Misplaced Pages

Romania: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 05:04, 24 February 2017 view sourceI dream of horses (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers572,256 editsm →Infrastructure: clean up, typo(s) fixed: acording → according, , → , using AWB← Previous edit Revision as of 15:54, 25 February 2017 view source 212.133.199.151 (talk) ←Blanked the pageTag: blankingNext edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
{{other uses}}
{{Redirect|ROU|other uses|Rou (disambiguation){{!}}Rou}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Coord|46|N|25|E|display=title}}
{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = Romania
|native_name = {{native name|ro|România}}
|image_flag = Flag of Romania.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Romania.svg
|common_name = Romania
|national_anthem = '']''<br/>'"Awaken thee, Romanian!"<br/>
<br/><center>]</center>
|image_map = EU-Romania.svg
|map_caption = {{map caption |location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the ] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Romania.svg}}
|capital = ]
|largest_city = capital
|coordinates = {{Coord|44|25|N|26|06|E|type:city}}
| languages2_type = Recognised minority <br /> languages<!--Protected and/or co-official (regional) languages--><ref>{{cite web|title=Reservations and Declarations for Treaty No.148 - European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages|url=http://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/148/declarations?p_auth=63PpH3zN|website=Council of Europe|publisher=Council of Europe|accessdate=3 December 2015}}</ref>
|official_languages = ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdep.ro/pls/dic/site.page?den=act2_2&par1=1#t1c0s0a13 |title=Constitution of Romania |publisher=Cdep.ro |accessdate=2 October 2013}}</ref>
| languages2 = {{hlist | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ] | ]}}
|ethnic_groups =
{{unbulleted list
| 88.9% ]
| 6.5% ]
| 3.3% ]
| 0.2% ]
| 0.2% ]

}}
|ethnic_groups_year = 2011<ref name="CensusRef">{{cite web |url=
http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/REZULTATE-DEFINITIVE-RPL_2011.pdf|title=Romanian 2011 census (final results) |publisher=INSSE |accessdate=28 August 2012|language=ro}}</ref>
|demonym = ]
|government_type = ] ]<br>]
|leader_title1 = ]
|leader_name1 = ]
|leader_title2 = ]
|leader_name2 = ]
|leader_title3 = ]
|leader_name3 = ]
|leader_title4 = ]
|leader_name4 = ]
|legislature = ]
|upper_house = ]
|lower_house = ]
|established_event1 = ]
|sovereignty_type = ]
|established_event2 = ]
|established_date1 = 168 BC
|established_event3 = ]
|established_date2 = 106
|established_event4 = First Romanian polities
|established_date3 = 275 – 10th century
|established_event5 = ]
|established_date4 = 10th century – 1330
|established_event6 = ]
|established_date5 = 1330
|established_event7 = ]
|established_date6 = 1346
|established_event8 = First union under ]
|established_date7 = 1570
|established_event9 = ]<sup>a</sup>
|established_date8 = 1600
|established_event10 = ] from<br/>the ]
|established_date9 = 24 January 1859
|established_event11 = ]
|established_date10 = 9 May 1877{{\}}1878<sup>b</sup>
|established_event12 = ]<sup>c</sup>
|established_date11 = 14 March 1881
|established_date12 = 1 December 1918<sup>d</sup>
|area_km2 = 238,391
|area_rank = 83rd
|area_sq_mi = 92,043 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
|percent_water = 3
|population_estimate = 19,511,000<ref>.(PDF) 2015 Revision</ref>
|population_census = 20,121,641<ref name="CensusRef"/>
|population_estimate_year = 2015
|population_estimate_rank= 59th
|population_census_year = 2011
|population_census_rank = 58th
|population_density_km2 = 84.4
|population_density_rank = 117th
|population_density_sq_mi = 218.6 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
|GDP_PPP = $441.032 billion <ref name=imfgdp>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=59&pr.y=15&sy=2014&ey=2021&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=968&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |title=Romania |publisher=International Monetary Fund |accessdate=20 Oct 2016}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_year = 2016
|GDP_PPP_rank = 43rd
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $22,319
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 61st
|GDP_nominal = $186.514 billion <ref name=imfgdp/>
|GDP_nominal_year = 2016
|GDP_nominal_rank = 49th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $9,438
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 67th
|Gini = 34 <!--number only-->
|Gini_year = 2013
|Gini_change = steady<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
|Gini_ref =<ref name=eurogini>{{cite web|title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income (source: SILC)|url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_di12|publisher=Eurostat Data Explorer|accessdate=8 February 2015}}</ref>
|Gini_rank =
|HDI = 0.793 <!--number only-->
|HDI_year = 2014<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
|HDI_change = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
|HDI_ref = <ref name="HDI">{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr14-summary-en.pdf |title=2014 Human Development Report Summary |date=2014 |accessdate=27 July 2014 |publisher=United Nations Development Programme | pages=21–25}}</ref>
|HDI_rank = 52nd
|currency = ]
|currency_code = RON
|time_zone = ]
|utc_offset = +2
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|time_zone_DST = ]
|date_format = dd.mm.yyyy&nbsp;(])|drives_on = right
|calling_code = ]
|patron_saint = ]
| iso3166code = RO
|cctld = ]<sup>e</sup>
|footnote_a = The double election of ] in ] and ] (respectively, 5 and 24 January 1859).
|footnote_b = Independence proclaimed on 9 May 1877, internationally recognised in 1878.
|footnote_c = The union of Romania with ], ] and ] in 1918.
|footnote_d = Monarchy was abolished on 30 December 1947 upon the proclamation of the ] and was changed with the ] upon its adoption on 21 August 1965 as the Socialist Republic. The Communist regime ] on 22 December 1989, the new democratic government was installed on 20 May 1990 and the new post-communist ] was adopted on 21 November 1991. Romania joined the ] on 1 January 2007.
|footnote_e = Also ], shared with other ] member states.
|area_magnitude = 1_E+11
|established_event13 = Proclamation of the ]
|established_date13 = 30 December 1947
|established_event14 = ]
|established_date14 = 16–27 December 1989
|established_event15 = ]
|established_date15 = 21 November 1991
|established_event16 = ] to the ]
|established_date16 = 1 January 2007
}}

'''Romania'''<ref group="lower-alpha">In English, Romania was formerly often spelled ''Rumania'' or sometimes ''Roumania''. See the ] section.<!-- Do not remove. See talk page discussion, consensus, and poll from 10–17 January 2008 --></ref> ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Romania.ogg |r|oʊ|ˈ|m|eɪ|n|i|ə}} {{respell|roh|MAY|nee-ə}}; {{lang-ro|România}} {{IPAc-ro|r|o|m|â|ˈ|n|I|.|a|audio=Ro-România.ogg}}) is a ] located in ]. It borders the ], ], ], ], ], and ]. It has an area of {{convert|238391|km2|sqmi}} and a ]-]. With 19.94 million inhabitants, the country is the ] member state of the ]. Its capital and largest city, ], is the ] in the EU, with 1,883,425 inhabitants as of 2011.<ref name="insse.ro">http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/statistici/comunicate/com_anuale/populatie/PopRez2014r.pdf</ref>

The ], Europe's second-longest river, rises in ] and flows in a general southeast direction for 2,857&nbsp;km (1775&nbsp;mi), coursing through ten countries before emptying into Romania's ]. The ], which cross Romania from the north to the southwest are marked by one of their tallest peaks, ], at {{convert|2544|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aboutromania.com/geography.html|title=Romania Geography|publisher=aboutromania.com|accessdate=4 April 2015}}</ref>

Modern Romania emerged within the territories of the ancient ] province of ], and was formed in 1859 through a ] of the Danubian Principalities of ] and ]. The new state, officially named Romania since 1866, gained independence from the ] in 1877. At the end of ], ], ] and ] united with the sovereign ]. During ], Romania was an ally of ] against the ], fighting side by side with the Wehrmacht until 1944, when it joined the Allied powers and faced occupation by the ] forces. Romania lost several territories, of which ] was regained after the war. Following the war, Romania became a ] and member of the ]. After the ], Romania ] democracy and a capitalist ].

