Discover Fascinating Romania Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Romania.

Romania

Background

๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด Romania has a rich history! It started as two principalities: Wallachia and Moldavia. ๐Ÿฐ For centuries, they were under the rule of the Turkish Ottoman Empire until they gained their autonomy in 1856. ๐ŸŽ‰ What a monumental year! They were de facto linked in 1859, and finally came together as one nation in 1862, adopting the name Romania. ๐ŸŒ Fast forward, Romania joined NATO in 2004, the European Union (EU) in 2007, and will be joining the Schengen Area in 2024. These milestones signify a journey of growth and integration into global communities!

Year of Autonomy

1856

Year of Unification

1862

Year Joined NATO

2004

Year Joined EU

2007

Year Planned to Join Schengen Area

2024

Romania's Milestones

Exports - commodities

๐Ÿš—โœจ Romania is well-known for its diverse exports! In 2022, the country exported a range of valuable commodities that are crucial for both its economy and global trade. Here are some of the key items:

  • Vehicle Parts/Accessories: These are essential components that keep vehicles running smoothly!
  • Cars: Romania's automotive industry produces many cars that are shipped all over the world.
  • Insulated Wire: This is important for electrical safety and functionality!
  • Refined Petroleum: A crucial energy source used globally.
  • Wheat: A staple food that feeds many people!

These exports contribute significantly to Romania's economy, showing the country's varied and vital role in international trade. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ช

Key Exports

Vehicle parts/accessories, Cars, Insulated wire, Refined petroleum, Wheat

Exports - partners

Romania's exports are spread across several key partners! ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด๐Ÿ’ผ In 2022, the country primarily traded with the following nations:

  • Germany leads the pack with a significant 19% of exports.
  • Italy follows as a close second, contributing 10%.
  • Hungary is next, accounting for 7%.
  • France also plays a vital role with 6%.
  • Lastly, Bulgaria captures 4% of Romania's export market.

These five countries together show how Romania connects with the world through trade! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ“Š

Total Percentage of Exports

46%

Romania's Export Partners in 2022

Capital

๐Ÿ›๏ธ The capital of Romania is Bucharest! It's a vibrant city known for its history, culture, and beautiful architecture. Did you know that Bucharest is sometimes called the 'Paris of the East'? Itโ€™s a lively place full of energy and charm!

Imports - commodities

Romania imports a variety of important commodities to keep its economy buzzing! ๐Ÿš—๐Ÿ’ง Let's take a look at what they bring in:

  • Crude Petroleum: A vital resource for energy and fuel!
  • Vehicle Parts/Accessories: Essential for keeping cars and vehicles in tip-top shape!
  • Refined Petroleum: Processed for use in vehicles, heating, and more!
  • Packaged Medicine: Important for healthcare and well-being! ๐Ÿ’Š
  • Cars: Ready to hit the roads!

These imports reflect Romaniaโ€™s needs and strengths in various sectors! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ช

Imported Commodities in 2022

5 categories

Climate

๐ŸŒ Romania enjoys a temperate climate which means it has four distinct seasons! โ„๏ธ

In the winter, it gets cold and cloudy, complete with frequent snow and fog. You might need a warm coat and maybe even some hot chocolate! โ˜•โ„๏ธ

When summer rolls around, Romania transforms into a vibrant landscape with sunny days. However, don't forget your umbrella, as there are frequent showers and thunderstorms! โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒง๏ธ So whether you're building a snowman or splashing in puddles, Romania's climate is sure to keep you on your toes! ๐ŸŒฆ๏ธ

Executive branch

๐ŸŽฉ Romania has two key leaders in its Executive branch: the President and the Prime Minister! ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด

  • The chief of state is President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS, who has been in office since 21 December 2014.
  • The head of government is Prime Minister Marcel CIOLACU, who started his role on 15 June 2023.

