by Brigitte Krech (D)

Romania's location within Europe

Usually, Romania (Transylvania in the centre of Romania) is seen as a country in (South-) Eastern- Europe. The country borders the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and the Ukraine. Would anybody apply to Romania as a country in the heart of Europe? The distance from Romania to Lissabon, to the North Cape, and to the Ural mountains is around 2.500 km. That is why, from a Romanian point of view, the country is situated in the centre o the European continent. The country is six times bigger than Switzerland and slightly smaller than Oregon in the USA.

The total area is: 237,500 sq km, including land: 230,340 sq km, and water: 7, 160 sq km. Concerning the land boundaries, Romania borders with the following countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (south) 169 km with a total amount of 2,508 km. e country has a coastline of 225 km. The highland of Transylvania (German: Siebenbürgen, Romanian: Ardeal, Hungarian: Erdely) is surrounded by the Carpathian mountains like a crown. The central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountain and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps. One third of the country is covered by mountains, another third is tableland, and the rest is plain land. The country has always been a kind of intersection for different cultuural influences that has been characterised the Romanian identity until the present.
 

Geographical structure

Romania is centred between the latitude 43 and 48 degrees north, and longitude 20 and 29 degrees east. The most southern part of Romania is on the same latitude as the most northern part of Corsica. The most eastern part on the same longitude as St. Petersburg. Romania's country-side is characterised by three areas: the lower reaches of the Danube with its Delta as one of the last natural country-sides in Europe, the mountains of the Carpathians, and the Black Sea.

The country has a rich amount of natural resources, especially petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, and salt. Natural hazards are given in earthquakes - most severe in south and southwest Romania; geologic structure and climate promote landslides. The climate is temperate with cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog.

The summers are sunny with frequent showers and thunderstorms. The land use is distributed as follows:

• arable land:                     41%
• permanent crops:              3%
• permanent pastures :       21%
• forests and woodland:      29%, and
• other:                               6% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

31,020 sq km (1993 est.)

Concerning the environmental situation, the country has to work on current issues: soil erosion and degradation (see land use), the water pollution, and air pollution from industrial effluents in South Romania. The contamination of the Danube delta wetlands is also a massive problem.

The Carpathians. Referring to the history of the earth, the Carpathians are young (the tertiary period); it's a continuation of the eastern Alps. The Carpathians are shaped by an altitude of 2,000 metres. The highest peak is the "Moldoveanu" with 2.543 m. The Transylvanian Plateau is surrounded by both outer parts of the mountains. The Carpathians are divided into: the western part ("Muntii Apuseni), the southern part (Carpatii meridionali), and the eastern part (Carpatii Orientali).

The western part ("Siebenbürger Erzgebirge") is located between the river. Somes in the north and the Danube in the south. The western part is neither as high as the other areas, nor a continued chain, but a formation of massifs in a north-south-axis. Between this massifs, there are some "gates" which have been very important for the defence of Central Europe. One of the gates is close to Caransebes, the Iron Gate of Transylvania at the river Bistra or the Iron Gate at the Danube ("Poarta de Fier") near Turnu Severin. Karst and grottos are a typical phenomenon in the "western mountains" ("Muntii Apuseni") north of the river Mures and the area "Banat", ie the grotto of Meziad or the cave "Pesterea Scarisoare".

The eastern part of the Carpathians is located between the northern border of Romania and the valley of Prahova near Ploiesti. The chain is higher than the western chain. The highest peak is Pietrosul with 2,303 m in the "Muntii Rodnei". This part of the Carpathian is formed by hard crystalline rocks with deep ravines and clefts ("chei"). Examples: Cheile Bicazului or Cheile Bistritei. The western part with volcanic regions of "Muntii Oasului" and "Harghita" shows well-preserved volcanic peak and the only volcanic lake Romania's: the lake of Saint Anne ("Lacul Sfanta Ana"). This part of the Carpathians is on of the biggest volcanic chains in Europe.