Following rapid economic growth in the early 2000s, Romania has an economy predominantly based on services, and is a producer and net exporter of machines and electric energy, featuring companies like ] and ]. It has been a member of ] since 2004, and part of the ] since 2007. A strong majority of the population identify themselves as ] and are native speakers of ], a ]. The cultural history of Romania is often referred to when dealing with influential ], ], ] and ]. For similar reasons, Romania has been the subject of notable ].

==Etymology==<!--linked-->
{{main article|Name of Romania}}

''Romania'' derives from the Latin ''romanus'', meaning ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dexonline.ro/search.php?cuv=rom%C3%A2n |title=Explanatory Dictionary of the Romanian Language, 1998; New Explanatory Dictionary of the Romanian Language, 2002 |publisher=Dexonline.ro |accessdate=25 September 2010|language=ro}}</ref> The first known use of the appellation was attested in the 16th century by ] humanists travelling in ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite book|quote="nunc se Romanos vocant"|first=Andréas|last=Verres|title=Acta et Epistolae|volume=I|page=243}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|quote="...&nbsp;si dimandano in lingua loro Romei&nbsp;... se alcuno dimanda se sano parlare in la lingua valacca, dicono a questo in questo modo: Sti Rominest ? Che vol dire: Sai tu Romano,&nbsp;..."|author=Cl. Isopescu|title=Notizie intorno ai romeni nella letteratura geografica italiana del Cinquecento|journal=Bulletin de la Section Historique|volume=XVI|year=1929|pages=1–90}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|quote="Anzi essi si chiamano romanesci, e vogliono molti che erano mandati quì quei che erano dannati a cavar metalli&nbsp;..."|first=Maria|last=Holban|title=Călători străini despre Țările Române|language=Romanian|publisher=Ed. Științifică și Enciclopedică|year=1983|volume=II|pages=158–161}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|quote="Tout ce pays la Wallachie et Moldavie et la plus part de la Transilvanie a eté peuplé des colonies romaines du temps de Traian l'empereur&nbsp;... Ceux du pays se disent vrais successeurs des Romains et nomment leur parler romanechte, c'est-à-dire romain&nbsp;..."|title=Voyage fait par moy, Pierre Lescalopier l'an 1574 de Venise a Constantinople, fol 48|first=Paul|last=Cernovodeanu|journal=Studii și materiale de istorie medievală|volume=IV|year=1960|page=444|language=Romanian}}</ref>
] from 1521, the oldest surviving document written in ].]]
The oldest known surviving document written in ], a 1521 letter known as the "]",<ref>Ion Rotaru, ''Literatura română veche'', , București, 1981, pp. 62–65</ref> is also notable for including the first documented occurrence of the country's name: Wallachia is mentioned as ''Țeara Rumânească'' (old spelling for "The Romanian Land"; ''țeara'' from the ] ''terra'', "land"; current spelling: ''Țara Românească'').

Two spelling forms: ''român'' and ''rumân'' were used interchangeably <ref group=lower-alpha>''"am scris aceste sfente cărți de învățături, să fie popilor rumânesti&nbsp;... să înțeleagă toți oamenii cine-s rumâni creștini"'' "Întrebare creștinească" (1559), Bibliografia românească veche, IV, 1944, p. 6. <br/>''"...&nbsp;că văzum cum toate limbile au și înfluresc întru cuvintele slăvite a lui Dumnezeu numai noi românii pre limbă nu avem. Pentru aceia cu mare muncă scoasem de limba jidovească si grecească si srâbească pre limba românească 5 cărți ale lui Moisi prorocul si patru cărți și le dăruim voo frați rumâni și le-au scris în cheltuială multă&nbsp;... și le-au dăruit voo fraților români,&nbsp;... și le-au scris voo fraților români"'' Palia de la Orăștie (1581–1582), București, 1968. <br/>''În Țara Ardealului nu lăcuiesc numai unguri, ce și sași peste seamă de mulți și români peste tot locul&nbsp;...'', Grigore Ureche, Letopisețul Țării Moldovei, p. 133–134.</ref> until sociolinguistic developments in the late 17th century led to semantic differentiation of the two forms: ''rumân'' came to mean "]", while ''român'' retained the original ethnolinguistic meaning.<ref>{{Cite book|last = Brezeanu|first = Stelian|title =Romanitatea Orientală în Evul Mediu|publisher =Editura All Educational|year=1999|location =Bucharest|pages =229–246 }}</ref> After the abolition of ] in 1746, the word ''rumân'' gradually fell out of use and the spelling stabilised to the form ''român''.<ref group=lower-alpha>In his well-known literary testament ] writes: "Urmașilor mei Văcărești!/Las vouă moștenire:/Creșterea limbei românești/Ș-a patriei cinstire." <br/>In the ''"Istoria faptelor lui Mavroghene-Vodă și a răzmeriței din timpul lui pe la 1790"'' a Pitar Hristache writes: "Încep după-a mea ideie/Cu vreo câteva condeie/Povestea mavroghenească/Dela Țara Românească.</ref> ], a revolutionary leader of the early 19th century, used the term ''Rumânia'' to refer exclusively to the principality of Wallachia."<ref>Goina, Călin. '''' in ''Regio – Minorities, Politics, Society''.</ref>

The use of the name ''Romania'' to refer to the common homeland of all Romanians—its modern-day meaning—was first documented in the early 19th century.<ref group=lower-alpha>In 1816, the Greek scholar ] published in ] his work ''The History of Romania'', followed by ''The Geography of Romania''. <br/>On the ] of ] in ] (built in 1823) there is the inscription: "Precum Hristos pe Lazăr din morți a înviat/Așa tu România din somn ai deșteptat."</ref> The name has been officially in use since 11 December 1861.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fotw.net/flags/ro-wm.html|title=Wallachia and Moldavia, 1859–61|accessdate=5 January 2008}}</ref>

In English, the name of the country was formerly spelt ''Rumania'' or ''Roumania''.<ref>See, for example, ", ''The New York Times'' (December 21, 1989).</ref> ''Romania'' became the predominant spelling around 1975.<ref>See the .</ref> ''Romania'' is also the official English-language spelling used by the Romanian government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdep.ro/pls/dic/site.page?den=act2_2&par1=1#t1c0s0a1|title=General principles|publisher=cdep.ro|language=Romanian|accessdate=7 September 2009}}</ref> A handful of other languages (including Italian, Hungarian, Portuguese, and Norwegian) have also switched to "o" like English, but most languages continue to prefer forms with ''u'', e.g. French ''Roumanie'', German ''Rumänien'', Polish ''Rumunia'', and Russian Румыния (''Rumyniya'').

===Official names===
* 1859–1862: ''']'''
* 1862–1866: ''']''' or Romania
* 1866–1881: ''']'''
* 1881–1947: ''']''' or Romania
* 1947–1965: ''']''' (RPR) or Romania
* 1965–]: ''']''' (RSR) or Romania
* December 1989–present: '''Romania'''

==History==
<!---PLEASE stop expanding this section, ESPECIALLY without adding references. It is already too large. Expand the sub-articles instead.---->
{{main article|History of Romania}}

===Early history===

] of ] and the lands temporarily incorporated into ] province in the 110s AD]]
], king of ], as depicted in ''Cartea omului matur'' (1919)]]
The human remains found in ] ("The Cave with Bones"), radiocarbon dated as being from circa 40,000 years ago, represent the oldest known '']'' in Europe.<ref>Europe Before Rome: A Site-by-Site Tour of the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages (T. Douglas Price) </ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zilhão|first=João|title=Neanderthals and Moderns Mixed and It Matters|journal=Evolutionary Anthropology|volume =15|pages=183–195|year=2006|doi=10.1002/evan.20110|issue=5}}</ref> The Neolithic-Age ] area in northeastern Romania was the western region of the earliest European civilization, known as the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/science/01arch.html?pagewanted=all |title=A Lost European Culture, Pulled From Obscurity|author=John Noble Wilford|publisher=The New York Times (30 November 2009)|date=1 December 2009}}</ref> Also the earliest known salt works in the world is at Poiana Slatinei, near the village of ] in Romania; it was first used in the early Neolithic, around 6050 BC, by the ], and later by the Cucuteni-Trypillian culture in the Pre-Cucuteni period.<ref>{{cite web|first=Patrick|last=Gibbs |url=http://antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/weller/ |title=Antiquity Vol 79 No 306 December 2005 The earliest salt production in the world: an early Neolithic exploitation in Poiana Slatinei-Lunca, Romania Olivier Weller & Gheorghe Dumitroaia |publisher=Antiquity.ac.uk |accessdate=12 October 2012}}</ref> Evidence from this and other sites indicates that the Cucuteni-Trypillian culture extracted salt from salt-laden spring water through the process of ].

