Country Summary
Introduction
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.
Geography
Area
total: 238,391 sq km
land: 229,891 sq km
water: 8,500 sq km
Climate
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Natural resources
petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
People and Society
Population
18,519,899 (2022 est.)
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.)
Languages
Romanian (official) 85.4%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 1%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.)
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.)
Population growth rate
-1.09% (2022 est.)
Government
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Capital
name: Bucharest
Executive branch
chief of state: President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014)
head of government: Prime Minister Nicolae CIUCA (since 25 November 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Sorin GRINDEANU (since 25 November 2021) and Kelemen HUNOR (since 23 December 2020)
Legislative branch
description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of:
Senate or Senat (136 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 2 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (330 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 4 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, service- and industrial-based European economy; EU member but non-euro user until convergence criteria met; sustained growth prior to COVID-19; major FDI recipient; flat taxation structure; digital hub of Eastern Europe
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$556.07 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$28,800 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
maize, wheat, milk, sunflower seed, potatoes, barley, grapes, sugar beet, rapeseed, plums/sloes
Industries
electric machinery and equipment, auto assembly, textiles and footwear, light machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining, mining, timber, construction materials
Exports
$93.01 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 22%, Italy 10%, France 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, insulated wiring, refined petroleum, electrical control boards, seats (2019)
Imports
$104.16 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
Germany 19%, Italy 9%, Hungary 7%, Poland 6%, China 5%, France 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, insulated wiring, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Exchange rates
lei (RON) per US dollar -
Page last updated: Monday, May 23, 2022
