Romania

text

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia -- for centuries under the control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire -- secured their autonomy through the Treaty of Paris in 1856. They were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country joined the Allied Powers in World War I and subsequently acquired new territories -- most notably Transylvania -- that more than doubled its size. 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, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in 2024.

text

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

text

46 00 N, 25 00 E

text

Europe

text

twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

text

225 km

text

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

text

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

text

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

text

5,280 sq km (2022)

text

Dunărea (Danube) river mouth (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine) - 2,888 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

text

urbanization is not particularly high, and the population distribution is fairly even throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

text

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

text

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

text

Romanian 89.3%, Hungarian 6%, Romani 3.4%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.1%, other 0.9% (2021 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent individuals who declared an ethnic group in the 2021 national census; 13% did not respond; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–11% of Romania's population

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent individuals who declared a maternal language in the 2021 national census; 13.1% did not respond

text

Romanian Orthodox 85.3%, Roman Catholic 4.5%, Reformed 3%, Pentecostal 2.5%, other 4.7% (2021 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent individuals who declared a religion in the 2021 national census; 13.9% did not respond

text

-0.86% (2025 est.)

text

8.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

text

14.28 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

text

-2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

text

urbanization is not particularly high, and the population distribution is fairly even throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

text

1.776 million BUCHAREST (capital) (2023)

text

27.1 years (2020 est.)

text

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

text

1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.)

text

0.79 (2025 est.)

text

3.63 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

text

7.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

text

22.5% (2016)

text

56% (2021 est.)

text

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

text

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

text

14.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

text

212.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

text

semi-presidential republic

text

41 counties (<em>judete</em>, singular - <em>judet</em>) and 1 municipality* (<em>municipiu</em>); 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

text

civil law system

text

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

text

18 years of age; universal

note

<strong>note: </strong>the prime ministerial position will be rotated in 2027 from BOLOJAN to another coalition party member as part of a power-sharing agreement

text

Alliance for the Fatherland or APP <br>Alliance for the Unity of Romanians or AUR<br>Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD <br>Civic Hungarian Party<br>Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR <br>Ecologist Party of Romania or PER <br>Force of the Right or FD <br>Greater Romania Party or PRM <br>Green Party<br>National Liberal Party or PNL<br>Popular Movement Party or PMP <br>PRO Romania or PRO<br>Romanian Nationhood Party or PNR <br>Save Romania Union Party or USR <br>Social Democratic Party or PSD <br>Social Liberal Humanist Party or PUSL (formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) or PPU-SL)<br>S.O.S. Romania <br>The Right Alternative or AD <br>United Romania Party or PRU <br>We are Renewing the European Project in Romania or REPER 

text

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, UNOOSA,UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

text

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)

text

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

text

<strong>description:</strong> three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the colors come from the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania<br><br><strong>history:</strong> modeled on the French flag; the national coat of arms that used to be centered on the yellow band has been removed

note

<strong>note:</strong> similar to the flag of Chad, which has a darker blue band; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

text

golden eagle

text

blue, yellow, red

text

<p>high-income, EU-member economy; euro membership delayed over macroeconomic indicators; persistent inflation, but consumption and EU-funded investments driving recovery; skilled labor shortage; high public debt and budget deficit; challenges include fiscal sustainability and political instability</p>

note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

text

$382.768 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

text

wheat, maize, milk, sunflower seeds, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, grapes, plums, apples (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

text

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

text

-0.9% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

text

8.263 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

text

21.1% (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

text

16.2% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

text

Germany 19%, Italy 10%, France 6%, UK 5%, Hungary 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

text

cars, vehicle parts/accessories, insulated wire, garments, wheat (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

text

Germany 19%, Italy 8%, Hungary 6%, Poland 6%, China 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

text

vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

text

a mixture of public and private TV stations; 7 public (2 national, 5 regional) and 187 private TV stations using terrestrial broadcasting, plus 11 public and 86 private TV stations using satellite broadcasting; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks, as well as regional and local stations; 502 private radio stations using terrestrial broadcasting, and 26 using satellite broadcasting

text

.ro

text

YR

text

103 (2025)

text

24 (2025)

text

Romanian Armed Forces (Forțele Armate Române or Armata Română): Romanian Land Forces, Romanian Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force<br><br>Ministry of Internal Affairs: Romanian Police, Romanian Gendarmerie, Romanian Border Police (2025)

text

approximately 70,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> in 2025, the Romanian Government announced plans to increase the size of the Armed Forces by 35,000 personnel by 2030

text

the military's inventory includes a considerable amount of Soviet-era and older domestically produced weapons systems, although in recent years Romania has launched an effort to acquire more modern and NATO-standard equipment from European countries and the US, including aircraft and armored vehicles (2025)

text

typically 18-35 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; compulsory service ended in 2007 (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> in 2025, the Romanian Government approved a voluntary service plan for citizens aged 18 to 35  to apply for a four-month basic military training programme, open to both men and women who have not completed active military service or not already in reserve; participants would subsequently be registered as reservists

text

470 Bosnia Herzegovina (EUFOR); 200 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); up to 120 Poland (NATO); Romania also has small numbers of military personnel deployed on other international missions under the EU, NATO, and UN (2025)

text

the Romanian Armed Forces are responsible for territorial defense, fulfilling the country's commitments to European security, and contributing to multinational peacekeeping operations; the military has a variety of concerns, including Russian aggression against Ukraine, Russia's activities in the Black Sea and in Moldova, cyber attacks, hybrid threats, and terrorism; a key focus for the military is equipment modernization<br><br>Romania joined NATO in 2004, and its membership forms a key pillar of the country’s defense policy; it hosts a NATO multinational divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Southeast) and a French-led ground force battlegroup as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence initiative in the southeastern part of the Alliance, which came about in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine; NATO allies have also sent detachments of fighters to augment the Romanian Air Force since 2014 because of aggressive Russian activity in the Black Sea region; the Romanian military trains with NATO and its member states and has participated in NATO- and EU-led multinational missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Poland; it also participates in UN peacekeeping missions (2025)

text

Romanian Space Agency (Agentia Spatiala Romania, ROSA; established 1991) (2025)

text

develops and produces a range of capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite launch vehicles, remote sensing, human space flight, navigation, and telecommunications; program is integrated into the ESA; participates in EU and international space programs; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial space entities, including those of Azerbaijan, China, Japan, Russia, and the US; also works bilaterally with ESA member states, particularly Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy; has an active space-industry sector with over 50 entities (2025)

text

1967-1968 - began participating in Soviet Intercosmos program and established the Romanian Commission for Space Activities to coordinate national space activities<br><br>1981 - first Romanian in space on Soviet spacecraft<br><br>2010 - domestically developed commercial rocket launched to an altitude of 40,000 m (24.9 mi)<br><br>2012 - first domestically produced scientific/experimental microsatellite (Goliat) launched (failed to operate)<br><br>2022 - joined US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration <br><br>2023 - digital amateur-radio-repeater microsatellite (ROM-2) launched on US commercial rocket

text

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide