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Unemployment rate

5.9% (2016 est.) | 6.8% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

76 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Crude oil - exports

1,049 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Crude oil - imports

145,500 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Crude oil - production

77,910 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Crude oil - proved reserves

600 million bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - consumption

48.28 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity - exports

11.22 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Electricity - from fossil fuels

46.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

28% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

5.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Electricity - from other renewable sources

18.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Electricity - imports

4.492 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - installed generating capacity

24.03 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Electricity - production

62.16 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

17.33 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Natural gas - exports

1.078 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Natural gas - imports

728 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas - production

11.17 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41

Natural gas - proved reserves

105.5 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 52

Refined petroleum products - consumption

182,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Refined petroleum products - exports

80,400 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Refined petroleum products - imports

40,940 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Refined petroleum products - production

228,100 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Area

total: 238,391 sq km | land: 229,891 sq km | water: 8,500 sq km | country comparison to the world: 84

Area - comparative

twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate

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

Coastline

225 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 414 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m | highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note

controls the most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine; the Carpathian Mountains dominate the center of the country, while the Danube River forms much of the southern boundary with Serbia and Bulgaria

Irrigated land

31,490 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 2,844 km | border countries (5): Bulgaria 605 km, Hungary 424 km, Moldova 683 km, Serbia 531 km, Ukraine 601 km

Land use

agricultural land: 60.7% | arable land 39.1%; permanent crops 1.9%; permanent pasture 19.7% | forest: 28.7% | other: 10.6% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

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

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

urbanization is not particularly high, and a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea

Capital

name: Bucharest | geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E | time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991 | amendments: initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one-fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least one-half of Romania’s counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or – if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended 2003 (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Romania | local long form: none | local short form: Romania | etymology: the name derives from the Latin "Romanus" meaning "citizen of Rome" and was used to stress the common ancient heritage of Romania's three main regions - Moldavia, Transylvania, and Wallachia - during their gradual unification between the mid-19th century and early 20th century

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Hans G. KLEMM (since 21 September 2015) | embassy: 4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118 | mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) | telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300 | FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador George Cristian MAIOR (since 17 September 2015) | chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852 | FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 | consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014) | head of government: Prime Minister Mihai TUDOSE (since 29 June 2017); Deputy Prime Minister Sevil SHHAIDEH and Deputy Premier Gratiela GAVRILESCU (since 3 April 2017) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 2 November 2014 with a runoff on 16 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament | election results: Klaus IOHANNIS elected president; percent of vote in runoff - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 54.4%, Victor PONTA (PSD) 45.6%; Mihai TUDOSE approved as prime minister 275-102

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of cobalt blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion 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

Government type

semi-presidential republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s): High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) | judge selection and term of office: High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists; judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms | subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional tribunals; first instance courts; military and arbitration courts

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (136 seats, 2 reserved for the diaspora; members serve 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (329 seats, 17 reserved for non-Hungarian national minorities and 4 for the diaspora; members serve 4-year terms); in 2016, the elections returned to a party list vote-proportional representation voting system | elections: Senate - last held on 11 December 2016 (next to be held by December 2020); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 11 December 2016 (next to be held by December 2020) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PSD 45.7%, PNL 20.4%, USR 8.9%, UDMR 6.2%, ALDE 6%, PMP 5.7%, other 7.1%; seats by party - PSD 67, PNL 30, USR 13, UDMR 9, ALDE 9, PMP 8; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSD 45.5%, PNL 20%, USR 8.9%, UDMR 6.2%, ALDE 5.6%, PMP 5.4%, other 8.4%; seats by party - PSD 154, PNL 69, USR 30, UDMR 21, ALDE 20, PMP 18, minorities 17

National anthem

name: "Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian!) | lyrics/music: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN | note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

golden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD [Aurelian PAVELESCU] | Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Hunor KELEMEN] | Ecologist Party of Romania or PER [Danut POP] | Greater Romania Party or PRM [Adrian POPESCU] | M10 Party [Monica MACOVEI] | National Liberal Party or PNL [Ludovic ORBAN] | New Republic Party or NR [Alin Ioan BOTA] | Our Romania Alliance [Marian MUNTEANU] | Popular Movement Party or PMP [Traian BASESCU] | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats or ALDE [Calin POPESCU TARICEANU] | Romanian Social Party or PSRo [Mircea GEOANA] | Save Romania Union Party or USR [Elek LEVENTE, interim] | Social Democratic Party or PSD [Liviu DRAGNEA] | United Romania Party or PRU [Andrei PITICAS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

various human rights and professional associations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Military branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (2016)

Military expenditures

1.42% of GDP (2016) | 1.45% of GDP (2015) | 1.35% of GDP (2014) | 1.28% of GDP (2013) | 1.22% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 69

Military service age and obligation

conscription ended 2006; 18 years of age for male and female voluntary service; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive 3-year terms until age 36 (2015)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.35% (male 1,586,976/female 1,502,864) | 15-24 years: 10.6% (male 1,170,679/female 1,110,727) | 25-54 years: 46.03% (male 5,016,529/female 4,893,792) | 55-64 years: 12.61% (male 1,271,281/female 1,443,414) | 65 years and over: 16.41% (male 1,428,599/female 2,105,106) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

8.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209

Death rate

12 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 48 | youth dependency ratio: 22.8 | elderly dependency ratio: 25.2 | potential support ratio: 4 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 104

Ethnic groups

Romanian 83.4%, Hungarian 6.1%, Romani 3.1%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.2%, other 0.7%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.) | note: Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–11% of Romania's population

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<200 (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

16,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Health expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 122

Hospital bed density

6.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Languages

Romanian (official) 85.4%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 1%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.4 years | male: 71.9 years | female: 79 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 98.8% | male: 99.1% | female: 98.5% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

BUCHAREST (capital) 1.868 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

31 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Median age

total: 41.1 years | male: 39.7 years | female: 42.6 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.7 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: Romanian(s) | adjective: Romanian

Net migration rate

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.5% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 76

Physicians density

2.67 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

21,529,967 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Population distribution

urbanization is not particularly high, and a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania

Population growth rate

-0.33% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 220

Religions

Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 81.9%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformed and Pentecostal) 6.4%, Roman Catholic 4.3%, other (includes Muslim) 0.9%, none or atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.3% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 92.2% of population | rural: 63.3% of population | total: 79.1% of population | urban: 7.8% of population | rural: 36.7% of population | total: 20.9% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years | male: 15 years | female: 15 years (2015)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female | total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.35 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 214

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 21.7% | male: 20.6% | female: 23.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Urbanization

urban population: 54.9% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international

the ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 249 (2016)

Airports

45 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 96

Airports - with paved runways

total: 26 | over 3,047 m: 4 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 | under 914 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 19 | 914 to 1,523 m: 5 | under 914 m: 14 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YR (2016)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 5 | by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 | foreign-owned: 1 (Russia 1) | registered in other countries: 31 (Georgia 7, Liberia 3, Malta 7, Marshall Islands 2, Moldova 2, Panama 3, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 2, Tanzania 1, Togo 1, unknown 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 128

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 5 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 51 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,636,642 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4,691,280 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

gas 3,726 km; oil 2,451 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Constanta, Midia | river port(s): Braila, Galati (Galatz), Mancanului (Giurgiu), Tulcea (Danube River)

Railways

total: 11,268 km | broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge | standard gauge: 10,781 km 1.435-m gauge (3,292 km electrified) | narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 23

Roadways

total: 84,185 km | paved: 49,873 km (includes 337 km of expressways) | unpaved: 34,312 km (2012) | country comparison to the world: 57

Waterways

1,731 km (includes 1,075 km on the Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 45