The southern Carpathians are situated between the border of the rivers Timis and Cerna in the west at the Iron Gate to the valley of Prahova.  This part is mainly formed by hard crystalline massifs and volcanic rocks. The highest mountains are located in the massif of Fagaras, ie the Moldoveanu and Negoiu with 2,535 m. The eroded platforms high up in the south Carpathians have been used as pastures by pastoral people in the beginning of the European history. The passes in Bran, Novaci-Sugag and the valleys of Olt and Jiu have been the link between Transylvania and southern trade routes in ancient times.

Plateau and basin. The plateau of Translyvania lies in the centre of Romania with an average height of 500 m - with important methanol gas and salt deposits. Towns were expanded at salt lakes, for instance Ocna Sibiului or Sovata.
 

Human geography

The following part introduces the most important figures on population, economy, and the political situation in Romania.

Data on population

Population:

• 22,463,077 (July 1997 est.)

Age Structure:

• 0-14 years: 19% (male 2,223,136; female 2,130,497)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 7,586,237; female 7,679,992)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 1,186,948; female 1,656,267) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate:

• -0.28% (1997 est.)

Birth rate:

• 9.8 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate:

• 11.75 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate:

• -0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio:

• At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
  Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

• 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

• Total population: 70.11 years
  Male: 66.28 years
  Female: 74.13 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate:

• 1.23 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups:

• Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%, Ukrainian, Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%

Religions:

• Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are Uniate), Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%

Literacy:

• Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  Total population: 97%; male : 98%; female: 95% (1992 est.)

Administration

Administrative divisions:

• 40 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea,Vrancea

Independence:

• 1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)

National holiday:

• National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)

Constitution:

• 8 December 1991

Legal system:

• former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; is now based on the Constitution of France's Fifth Republic

Suffrage:

• 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

• Chief of state: President Emil CONSTANTINESCU (since 29 November 1996)
  Head of government: Prime Minister Victor CIORBEA (since 12 December 1996)
  Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime Minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  Last election held: 3 November 1996, with runoff between the top two candidates held 17 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote - Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion ILIESCU 45.6%

Legislative branch:

• Bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (143 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (343 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

Elections:

• Senate - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000);
  Chamber of Deputies - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)

Election results:

• Senate - percent of vote by party - CDR 30.7%, PDSR 23.1%, USD 13.2%, UDMR 6.8%, PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.2%, others 17.5%; Seats by party - CDR 53, PDSR 41, USD 23, UDMR 11, PRM 8, PUNR 7;
  Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CDR 30.2%, PDSR 21.5%, USD 12.9%, UDMR 6.6% PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.4%, others 19.9%; seats by party - CDR 122, PDSR 91, USD 53, UDMR 25, PRM 19, PUNR 18, Ethnic minorities 15

Judicial branch:

• Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed by the president on
  recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates

Political parties and leaders:

• Democratic Party or DP [Petre ROMAN];
  Romanian Social Democratic Party or PSDR [Sergiu CUNESCU];
  Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR [Adrian NASTASE];
  Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO];
  National Liberal Party or PNL [Mircea IONESCU-QUINTUS];
  National Peasants' Christian and Democratic Party or PNTCD [Ion DIACONESCU];
  Romanian National Unity Party or PUNR [Valeriu TABARA];
  Socialist Labor Party or PSM [Ilie VERDET];
  Agrarian Democratic Party of Romania or PDAR [Victor SURDU];
  The Democratic Convention or CDR [Ion DIACONESCU];
  Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR];
  Civic Alliance Party or PAC [Nicolae MANOLESCU, chairman];
  Liberal Party '93 or PL-93 [Dinu PATRICIU]; National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention or PNL-CD [Nicolae CERVENI];
  Socialist Party or PS [Tudor MOHORA]

Note: to increase their voting strength several of the above-mentioned parties united under umbrella organizations: PNTCD, PNL, and PNL-CD form the bulk of the Democratic Convention or CDR [Ion DIACONESCU]; PD and PSDR form the Union of Social Democrats or USD [Petre ROMAN]; and PAC and PL-93 form the National Liberal Alliance or ANL [Nicolae MANOLESCU]; PSM, PS, ANL, and numerous other small parties failed to gain representation in the most recent election.