Prior to the Roman conquest of Dacia, the territories between the Danube and Dniester rivers were inhabited by various ], including the ] and the ].{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|p=7}} ], in his work "''Histories''", notes the religious difference between the Getae and other Thracians,<ref>Herodotus. ''Histories'', 4.93–4.97.</ref> however, according to ], the Dacians and the Getae spoke the same language.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|p=7}} ] draws attention to the cultural similarities between the two people.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|p=7}} There is a scholarly dispute whether the Dacians and the Getae were the same people.<ref name="cah10">{{cite book|title=The Cambridge Ancient History (Volume 10)|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1996|edition=2nd}} J. J. Wilkes mentions "the Getae of the Dobrudja, who were akin to the Dacians" (p. 562)</ref><ref name="mocsy">{{cite book|first=András|last=Mócsy|title=Pannonia and Upper Moesia|publisher=Routledge and Kegan Paul|year=1974|isbn=0-7100-7714-9}} See p. 364, n. 41: "If there is any justification for dividing the Thracian ethnic group, then, unlike V. Georgiev who suggests splitting it into the Thraco-Getae and the Daco-Mysi, I consider a division into the Thraco-Mysi and the Daco-Getae the more likely."</ref>

Roman incursions under Emperor ] between 101–102 AD and 105–106 AD resulted in half of the ] becoming a province of the ] called "]". The Roman rule lasted for 165 years. During this period the province was fully integrated into the Roman Empire, and a sizeable part of the population were newcomers from other provinces.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|pp=13–14}} The Roman colonists introduced the ] language. According to followers of the ], the intense ] gave birth to the ].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Matley|first=Ian| title=Romania; a Profile |publisher=Praeger|year=1970|page=85}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Giurescu|first=Constantin C.|title=The Making of the Romanian People and Language|publisher=Meridiane Publishing House|year=1972|location=Bucharest|pages=43, 98–101, 141}}</ref> The province was rich in ] (especially gold and silver in places like ]). Roman troops pulled out of Dacia around 271 AD.<ref>Eutropius, ''Abridgment of Roman History'' BOOK IX.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Watkins|first=Thayer|title=The Economic History of the Western Roman Empire|url=http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/barbarians.htm|quote="The Emperor Aurelian recognized the realities of the military situation in Dacia and, around 271 AD., withdrew Roman troops from Dacia, leaving it to the Goths. The Lower Danube once again became the northern frontier of the Roman Empire in Eastern Europe"|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> The territory was later invaded by various migrating peoples.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jordanes|authorlink=Jordanes|title = Getica, sive, De Origine Actibusque Gothorum|year =551|location =Constantinople|url=http://www.harbornet.com/folks/theedrich/Goths/Goths1.htm|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Iliescu| first=Vl.|last2=Paschale| first2=Chronicon| title=Fontes Historiae Daco-Romanae|volume=II|pages=363, 587|place=București|year=1970}}</ref><ref name=gepids>{{Cite book|last=Teodor|first=Dan Gh.|title=Istoria României de la începuturi până în secolul al VIII-lea|year =1995|location =București|pages=294–325 |volume=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book| last =Constantine VII|first =Porphyrogenitus| authorlink =Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus| title =Constantine Porphyrogenitus De Administrando Imperio|date=950| location =Constantinople|url =http://faculty.washington.edu/dwaugh/rus/texts/constp.html|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref>

], ] and ] are considered the Romanians' forefathers in Romanian historiography.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lumea-copiilor.ro/enciclopedie/decebal/decebal.php|title=Regele Decebal|publisher=Lumea-Copiilor|first=Cristian|last=Lupșa|date=1 March 2008|accessdate=13 April 2015|language=Romanian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://adevarul.ro/cultura/istorie/Imparatul-traian-stramosul-uitat-video-1_51d54989c7b855ff56ff1f11/index.html|title=Împăratul Traian, strămoșul uitat|publisher=]|date=4 July 2013|accessdate=13 April 2015|language=Romanian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realitatea.net/mitul-stramosilor-in-epopeea-nationala-dacii-columna-si-burebista_1485408.html|title=Mitul strămoșilor în "epopeea națională": Dacii, Columna și Burebista|publisher=]|accessdate=13 April 2015|date=13 April 2015|language=Romanian}}</ref>

===Middle Ages===
{{main article|Origin of the Romanians|Romania in the Early Middle Ages|Romania in the Middle Ages}}
], ] and ] under ].]]

In the ], Romanians lived in three Romanian ]: ] ({{lang-ro|Țara Românească}} – "The Romanian Land"), ] ({{lang-ro|Moldova}}) and in Transylvania.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Pop|first=Ioan-Aurel |date= Winter 2001|title= The Romanians' Identity in the 16th Century According to Italian Authors |url=http://dspace.bcucluj.ro/jspui/bitstream/123456789/48238/1/Pop%20Ioan%20Aurel-The%20Romanians%20Identity-2001.pdf |journal=Transylvanian Review |publisher= Romanian Cultural Foundation |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=3 |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref> The existence of independent Romanian ]s in ] as early as the 9th century is mentioned in '']'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/22312181/CRONICA-NOTARULUI-ANONYMUS |title='&#39;Gesta Hungarorum'&#39;, the chronicle of Bele Regis Notarius |publisher=Scribd.com |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref> but by the 11th century, Transylvania had become a largely autonomous part of the ].<ref>{{cite web|first=László|last=Makkai|editor-last = Köpeczi|editor-first = Béla |title = History of Transylvania: III. Transylvania in the Medieval Hungarian Kingdom (896–1526)|volume = 1|publisher = Institute of History of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Columbia University Press|location = New York|year = 2001|url = http://mek.oszk.hu/03400/03407/html/57.html|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> In the other parts, many small local states with varying degrees of independence developed, but only under ] and ] the larger principalities of ] and ] would emerge in the 14th century to fight the threat of the ].<ref>{{Cite book|last =Ștefănescu|first =Ștefan |title =Istoria medie a României|year =1991|location =Bucharest|volume =I|page=114}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last =Predescu|first =Lucian |title =Enciclopedia Cugetarea|year =1940}}</ref>

] issued on 14 October 1465 by ], from his residence in ], indicating ] victory.]]

By 1541, as with the entire ] and most of ], Moldavia, Wallachia, and Transylvania were under Ottoman ], preserving partial or full internal autonomy until the mid-19th century (Transylvania until 1711<ref>{{Cite book|first=Ágnes R.|last=Várkonyi|editor-last = Köpeczi|editor-first = Béla |title = History of Transylvania: VI. The Last Decades of the Independent Principality (1660–1711)|volume = 2|publisher = Institute of History of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences|place = New York|year = 2001|url=http://mek.oszk.hu/03400/03407/html/221.html|accessdate=31 August 2008|contribution = Columbia University Press}}</ref>). This period featured several prominent rulers such as: ], ], ] and ] in Moldavia; ], ], ], ] and ] in Wallachia; and ] in the ], as well as ] and ] in Transylvania, while it was still a part of the Kingdom of Hungary.<ref name="cumans">{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780511110153&ss=fro|title=Cumans and Tatars|last=István|first=Vásáry|publisher=cambridge.org|accessdate=7 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|authorlink=Enache Andrei|title = Copy of Domnitori Romani|url=https://prezi.com/jssvqwhaeu6q/copy-of-domnitori-romani/|accessdate=5 April 2015}}</ref> In 1600, all three principalities were ruled simultaneously by the ] ] (''Mihai Viteazul''), who was considered, later on, the precursor of modern Romania and became a point of reference for ], as well as a catalyst for achieving a single Romanian state.<ref>Giurescu, p. 211–13. {{cite book | last = Giurescu | first = Constantin C. | authorlink = Constantin C. Giurescu | title = Istoria Românilor | origyear = 1935 | year = 2007 | location = Bucharest | publisher = Editura All | isbn = | oclc = |language=ro}}</ref>
{{Clear|left}}

