Data factsheet

Romania is located in the South East of Central Europe, North of the Balkan Peninsula. The country's major geographical landmarks are the

Carpathian

mountains, the Danube river, the Danube Delta, which goes into the

Black Sea

(Romania has 245 km of sea front). The highest mountain peak in Romania is Moldoveanu, in Fagaras mountains, 2,544 meters high. Romania's relief balances mountains, hills and plains in equal ratios.

The biggest river in Romania is the

Danube

(1075 km in Romania), which flows South of the country, creating a natural border with Bulgaria.

The country's natural resources include oil, natural gas, coal, gold, silver, salt, as well as mineral waters.

Romania covers around 238,000 sq km – it is the second largest in the CEE region after Poland.

It is divided into 42 counties. The capital city is Bucharest and the county surrounding it is named Ilfov. The

population

reached around 21.5 million in 2007, with a density of 90 people per sq km. Bucharest is inhabited by 1.93 mln people (latest statistics from 2007).

The

biggest cities

in Romania based on number of inhabitants, after the capital city, are Iasi, Cluj – Napoca, Timisoara, Constanta, Craiova, Galati, Brasov, Ploiesti and Braila.

Romania's majority

population

is made of women – 11 million. Urban population is also the majority, 11.9 million. The average age of the Romanian population is of 39. Most of the inhabitants in the country - 65%- are in the 15 to 59 age range.

Nationalities

in Romania: Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)

The main

ports

in Romania are Constanta and Mangalia at Marea Neagra. Many others, among which Drobeta Turnu Severin, Galati, Braila, Tulcea, are ports on the Danube.

There are two

airports

in Bucharest (Henri Coanda – Otopeni – OTP and Baneasa). Across the country there are smaller airports in Constanta, Timisoara, Cluj – Napoca, Iasi.

The

official language

in Romania is Romanian. Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%.

The

national currency

is 'leu” (RON), with its division 'ban”. The exchange rate is established each day by the Romanian Central Bank based on the foreign exchange interbank market. It is a nominal exchange rate based on forex markets.

Romania is a

republic

. The

president

is elected every five years. The

Government

is lead by a Prime Minister, designated by the country's president. The PM proposes the members of the Government. The Parliament is divided into the

Senate

and the

Chamber of Deputies

. Members of Parliament are elected every four years based on a nominal system.

Romania is part of the

European Union

since 2007. It is also a member of the

NATO

(the North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

The N

ational Day

is on December 1, celebrating the country's unification in 1918.