Romania Travel Podcast with Ioana Popescu

Location

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

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

Climate

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

Elevation

Highest point

Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Lowest point

Black Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

414 m

Area

Total

238,391 sq km

Land

229,891 sq km

Water

8,500 sq km

Size comparison

Twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

Coastline

225 km

Land borders

Total

2,844 km

Border countries

Bulgaria 605 km; Hungary 424 km; Moldova 683 km; Serbia 531 km; Ukraine 601 km

Natural resources

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

Land use

Agricultural land

55.3% (2023 est.)

Arable land

36.5% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

1.8% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

17% (2023 est.)

Forest

30.2% (2023 est.)

Other

14.5% (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Note

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

Population

Total

18,148,155 (2024 est.)

Male

8,747,795

Female

9,400,360

Nationality

Noun

Romanian(s)

Adjective

Romanian

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

Languages

Romanian (official) 91.6%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 0.7% (2021 est.)

Major-language sample(s)

Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Romanian)

Religions

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

Median age

Total

45.8 years (2025 est.)

Male

44 years

Female

46.9 years

Life expectancy

Total population

76.9 years (2024 est.)

Male

73.4 years

Female

80.5 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

54.7% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

-0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

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

Largest cities

1.776 million BUCHAREST (capital) (2023)

Background

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.

Government

Semi-presidential republic

Capital

Bucharest

Time zone

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Local name

None

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)

National day

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

Overview

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

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$40,600 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$40,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$39,400 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

5.7% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

13.8% (2022 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

5.4% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.7% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Lei (RON) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

4.598 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

4.574 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

4.688 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

4.16 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

4.244 (2020 est.)

Main industries

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

Agriculture

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

Airports

103 (2025)

Railways

Total 10,628 km (2020) 4,030 km electrified

Ports

Total ports

11 (2024)

Large

0

Medium

2

Small

1

Very small

8

Ports with oil terminals

4

Key ports

Basarabi, Braila, Cernavoda, Constanta, Danube-Black Sea Canal, Galati, Mangalia, Medgidia, Midia, Sulina, Tulcea

Internet domain

.ro

Internet users

Percent of population 89% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

23.2 million (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

118 (2022 est.)

Environmental issues

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

Fresh water

212.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

UNESCO Global Geoparks

Total global geoparks and regional networks

2

Global geoparks and regional networks

Buzău; Haţeg (2023)