===Independence and monarchy===
{{main article|Early Modern Romania|National awakening of Romania|United Principalities|Romanian War of Independence|Kingdom of Romania}}
]
]]]
During the period of the ] rule in Transylvania and of Ottoman suzerainty over Wallachia and Moldavia, most ] were given few rights<ref>], '']'', ], 1948.</ref> in a territory where they formed the majority of the population.<ref>{{Cite book|last =Kocsis |first =Karoly |last2 =Kocsis-Hodosi |first2 =Eszter| year =1999 |title =Ethnic structure of the population on the present territory of Transylvania (1880–1992)|url =http://www.hungarian-history.hu/lib/hmcb/Tab14.htm|archiveurl =//web.archive.org/web/20080222171134/http://www.hungarian-history.hu/lib/hmcb/Tab14.htm|archivedate =22 February 2008|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Kocsis |first =Karoly|last2 =Kocsis-Hodosi |first2 =Eszter|title =Ethnic Geography of the Hungarian Minorities in the Carpathian Basin|year =2001|page =102|publisher =Simon Publications|isbn =1-931313-75-X}}</ref> Nationalistic themes became principal during the ], and the 1848 revolutions in ] and ]. The flag adopted for Wallachia by the revolutionaries was a blue-yellow-red horizontal ] (with blue above, in line with the meaning "Liberty, Justice, Fraternity"),<ref>Gazeta de Transilvania, year XI, no. 34 of 26 April 1848, p. 140.</ref> while Romanian students in Paris hailed the new government with the same flag "as a symbol of union between Moldavians and Wallachians".<ref>Dogaru (1978), p. 862.</ref><ref name="Căzănișteanu 1967, p. 36">Căzănișteanu (1967), p. 36.</ref> The same flag, with the tricolour being mounted vertically, would later be officially adopted as the national ].<ref>Năsturel (1900/1901), p. 257. Năsturel, Petre Vasiliu, ''Steagul, stema română, însemnele domnești, trofee'' (The Romanian flag coat of arms; the princely insignias trophies), Bucharest, 1903.</ref>

After the failed 1848 revolutions not all the ] supported the Romanians' expressed desire to officially unite in a single state.<ref name="Principalities">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LBYriPYyfUoC&pg=PA114 |title=The establishment of the Balkan national states, 1804–1920 |publisher=Books.google.com |date= |accessdate=28 March 2012}}</ref> But in the aftermath of the ], the electors in both Moldavia and Wallachia voted in 1859 for the same leader, ], as '']'' ("ruling prince" in Romanian), and the two principalities became a ] formally under the suzerainty of the ].<ref>{{Cite book|last =Bobango|first =Gerald J|title =The emergence of the Romanian national State|publisher =Boulder|year =1979|location =New York|isbn = 978-0-914710-51-6}}</ref> Following a ''coup d'état'' in 1866, Cuza was exiled and replaced with Prince ] of the House of ]. During the 1877–1878 ] Romania fought on the Russian side,<ref>{{cite web|language=Russian|title =San Stefano Preliminary Treaty|year =1878|url =http://www.hist.msu.ru/ER/Etext/FOREIGN/stefano.htm|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> and in the aftermath, it was recognized as an ] state both by the Ottoman Empire and the Great Powers by the ] and the ].<ref>{{Cite book|work=Internet Modern History Sourcebook|title=The Treaty of Berlin, 1878 – Excerpts on the Balkans|date=13 July 1878|place=Berlin|url =http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1878berlin.html|accessdate=31 August 2008|publisher=Fordham University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last =Patterson|first =Michelle|title =The Road to Romanian Independence|journal =Canadian Journal of History|date=August 1996|url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3686/is_199608/ai_n8755098|accessdate=31 August 2008|format = – <sup></sup> |archiveurl = //web.archive.org/web/20080324063246/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3686/is_199608/ai_n8755098 |archivedate = 24 March 2008}}</ref> The new ] underwent a period of stability and progress until 1914, and also acquired ] from ] after the ].<ref>{{Cite book|last =Anderson|first =Frank Maloy|last2 =Hershey|first2 =Amos Shartle|title =Handbook for the Diplomatic History of Europe, Asia, and Africa 1870–1914|publisher =Government Printing Office|year =1918|location =Washington D.C.}}</ref>
{{Clear|left}}

===World Wars and Greater Romania===
{{Main article|Romania during World War I|Greater Romania|Romania in World War II}}
]
] was regained.]]
] meeting with ] in June 1941. Romania was the main source of oil for the ] and was also a military ally of Nazi Germany.]]
Romania remained neutral for the first two years of ]. Following the secret ], according to which Romania would acquire territories with a majority of Romanian population from ], it joined the ] and declared war on 27 August 1916.<ref>{{cite web|last =Horne|first =Charles F.|year =|title =Romania's Declaration of War with Austria-Hungary |volume =V|publisher =Source Records of the Great War |url=http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/romaniawardeclaration.htm |accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> After initial advances the ] quickly turned disastrous for Romania as the ] occupied two-thirds of the country within months, before reaching a stalemate in 1917. The ] and Russian withdrawal from the War left Romania alone and surrounded, and a ceasefire was negotiated at ] that December. Romania was occupied and a harsh ] was signed in May 1918. In November, Romania reentered the conflict. Total military and civilian losses from 1916 to 1918, within contemporary borders, were estimated at 748,000.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Poteri narodonaseleniia v XX veke : spravochnik|last=Erlikman|first=Vadim|year= 2004|publisher=|location= Moscow|isbn= 5-93165-107-1}}</ref> After the war, the transfer of ] from Austria was acknowledged by the 1919 ],<ref>{{Cite book|title=Europe Since 1945: An Encyclopedia|author=Bernard Anthony Cook|page=162|isbn=0-8153-4057-5|year=2001|publisher=Taylor&Francis}}</ref> of ] and ] from ] by the 1920 ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Treaty_of_Trianon|title=Text of the Treaty of Trianon|publisher=World War I Document Archive|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> and of ] from Russian rule by the 1920 ].<ref>{{Cite journal|doi=10.2307/2192802|title=The Legal Status of the Bukovina and Bessarabia|author=Malbone W. Graham|journal=The American Journal of International Law|date=October 1944|volume=38|issue=4|pages=667–673|publisher=American Society of International Law|jstor=2192802}}</ref> All cessations made to the Central Powers in the ceasefire and treaty were nullified and renounced.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

The following ] is referred as ], as the country achieved its greatest territorial extent at that time (almost {{convert|300000|km2|sqmi|disp=or|abbr=on}}).<ref name="mare rom">{{cite web|url=http://media.ici.ro/history/ist08.htm|language=Romanian|title=Statul National Unitar (România Mare 1919–1940)|publisher=ici.ro|accessdate=31 August 2008 |archiveurl = //web.archive.org/web/20080612075330/http://media.ici.ro/history/ist08.htm|archivedate = 12 June 2008}}</ref> The application of radical agricultural reforms and the passing of a new constitution created a democratic framework and allowed for quick economic growth. With oil production of 7.2 million tons in 1937, Romania ranked second in Europe and seventh in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aneir-cpce.ro/chapter1/his1.htm |title=his1 |publisher=Aneir-cpce.ro |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adevarul.ro/actualitate/social/VIDEO_Inregistrare_senzationala_cu_Hitler-_-Fara_petrolul_din_Romania_nu_as_fi_atacat_niciodata_URSS-ul_0_379162423.html |title=VIDEO Înregistrare senzațională cu Hitler: "Fără petrolul din România nu aș fi atacat niciodată URSS-ul" |publisher=adevarul.ro |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> and was Europe's second-largest food producer.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/motoring/europa/7306099/Business-in-Romania-a-country-thats-fast-off-the-Bloc.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Business in Romania: a country that's fast off the Bloc – Two years of EU membership have transformed the business face of Romania and savvy UK firms are reaping the rewards. Paul Bray reports. | date=24 February 2010 | accessdate=1 May 2010}}</ref> However, the early 1930s were marked by social unrest, high unemployment, and strikes, as there were over 25 separate governments throughout the decade.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} On several occasions in the last few years before World War II, the democratic parties were squeezed between conflicts with the fascist and chauvinistic ] and the authoritarian tendencies of ].{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}<!-- I know, source pending -->

