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Fact Sheet

Facts you need to know about Romania


  • Romania is a member of the European Union since January 1, 2007.

 

  • The capital is Bucharest. It is the largest city in the country, with a population of about 2 million.

 

  • Other major cities: Timisoara, Cluj, Iasi, Constanta, Brasov, Sibiu, Craiova. None of them exceeds 500,000 inhabitants

 

  • Romania has a president elected by universal suffrage, Traian BASESCU (5-year term), a prime minister (the head of the Government), Emil BOC, and a bicameral Parliament.

 

  • The total area is 91,700 sq. mi. (slightly smaller than the UK).

 

  • Romania has a population of 22,276,056 (July 2007).

 

  • The currency is the “new” leu (RON), plural lei. Because of currency revaluation, 10,000 “old” lei (ROL) became 1 “new” leu (RON) in 2005.

 

  • Exchange rate: approximately 3 lei per US dollar and 4 lei per euro (September 2009).

 

  • GDP (purchasing power parity): $202.2 billion (2006 est.)

 

  • The GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 9.1%, industry 30.7%, services 37.7%

 

  • The unemployment rate is 6.1%.

 

  • The most important natural resources are petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower.

 

  • Romania’s exports attained $32.34 billion in 2006. Main exports: textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products.

 

  • The imports’ value was $47.17 billion in 2006. Main imports: machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, basic metals, agricultural products.

 

  • The infrastructure comprises: 37,300 mi. of paved roadways (includes 140 mi. of expressways), 7,075 mi. of railways, 8 international airports, 4 ports.

 

  • The climate is temperate with cold winters and hot summers.

 

  • Romania's terrain is distributed roughly equally between mountainous, hilly and lowland territories. Romania has direct access to the Black Sea; coastline: 140 mi.

 

  • Highest point: Moldoveanu Peak, 2,544 m. (8,346 ft.)

 

  • Romania’s official religion is Eastern Orthodox.

 

  • National Holiday: Unification Day (of the Kindgom of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)

 

  • Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
  • Daylight saving time: +1 hour, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October.