Isn't it exciting to see who leads the country and when they took charge? ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ

Current President

Klaus Werner IOHANNIS

President since

21 December 2014

Current Prime Minister

Marcel CIOLACU

Prime Minister since

15 June 2023

Legislative branch

๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด Romania has a bicameral Parliament, which means it has two chambers! ๐ŸŒŸ These chambers are:

  • Senate with 136 seats ๐Ÿ›๏ธ
  • Chamber of Deputies with 330 seats ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

Together, they contribute to shaping the laws and governance of the country! ๐Ÿ“œโœจ

Romania's Legislative Branch Seats

Natural resources

Romania is rich in natural resources! ๐ŸŒฟโœจ Let's explore some of these valuable treasures:

  • Petroleum: Although reserves are declining, petroleum remains an essential resource.
  • Timber: Vast forests provide timber, which supports the woodworking industry. ๐ŸŒฒ
  • Natural Gas: This energy source helps heat homes and power industries.
  • Coal: An important energy source for electricity generation. โšก
  • Iron Ore: Crucial for steel production and construction.
  • Salt: An essential mineral used in food preservation and industrial processes.
  • Arable Land: Fertile land for agriculture, ensuring food production. ๐ŸŒพ
  • Hydropower: Harnessing water resources for renewable energy! ๐Ÿ’ง

Together, these resources contribute to Romania's economy and provide for its people!

Types of Natural Resources

8 types

Economic overview

Romania is a high-income EU member economy, making a mark on the European economic scene! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ฐ It is set to join the Schengen area in March 2024, allowing for free movement across borders! ๐Ÿš€ However, the journey to euro membership is still on hold due to convergence criteria. This means Romania has to meet certain economic standards before adopting the euro. ๐Ÿ’ถ

Currently, the country is facing persistent inflation ๐Ÿ“ˆ, but there's good news! The economic recovery is powered by strong domestic consumption and investments funded by the EU. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’ต Yet, challenges remain, such as a skilled labor shortage and significant regional economic disparities. ๐ŸŒ„

To tackle these issues, fiscal reforms are in place aimed at addressing the rising deficits. It's a balancing act as Romania maneuvers through economic changes and improvements! โš–๏ธโœจ

Economic status

High-income EU member economy

Schengen area membership

March 2024

Euro membership status

Delayed

Economic recovery factors

Consumption and EU-funded investments

Labor market issue

Skilled labor shortage

Fiscal reforms goal

Address rising deficits

Government type

๐ŸŒ Romania operates under a semi-presidential republic system! This means that the government combines elements of both presidential and parliamentary systems. The President of Romania and the Prime Minister share the powers of governance, which allows for a dynamic and cooperative political environment. ๐Ÿฅณ Democracy in action!

Ethnic groups

๐ŸŒ Romania is a beautiful country with a rich tapestry of cultures! Let's take a look at its ethnic groups based on the latest information from 2021:

  • Romanians make up the largest portion at 89.3%! ๐Ÿฅณ
  • Hungarians are the second biggest group, accounting for 6%.
  • The Romani people contribute to 3.4% of the population. ๐ŸŽถ
  • Ukrainians represent 0.3%.
  • Germans are a small yet important part, making up 0.1%.
  • Lastly, other ethnic groups make up 0.9%.

Isn't it fascinating to see such diversity? ๐ŸŒˆ

Percentage of Romanians

89.3%

Percentage of Hungarians

6%

Percentage of Romani

3.4%

Percentage of Ukrainians

0.3%

Percentage of Germans

0.1%

Percentage of Others

0.9%

Ethnic Groups in Romania (2021)

Religions

๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด In Romania, the religious landscape is quite interesting! The Romanian Orthodox Church shines brightly with 85.3% of the population being members. This makes it the largest religion in the country by a long shot! Hereโ€™s how the other religions compare:

  • Roman Catholic: Only 4.5%
  • Reformed: A small 3%
  • Pentecostal: About 2.5%
  • Other religions make up the remaining 4.7%

This colorful mix of beliefs shows the diversity found within Romania! ๐ŸŒˆ

Romanian Orthodox percentage

85.3%

Roman Catholic percentage

4.5%

Reformed percentage

3%

Pentecostal percentage

2.5%

Percentage of Other religions

4.7%

Religious Distribution in Romania (2021)

Languages

Romania has a rich tapestry of languages! ๐ŸŒ The official language is Romanian, which is spoken by an impressive 91.6% of the population. However, there are also other languages spoken, including Hungarian by 6.3% of the people and Romani by 1.2%. A small 0.7% of the population speaks other languages. It's exciting to see such diversity in language! ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธโœจ

Percentage of Romanian speakers

91.6%

Percentage of Hungarian speakers

6.3%

Percentage of Romani speakers

1.2%

Percentage of speakers of other languages

0.7%

Languages Spoken in Romania

Imports - partners

๐Ÿ” Let's take a closer look at who Romania trades with the most for imports! ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด In 2022, these countries were the top partners for Romania's imports:

  • Germany is at the forefront, covering 17% of Romania's imports! ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Italy follows with 8%, bringing its own flavor to the mix! ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น
  • Next up, we have Hungary, Turkey, and Poland, each making up 6% of the imports! ๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ

Wondering how these percentages add up? Letโ€™s visualize it with a pie chart! ๐Ÿฅง

Total Import Partners

5

Romania's Import Partners in 2022

Population

๐ŸŒ Romania has a population of 18,148,155 people! That's a lot of friends and neighbors in this beautiful country! ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด

Total Population

18,148,155

Area

๐ŸŒ Romania covers a total area of 238,391 sq km! That's like 238,391 soccer fields! โšฝ

Out of this, the land area is 229,891 sq km, which is where all the fun happens, like hiking in the Carpathian Mountains or exploring medieval castles. ๐Ÿฐ

But don't forget about the water! ๐Ÿ’ง Romania has 8,500 sq km of water areas, perfect for fishing, boating, and enjoying nature. ๐Ÿšฃโ€โ™‚๏ธ

Isn't it amazing how much space there is to roam and explore?

Total Area

238391 sq km

Land Area

229891 sq km

Water Area

8500 sq km

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐Ÿ“ˆ Romania's Real GDP (PPP) Over the Years
Romania's economy has been growing, and we can see this through its Real GDP! Here are the recent figures:

  • In 2023, it reached a whopping $772.107 billion! ๐Ÿ’ฐ
  • Back in 2022, it was $755.867 billion.
  • And in 2021, it amounted to $726.048 billion.
    With each year, Romania's economy is getting stronger and more robust! ๐ŸŒŸ

GDP in 2023

$772.107 billion

GDP in 2022

$755.867 billion

GDP in 2021

$726.048 billion

Romania's Real GDP (PPP) Growth (2021-2023)

Real GDP per capita

๐Ÿ“Š Let's take a closer look at Romania's Real GDP per capita! This number tells us how much money each person would have if we split the country's total economy evenly among its people.

Hereโ€™s the exciting data showing how it has changed over the past few years:

  • In 2023, itโ€™s estimated to be $40,500! ๐ŸŽ‰
  • In 2022, it was $39,700.
  • In 2021, it stood at $38,000.

You can see that Romania's economy is growing year by year! This is great news for the people living in Romania! ๐Ÿฅณ

Latest estimated Real GDP per capita (2023)

$40,500

Real GDP per capita growth from 2021 to 2023

$2,500

Romania's Real GDP Per Capita Over Years

Imports

๐ŸŒ Romania's Imports Overview

Romania's imports have seen some interesting changes over the last few years! ๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's take a look at how much Romania has been bringing in from other countries:

  • 2023: $154.106 billion
  • 2022: $149.209 billion
  • 2021: $132.056 billion

As you can see, Romania's imports are increasing! Isn't that fascinating? This means Romania is getting more goods from around the world! ๐ŸŒŽ

The steady growth in imports shows how Romania is growing and becoming more connected with global trade. ๐Ÿ™๏ธโœจ

Imports in 2023

$154.106 billion

Imports in 2022

$149.209 billion

Imports in 2021

$132.056 billion

Romania's Imports Over Time

Exports

๐Ÿ“Š Romania is making waves when it comes to exports! In 2023, the estimated export value reached a whopping $137.337 billion. That's a significant increase from $129.286 billion in 2022 and $115.879 billion in 2021. ๐Ÿš€ This upward trend shows just how strong Romania's economy is and how its goods are impacting international markets! ๐ŸŒ

Export Value in 2023

$137.337 billion

Export Value in 2022

$129.286 billion

Export Value in 2021

$115.879 billion

Romania's Export Growth Over Years

Population growth rate

๐ŸŒ Let's talk about Romania's population growth rate! In 2024, Romania is projected to have a growth rate of -0.94%. This means that more people are leaving than coming into the country! ๐Ÿ“‰ It's an interesting time for Romania; we need to keep an eye on how this affects the country's future! ๐Ÿ™๏ธ

Population Growth Rate

-0.94%