During World War II, Romania tried again to remain neutral, but on 28 June 1940, it received a ] with an implied threat of ] in the event of non-compliance.<ref name="ultimatum">{{Cite book|url=http://www.unibuc.ro/eBooks/istorie/istorie1918-1940/13-4.htm|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20071113170140/http://www.unibuc.ro/eBooks/istorie/istorie1918-1940/13-4.htm| archivedate=13 November 2007|title=Istoria Românilor între anii 1918–1940|author1=Ioan Scurtu |author2=Theodora Stănescu-Stanciu |author3=Georgiana Margareta Scurtu |language=Romanian|publisher=University of Bucharest|year=2002}}</ref> Again foreign powers created heavy pressure on Romania, by means of the ] of non-aggression from 23 August 1939. As a result of it the Romanian government and the army were forced to retreat from Bessarabia as well as from northern Bukovina in order to avoid war with the Soviet Union.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nagy-Talavera|first=Nicolas M.|title=Green Shirts and Others: a History of Fascism in Hungary and Romania|publisher=Hoover Institution Press|year=1970|page=305|isbn=973-9432-11-5}}</ref> The king was compelled to abdicate and appointed general ] as the new Prime-Minister with full powers in ruling the state by royal decree.<ref>{{cite web|title=Decret regal privind investirea generalului Ion Antonescu cu depline puteri|url=http://ebooks.unibuc.ro/istorie/istorie1918-1940/13-15.htm|work=Istoria românilor între anii 1918–1940|accessdate=19 September 2011|author1=Ioan Scurtu |author2=Theodora Stănescu-Stanciu |author3=Georgiana Margareta Scurtu |language=Romanian}}</ref> Romania was prompted to join ] military campaign. Thereafter, southern ] was ceded to Bulgaria, while Hungary received ] as result of an Axis powers' arbitration.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=M. Broszat|language=German|title=Deutschland – Ungarn – Rumänien. Entwicklung und Grundfaktoren nationalsozialistischer Hegemonial- und Bündnispolitik 1938–1941|journal=]|issue=206|year=1968|pages=552–553}}</ref>

The ] fascist regime played a major role in ],<ref>''Note: follow the World War II link'': {{cite report|editor=Ronald D. Bachman|title=Romania:World War II|edition=2|publisher=Library of Congress.Federal Research Division|location=Washington D.C.|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/rotoc.html|date=9 November 2005|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> and copied the ] policies of oppression and genocide of ]s and ], mainly in the Eastern territories reoccupied by the Romanians from the Soviet Union. In total between 280,000 and 380,000 Jews in Romania (including Bessarabia, Bukovina and the ]) were killed during the war<ref>Ilie Fugaru, '''', ], November 11, 2004</ref><ref name="Commission">
{{cite web
|author=International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania
|title=Executive Summary: Historical Findings and Recommendations
|work=Final Report of the International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania
|publisher=Yad Vashem (The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority)
|date=2012-01-28
|url=http://www1.yadvashem.org/yv/en/about/events/pdf/report/english/EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.pdf
|format=PDF
|doi=
|accessdate=2012-01-28
|authorlink=
Wiesel Commission }}</ref>
and at least 11,000 ] were also killed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Associated |first=The |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/study-more-than-280-000-jews-killed-in-romania-in-wwii-1.140033 |title=Study: More than 280,000 Jews killed in Romania in WWII – Haaretz Daily Newspaper &#124; Israel News |publisher=Haaretz.com |date=17 April 2012 |accessdate= 24 April 2012}}</ref> In August 1944, a ] led by ] toppled ] and his regime. Antonescu was convicted of war crimes and executed on 1 June 1946.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/biography/Ion-Antonescu|title=Ion Antonescu {{!}} ruler of Romania|access-date=2016-06-28}}</ref> 9 October is now the ] in Romania.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/member-countries/holocaust-education-remembrance-and-research-romania|title=Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research in Romania|publisher=holocaustremembrance.com|accessdate=4 April 2015}}</ref>

During the Antonescu fascist regime, Romanian contribution to ] was enormous, with the Romanian Army of over 1.2 million men in the summer of 1941, fighting in numbers second only to Nazi Germany.<ref name='Sources'>{{cite book|last=Axworthy|first=Mark| last2=Scafes|first2=Cornel|last3=Craciunoiu|first3=Cristian (editors)|title=Third axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces In the European War 1941–1945|publisher=Arms & Armour Press|year=1995| location=London|pages=1–368|isbn=963-389-606-1}}</ref>
Romania was the main source of oil for the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2worldwar2.com/mistakes.htm#ploesti|title=The Biggest Mistakes in World War 2:Ploesti – the most important target|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> and thus became the target of ] by the Allies. Growing discontent among the population eventually peaked in August 1944 with ], and the country switched sides to join the ]. It is estimated that the coup shortened the war by as much as six months.<ref>Constantiniu, Florin, ''O istorie sinceră a poporului român'' ("An Honest History of the Romanian People"), Ed. Univers Enciclopedic, București, 1997, ISBN 973-9243-07-X</ref> Even though the Romanian Army had suffered 170,000 casualties after switching sides,<ref>{{Cite book|first=Michael|last=Clodfelter|title=Warfare and Armed Conflicts- A Statistical Reference to Casualty and Other Figures, 1500–2000|edition=2|year=2002|page=582|isbn=0-7864-1204-6|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, NC}}</ref> Romania's role in the defeat of Nazi Germany was not recognized by the ] of 1947,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/5/38D4D252-BE7E-4943-A6A9-4E3C1B32A05F.html|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20070930033400/http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/5/38D4D252-BE7E-4943-A6A9-4E3C1B32A05F.html|archivedate=30 September 2007|title=World War II – 60 Years After: Former Romanian Monarch Remembers Decision To Switch Sides|first=Eugen|last=Tomiuc|date=6 May 2005|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> as the ] annexed ] and other territories corresponding roughly to present-day ], and Bulgaria retained Southern Dobruja, but Romania did regain ] from Hungary.

===Communism===
{{main article|Socialist Republic of Romania}}
] was the communist leader of Romania from 1947 until his death in 1965]]
During the ], the ]-dominated government called for new elections in ], which were ], with a fabricated 70% majority of the vote.<ref>Giurescu, "«Alegeri" după model sovietic", p.17 (citing Berry), 18 (citing Berry and note); Macuc, p.40; Tismăneanu, p.113</ref> Thus they rapidly established themselves as the dominant political force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/rotoc.html#ro0037 |publisher=Federal research Division, Library of Congress|title=Romania: Country studies – Chapter 1.7.1 "Petru Groza's Premiership"|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> ], a Communist party leader imprisoned in 1933, escaped in 1944 to become Romania's first Communist leader. In 1947 he and others forced ] to ] and leave the country, and proclaimed Romania a ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ro.html|publisher=CIA – The World Factbook |title=Romania |accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ed-u.com/ro.html|title=Romania – Country Background and Profile|publisher=ed-u.com|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> Romania remained under the direct military occupation and economic control of the ] until the late 1950s. During this period, Romania's vast natural resources were continuously drained by mixed Soviet-Romanian companies (]s) set up for unilateral exploitative purposes.<ref>{{cite web |first=Carmen|last=Rîjnoveanu|title=Romania's Policy of Autonomy in the Context of the Sino-Soviet Conflict|year=2003|page=1|publisher=Czech Republic Military History Institute, Militärgeschichtliches Forscheungamt|url= http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/07autredossiers/groupetravailhistoiremilitaire/pdfs/2003-gthm.pdf |archiveurl= //web.archive.org/web/20080624195137/http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/07autredossiers/groupetravailhistoiremilitaire/pdfs/2003-gthm.pdf |archivedate= 24 June 2008|format=PDF|accessdate=31 August 2008}}{{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Roper|first=Stephen D.|title=Romania: The Unfinished Revolution |place=London |publisher=Routledge|year=2000|isbn=90-5823-027-9|page=18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Cioroianu|first=Adrian|author-link=Adrian Cioroianu |title=On the Shoulders of Marx. An Incursion into the History of Romanian Communism|language=Romanian|publisher=Editura Curtea Veche|year =2005|location=Bucharest|pages=68–73|isbn=973-669-175-6}}</ref>