Industrial development in Romania

A strong development policy began after the Second World War that emphasised manufacturing industry and a change to the Stalinist search of autarky. Romania actively established contacts with trading partners outside the COMECON. Another main task was the creation of a large scale electricity and distribution system. A "Ten Year Electrification Plan" was run, ending in 1960. Romania's industrial strategy and Ceausescu's concentrated investment in building up a heavy engineering sector, while transferring labour from agriculture to industry. The industrial production collapsed with big economic problems. The transition to a market economy will be more difficult in Romania than in Central Europe by greater levels of social and political tensions. Over the past years, conomic restructuring has lagged behind most other countries in the region. Consequently, economic performance is declining, with slowing GDP growth, ballooning budget deficits, accelerating inflation, a plunging exchange rate, and foreign investment. Unemployment was low at about 6% at the end of 1996, but the rate will rise when restructuring gets underway. A new government elected in November 1996 promises to accelerate economic reform, restructuring, and privatisation, introduce fiscal and monetary austerity, reduce the state's role in the economy, and open Romania to foreign investment. The government will tackle its formidable economic problems in two stages, with an emergency plan over the winter of 1996/97 to ensure social and political stability, followed by a radical structuralreform program over its remaining three-and-one-half years aimed eventually at EU accession. At the same time, it wants to keep campaign promises to increase benefits to disadvantaged groups. Bucharest hopes to receive financial and technical assistance from international financial institutions and western governments and negotiations over a new IMF standby agreement are underway. If reform stalls, however, Romani a's bond rating - just below investment grade - could fall and needed capital from both public and private sources could quickly dry up. Rich agricultural and oil resources are strengths for the future.

Some data on the economical situation:

• GDP: purchasing power parity - $113.2 billion (1996 est.)
• GDP - real growth rate: 4.1% (1996 est.)
• GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,200 (1996 est.)
• GDP - composition by sector:

• agriculture: 20%
• industry: 33.4%
• services: 46.6% (1995)

Inflation rate - consumer price index:

• 56.9% (1996 est.)

Labor force:

• Total: 10.1 million (1996 est.)
  By occupation: industry 28.8%, agriculture 36.4%, other 34.8% (1994)

Unemployment rate:

• 6.1% (1996 est.)

Budget:

• Revenues: $6 billion
  Expenditures: $7.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Industries:

• Mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, machine building, food processing, petroleum production and refining Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1996 est.)

Electricity - capacity:

• 22.06 million kW (1994)

Electricity - production:

• 52.48 billion kWh (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita:
2,245 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products:

• Wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; milk, eggs, meat

Exports:

• Total value: $7.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
  Commodities: textiles and footwear 25.2%, metals and metal products 19.4%, fuels and mineral products 10.0%, chemicals 9.4%, Other 36.0% (1995)
  Partners: Germany 17.8%, Italy 15.6%, France 5.7%, Turkey 4.5%, Netherlands 3.0%, China 3.0% (1995)

Imports:

• Total value: $93.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
  Commodities: fuels and minerals 25.1%, machinery and transport equipment 19.4%, food and agricultural goods 6.1%, chemicals 9.0%, other 40.4% (1995)
  Partners: Germany 17.1%, Italy 13.2%, Russia 12.6%, France 5.2%, US 4.2%, Egypt 4.1% (1995)

Debt - external:

• $7.8 billion (1996 est.)

Rererences

• Arbeitsberichte des Geographischen Instituts der Universität Mannheim (1996): Rumänien-Exkursion, Band 12, Mannheim.
• CIA - country frame - Romania.
• Melas, Evi (1991): Rumänien, Köln, 6th edition.
• Ronnas, Pere (1984): Urbanization in Romania, Stockholm.
• Klein, Horst / Göring, Katja (1995): Rumänische Landeskunde, Tübingen. 

last update: 11 JUL 2002 by Ralph