In 1948, the state began to ] private firms and to ] agriculture.<ref>{{Cite book|first=Stan|last=Stoica|title=Dicționar de Istorie a României|publisher=Editura Merona|location=Bucharest|year=2007 |pages= 77–78; 233–34|language=Romanian|isbn=973-7839-21-8}}</ref> Until the early 1960s, the government severely curtailed political liberties and vigorously suppressed any dissent with the help of the ] (the Romanian secret police). During this period the regime launched several campaigns of purges in which numerous "]" and "parasite elements" were targeted for different forms of punishment, such as deportation, internal exile and internment in forced labour camps and prisons, sometimes for life, as well as extrajudicial killing.<ref>{{Cite book|first=Cicerone|last=Ionițoiu|title=Victimele terorii comuniste. Arestați, torturați, întemnițați, uciși. Dicționar|publisher=Editura Mașina de scris |location=Bucharest |year=2000 |isbn= 973-99994-2-5|language=Romanian}}{{Page needed|date=September 2010}}</ref> Nevertheless, ] was one of the most long-lasting in the Eastern Bloc.<ref>Consiliul National pentru Studierea Ahivelor Securității, ''Bande, bandiți si eroi; Grupurile de rezistență și Securitatea (1948–1968)'', Editura Enciclopedica, București, 2003</ref> A ] estimated the number of direct victims{{vague|date=April 2015}} of the Communist repression at two million people.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite report|title=Raportul Comisiei Prezidențiale pentru Analiza Dictaturii Comuniste din România|publisher=Comisia Prezidențială pentru Analiza Dictaturii Comuniste din România|date=15 December 2006|pages=215–217}}</ref>

] ruled Romania as its Communist leader from 1965 until 1989.]]
] in 1989 was one of the few violent revolutions in Europe that brought an end to Communist rule.]]
In 1965, ] came to power and started to conduct the foreign policy more independently from the Soviet Union. Thus, Communist Romania was the only ] country who refused to participate at the Soviet-led ] of ] (Ceaușescu even publicly condemned the action as "a big mistake, a serious danger to peace in Europe and to the fate of Communism in the world"<ref>{{cite AV media|language=Romanian|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/political-tension/query/nicolae|title=Political Tension 1968|publisher=British Pathé|date=21 August 1968|location=Bucharest}}</ref>); it was also the only Communist state to maintain diplomatic relations with ] after 1967's ]; and established diplomatic relations with ] the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/romania/75.htm |publisher=Country Studies.us|title=Romania: Soviet Union and Eastern Europe|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> At the same time, close ties with the ] countries (and the ]) allowed Romania to play a key role in the Israel–] and Israel–PLO peace talks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/romania/80.htm |publisher=Country Studies.us| title=Middle East policies in Communist Romania|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref>

As Romania's foreign debt sharply increased between 1977 and 1981 (from US$3 billion to $10&nbsp;billion),<ref>{{cite web |last=Deletant |first=Dennis |title=New Evidence on Romania and the Warsaw Pact, 1955–1989 |publisher=Cold War International History Project e-Dossier Series |url=http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/ACF368.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref> the influence of international financial organizations (such as the ] and the ]) grew, gradually conflicting with Ceaușescu's ] rule. The latter eventually initiated a policy of total reimbursement of the foreign debt by imposing ] that impoverished the population and exhausted the economy. The process succeeded in repaying all foreign government debt of Romania in 1989. At the same time, Ceaușescu greatly extended the authority of the Securitate secret police and imposed a severe ], which led to a dramatic decrease in the dictator's popularity and culminated in his overthrow and eventual execution, together with his wife, in the violent ] of December 1989 in which thousands were killed or injured. The charges for which they were executed were, among others, genocide by starvation.

===Contemporary period===
{{main article|History of Romania since 1989}}
After the 1989 revolution, the ] (NSF), led by ], took partial multi-party democratic and free market measures.<ref>{{cite web |last=Carothers |first=Thomas |title=Romania: The Political Background |url= http://www.idea.int/publications/country/upload/Romania,%20The%20Political%20Background.pdf |format=PDF |quote="This seven-year period can be characterized as a gradualistic, often ambiguous transition away from communist rule towards democracy." |accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hellman |first=Joel |title=Winners Take All: The Politics of Partial Reform in Postcommunist |journal=Transitions World Politics |volume=50 |issue=2 |date=January 1998 |pages=203–234}}</ref> In April 1990, a sit-in protest contesting the results of the elections and accusing the NSF, including Iliescu, of being made up of former Communists and members of the Securitate &mdash; rapidly grew to become what was called the ]. The peaceful demonstrations degenerated into violence, prompting the intervention of coal miners summoned by Iliescu. This episode has been documented widely by both local<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mineriade.iiccr.ro/vocile_presei/presa_interna/ |title=Institutul de Investigare a Crimelor Comunismului si Memoria Exilului Romanesc |publisher=mineriade.iiccr.ro |accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref> and foreign media,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mineriade.iiccr.ro/vocile_presei/presa_internationala/ |title=Institutul de Investigare a Crimelor Comunismului si Memoria Exilului Romanesc |publisher=mineriade.iiccr.ro |accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref> and is remembered as the ].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bohlen |first=Celestine |title=Evolution in Europe; Romanian miners invade Bucharest |url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE6D6113DF936A25755C0A966958260 |quote=Responding to an emergency appeal by President Ion Iliescu, thousands of miners from northern Romania descended on the capital city today |accessdate=31 August 2008 |work=The New York Times |date=15 June 1990}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://mineriade.iiccr.ro/cronologie_evenimente/1990/ |title=Institutul de Investigare a Crimelor Comunismului si Memoria Exilului Romanesc |publisher=mineriade.iiccr.ro |accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref>

The subsequent disintegration of the Front produced several political parties, including the ] and the ]. The former governed Romania from 1990 until 1996 through several coalitions and governments with Ion Iliescu as head of state. Since then, there have been several other democratic changes of government: in 1996 ] was elected president, in 2000 Iliescu returned to power, while ] was elected in 2004 and was narrowly re-elected in 2009.<ref>. HotNews.ro. Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref> In November 2014, ] mayor ] was elected president, unexpectedly defeating Prime Minister ], who had been in the lead in the opinion polls. This surprise victory is attributed by many to the Romanian ], of which almost 50 percent voted for Iohannis in the first tour, compared to 16 percent for Ponta.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17776564|title=Romania profile - Leaders - BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-06-28}}</ref>

Former President Traian Basescu (2004–2014) has twice been impeached by the Parliament of Romania (in 2007 and in 2012), the second time on the background of street protest earlier in the year. Both times a popular referendum was called. The second time, in the ], more than 7 million voters (88% of participants)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.becreferendum2012.ro/rezultate.html |title=Biroul Electoral Central, rezultate |date=2012|accessdate = 7 October 2016| publisher=Biroul Electoral Central}}</ref> voted to oust Basescu, much more that the 5.2 million voters who initially supported him in the ]. However the Constitutional Court of Romania, in a split decision, invalided the outcome of the referendum, claiming the turnout (46.24% by official statistics) was too low.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-13063437-ora-10-00-incepe-sedinta-curtii-constitutionale-care-urmeaza-decida-daca-referendumul-este-sau-nu-valid.htm |title = Curtea Constitutionala a invalidat referendumul cu scorul 6-3. Traian Basescu revine la Cotroceni |date = 2012 |accessdate = 7 October 2016 |publisher=Hotnews}}</ref> Supporters of Basescu were called upon by him and his former party to not participate in the referendum, so that it would be invalidated due to insufficient turnout.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

The post-1989 period is also characterized by the fact that most of the former industrial and economic enterprises which were built and operated during the Communist period have been closed, mainly as a result of the policies of privatization of the post-1989 regimes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rtsa.ro/tras/index.php/tras/article/download/97/93 |title= DEINDUSTRIALIZATION AND URBAN SHRINKAGE IN ROMANIA. WHAT LESSONS FOR THE SPATIAL POLICY? |author = Claudia POPESCU |accessdate=8 October 2016}}</ref> According to Valentin Mândrăşescu, a Romanian-language editor of the ], the national petroleum company Petrom has been sold to foreigners for significantly undervalued prices.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://romanian.ruvr.ru/2012_11_14/94565211/ |title=Statul român a pierdut 20 miliarde de dolari prin privatizarea Petrom|publisher=Vocea Rusiei |accessdate=27 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://jurnalul.ro/special-jurnalul/anchete/statul-a-oferit-omv-petrom-zacaminte-de-14-miliarde-de-dolari-564773.html |title= Statul a oferit OMV Petrom zăcăminte de 14 miliarde de dolari|publisher=www.jurnalul.ro|accessdate=27 August 2016}}</ref> Furthermore, other major privatizations like that of Banca Comerciala a Romaniei are criticized by opponents for being detrimental to the Romanian people.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

Post-1989 regimes are also criticized for allowing foreign exploitations of mineral, rare metals and gold reserves at Rosia Montana,{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} as well as for permitting American multinational energy giant Chevron to prospect for shale gas using the hydraulic fracking technique which has been claimed to pollute the vast underground freshwater reserves in the affected areas. Both these actions have led to significant protests by the population in 2012–2014.

===NATO and EU integration===
] in 2004 and hosted ] in ].]]
After the ], Romania developed closer ties with Western Europe and the United States, eventually joining ] in 2004, and hosting the ] in Bucharest.<ref>{{Cite news|title =NATO update: NATO welcomes seven new members|url =http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2004/04-april/e0402a.htm|publisher=NATO|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref>

] in 2007 and signed the ].]]
The country applied in June 1993 for membership in the ] and became an Associated State of the EU in 1995, an Acceding Country in 2004, and a full member on 1 January 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |title=EU approves Bulgaria and Romania |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5380024.stm |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=31 August 2008 |date=26 September 2006}}</ref>

During the 2000s, Romania enjoyed one of the highest economic growth rates in Europe and has been referred at times as "the Tiger of Eastern Europe".<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web |url=http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/romania-tigrul-estului/354061 |title=Adevarul |publisher=Adevarul.ro |accessdate=25 September 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080920030429/http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/romania-tigrul-estului/354061|archivedate=20 September 2008 }}</ref> This has been accompanied by a significant improvement in living standards as the country successfully reduced internal poverty and established a functional democratic state.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org">. Hdrstats.undp.org. Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref><ref>. MDG Monitor. Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref> However, Romania's development suffered a major setback during the ] leading to a large gross domestic product contraction and budget deficit in 2009.<ref name=wsj4dec09>{{Cite news |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125988241065975639.html |newspaper=] |title=Romania Faces Crucial Vote |date=4 December 2009 |author=Joe Parkinson}}</ref> This led to Romania borrowing from the ].<ref></ref> The worsening economic conditions led to ] and triggered a political crisis in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.seejps.ro/volume-i-number-iii-ideologies-and-patterns-of-democracy/38-romanian-politics-in-2012-intra-cabinet-coexistence-and-political-instability.html |title=Romanian Politics in 2012: Intra-Cabinet Coexistence and Political Instability |work=South-East European Journal of Political Science |author1=Gheorghe Stoica |author2=Lavinia Stan }}</ref>

Romania still faces problems related to infrastructure,<ref>{{cite web |title=Romania's Infrastructure and International Transport Links |work=Assessment of the Romanian Economy |publisher=Romania Central |url= http://www.romania-central.com/economy-of-romania/4-assessment-of-the-romanian-economy/42-statistical-analysis-of-the-business-environment/421-variables-and-data/4213-infrastructure-in-romania/ |accessdate=21 August 2010}}</ref> medical services,<ref>{{dead link|date=March 2011}}. Denisamorariu.wordpress.com (8 January 2010). Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref> education,<ref>. citynews.ro. Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref> and corruption.<ref>. Inwent.org. Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref> Near the end of 2013, ] reported Romania again enjoying 'booming' ] at 4.1% that year, with wages rising fast and a lower unemployment than in Britain. Economic growth accelerated in the midst of government liberalisations in opening up new sectors to competition and investment—most notably, energy and telecoms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2013/12/what-britain-forgets |title=Romania is booming |publisher=] |date=17 December 2013}}</ref>

Following the experience of economic instability throughout the 1990s, and the implementation of a free travel agreement with the EU, a great number of Romanians emigrated to North America and Western Europe, with particularly large communities in Italy and Spain. In 2008, the ] was estimated to be at over two&nbsp;million people.<ref name=diaspora>{{cite web |location=Germany |url= http://www.focus-migration.de/index.php?id=2515&L=1 |title=Romania |accessdate=28 August 2008 |publisher=focus-migration.de}}</ref> The cyclical nature of the world economy and economic disparities between Romania and advanced European economies has fueled further emigration from the country. The emigration has caused social changes in Romania, whereby the parents would leave for Western Europe to escape poverty and provide a better standard of living for their children, who have been left behind. Some children are left to be taken care of by grandparents and relatives; and some live alone, if the parents deem them to be reasonably self-sufficient.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thorpe |first=Nick |title=EU migration: Romania's absent parents |publisher=BBC |date=2014-01-02 |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25558078 |accessdate=2016-05-27}}</ref> Subsequently, the youth began to be called ]s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schmitt |first=Caroline |title=Mothering via Skype: Europe's absentee parents |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=2014-11-27 |url=http://www.dw.com/en/mothering-via-skype-europes-absentee-parents/a-18092630 |accessdate=2016-05-27}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
{{main article|Geography of Romania}}
]
], the highest mountain of Romania]]
With an area of {{convert|238391|km2|sqmi|}}, Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe and the ] in Europe.<ref name="statistical">{{cite web|url=http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/pdf/ro/cap1.pdf|title=Geography, Meteorology and Environment|year=2004|publisher=Romanian Statistical Yearbook|language=Romanian|accessdate=7 September 2009}}</ref> It lies between latitudes ] and ], and longitudes ] and ].

The terrain is distributed roughly equally between mountains, hills and plains.

The ] dominate the centre of Romania, with ] reaching above {{convert|2000|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}}, and the highest point at ] ({{convert|2544|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}}, ''pictured right'').<ref name="statistical"/> They are surrounded by the ] and ] plateaus and ] and ] plains.

47% of the country's land area is covered with natural and semi-natural ecosystems.<ref name=biodiversity>{{cite web |url=http://enrin.grida.no/biodiv/biodiv/national/romania/robiodiv.htm|title=Romania's Biodiversity |publisher=Ministry of Waters, Forests and Environmental Protection of Romania (via enrin.grida.no) |accessdate=10 January 2008}}</ref> There are almost {{convert|10000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (about 5% of the total area) of protected areas in Romania covering 13 national parks and three biosphere reserves.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.envir.ee/programmid/pharecd/soes/romania/html/biodiversity/ariiprot/protarea.htm |title=Protected Areas in Romania |publisher=Romanian Ministry of Waters, Forests and Environmental Protection (via envir.ee) |accessdate=10 January 2008 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20071117061753/http://www.envir.ee/programmid/pharecd/soes/romania/html/biodiversity/ariiprot/protarea.htm |archivedate=17 November 2007}}{{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref>
{{clear|right}}

]]]
The ] river forms a large part of the border with ] and ], and flows into the ], forming the ], which is the second-largest and best-preserved delta in Europe, and also a ] and a biodiversity ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/588 |title=Danube Delta |publisher=UNESCO's World Heritage Centre |accessdate=9 January 2008}}</ref> At {{convert|5800|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}},<ref>{{cite web |title=Danube Delta Reserve Biosphere |publisher=Romanian Ministry of Waters, Forests and Environmental Protection (via envir.ee) |url=http://www.envir.ee/programmid/pharecd/soes/romania/html/biodiversity/ariiprot/delta.htm |accessdate=10 January 2008 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20050426231510/http://www.envir.ee/programmid/pharecd/soes/romania/html/biodiversity/ariiprot/delta.htm |archivedate=26 April 2005}}{{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref> the ] is the largest continuous marshland in Europe,<ref name=UNESCO>{{cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/588 |title=Danube Delta |publisher=UNESCO's World Heritage Centre |accessdate=10 January 2008}}</ref> and supports 1,688 different plant species alone.<ref>{{cite book |first=Ellen |last=Wohl |year=2010 |page=130 |title=A World of Rivers: Environmental Change on Ten of the World's Great Rivers |via=Google Books |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Ji1cApN3NogC&pg=PA130 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=0-226-90478-4}}</ref>
{{clear|left}}

] in ]]]
Romania has one of the largest areas of undisturbed forest in Europe, covering almost 27% of the territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/w3722e/w3722e23.htm |title=Romania |publisher=Fao.org |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> Some 3,700 ] have been identified in the country, from which to date 23 have been declared ]s, 74 missing, 39 endangered, 171 vulnerable and 1,253 rare.<ref name="flora">{{cite web |url=http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/romania/soe2000/rom/cap5/ff.htm |title=Flora si fauna salbatica |publisher=enrin.grida.no |language=Romanian |accessdate=7 September 2009}}</ref>

]s has around 6,600 individuals.<ref name="carnivoreconservation.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.carnivoreconservation.org/files/actionplans/bears.pdf|format=pdf |title=Bears. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. |accessdate=2 October 2014}}</ref>]]
The fauna consists of 33,792 species of animals, 33,085 ] and 707 ],<ref name="flora"/> with almost 400 unique species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/bio_cou_642.pdf |format=PDF |title=EarthTrends: Biodiversity and Protected Areas - Romania |accessdate=10 January 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070926191841/http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/bio_cou_642.pdf |archivedate=26 September 2007}}</ref> including about 50% of Europe's (excluding Russia) ]s <ref name="carnivoreconservation.org"/> and 20% of its ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carnivoreconservation.org/files/actionplans/canids.pdf |format=pdf |title=Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan |publisher=IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group |accessdate=2 October 2014}}</ref>
{{clear|left}}

===Climate===
]
Owing to its distance from open ] and position on the southeastern portion of the European continent, Romania has a climate that is ] and ], with four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature is {{convert|11|°C}} in the south and {{convert|8|°C}} in the north.<ref name=climate>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/romania/34.htm|title=Romania: Climate|publisher=U.S. Library of Congress|accessdate=10 January 2008}}</ref> In summer, average maximum temperatures in Bucharest rise to {{convert|28|°C}}, and temperatures over {{convert|35|°C}} are fairly common in the lower-lying areas of the country.<ref name="clic.npolar.no">{{cite web|url=http://clic.npolar.no/disc/disc_datasets_metadata.php?s=0&desc=1&table=Datasets&id=DISC_GCMD_GGD30&tag=All&Category=&WCRP=&Location=All&stype=phrase&limit=10&q=|title=Permafrost Monitoring and Prediction in Southern Carpathians, Romania|publisher=CliC International Project Office (CIPO)|date=22 December 2004|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> In winter, the average maximum temperature is below {{convert|2|°C}}.<ref name="clic.npolar.no"/> Precipitation is average, with over {{convert|750|mm|in|abbr=on}} per year only on the highest western mountains, while around Bucharest it drops to around {{convert|600|mm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|language=Romanian|url=http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/pdf/ro/cap1.pdf|format=PDF|title= The 2004 Yearbook|publisher=Romanian National Institute of Statistics|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref>
There are some regional differences: in the western parts (such as ]), the climate is milder, and has some Mediterranean influences; while the eastern part of the country has a more pronounced continental climate. In ], the Black Sea also exerts an influence over the region's climate.<ref></ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for the eight largest cities in Romania<ref name = DWD>{{cite web| url = http://www.dwd.de| title = Klimatafel von Rumänien| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world| publisher = ]| language = German| accessdate = 20 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Location
!July (°C)
!July (°F)
!January (°C)
!January (°F)
|-
|] || 28.8/15.6 || 84/60 || 1.5/−5.5 || 35/22
|-
|] || 24.5/12.7 || 76/55 || 0.3/−6.5 || 33/20
|-
|] || 27.8/14.6 || 82/58 || 2.3/−4.8 || 36/23
|-
|] || 26.8/15 || 80/59 || −0.1/−6.9 || 32/20
|-
|] || 25.9/18 || 79/64 || 3.7/−2.3 || 39/28
|-
|] || 28.5/15.7 || 83/60 || 1.5/−5.6 || 35/22
|-
|] || 24.2/11.4 || 76/53 || −0.1/−9.3 || 32/15
|-
|] || 27.9/16.2 || 82/61 || 1.1/–5.3 || 34/22
|}

==Governance==
{{main article|Politics of Romania|Government of Romania}}
The ] is based on the ] and was approved in a national referendum on 8 December 1991, and amended in October 2003 to bring it into conformity with the EU legislation. The country is governed on the basis of a multi-party democratic system and the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches. It is a ] republic where executive functions are held by both ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web|first=Tony|last=Verheijen |url=http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/oso/public/content/politicalscience/9780198293866/acprof-9780198293866-chapter-10.html |title=Oxford Scholarship Online: Semi-Presidentialism in Europe |publisher=Oxfordscholarship.com |date=14 March 1990 |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref> The latter is elected by popular vote for a maximum of two terms of five years and appoints the prime minister, who in turn appoints the ]. The legislative branch of the government, collectively known as the ] (residing at the ]), consists of ] (] and ]) whose members are elected every four years by ].<ref name="Europaworld"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antena3.ro/politica/se-schimba-sistemul-de-vot-deputatii-au-adoptat-noua-lege-electorala-propusa-de-usl-168053.html |title=Se schimbă sistemul de vot. Deputații au adoptat noua Lege Electorală propusă de USL |publisher=Antena3.ro |accessdate=12 October 2012}}</ref>

The justice system is independent of the other branches of government, and is made up of a hierarchical system of courts culminating in the ], which is the supreme court of Romania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scj.ro/monogr_en.asp|publisher=High Court of Cassation and Justice -—Romania|title=Presentation|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> There are also courts of appeal, county courts and local courts. The Romanian judicial system is strongly influenced by the ], considering that it is based on ] and is ] in nature. The ] (''Curtea Constituțională'') is responsible for judging the compliance of laws and other state regulations to the constitution, which is the fundamental law of the country and can only be amended through a public referendum.<ref name="Europaworld"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps35389/2000//legal_system.html|title=Romanian Legal system|publisher=CIA Factbook|year=2000|accessdate=11 January 2008}}</ref> The 2007 entry into the EU has been a significant influence on its domestic policy, and including ]s, increased judicial cooperation with other member states, and measures to combat corruption.

===Foreign relations===
{{main article|Foreign relations of Romania}}
], the current ] since December 2014.]]
Since December 1989, Romania has pursued a policy of strengthening relations with the West in general, more specifically with the United States and the ] albeit with its limited ] ]. It joined the ] (NATO) on 29 March 2004, the European Union (EU) on 1 January 2007, while it had joined the ] and the ] in 1972, and is a founding member of the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wto.org/English/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm |title=Understanding the WTO – members |publisher=WTO |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref>

The current government has stated its goal of strengthening ties with and helping other countries (in particular ], ] and ]) with the process of integration with the rest of the West.<ref name=mae>{{cite web|title=Foreign Policy Priorities of Romania for 2008|language=Romanian|url=http://www.mae.ro/index.php?unde=doc&id=35181&idlnk=1&cat=3|publisher=Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs|accessdate=28 August 2008}}</ref> Romania has also made clear since the late 1990s that it supports NATO and EU membership for the democratic former Soviet republics in Eastern Europe and the ].<ref name=mae/> Romania also declared its public support for ], and ] joining the European Union.<ref name=mae/> Because it has a large Hungarian minority, Romania has also developed ] with ]. Romania opted on 1 January 2007, to adhere the ], and its bid to join was approved by the ] in June 2011, but was rejected by the ] in September 2011.

In December 2005, President ] and ] ] signed an agreement that would allow a U.S. military presence at several Romanian facilities primarily in the eastern part of the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35722.htm|publisher=U.S. Department of State|title=Background Note: Romania – U.S.-Romanian Relations}}</ref> In May 2009, ], US ], declared that "Romania is one of the most trustworthy and respectable partners of the USA."<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512144240/http://www.bucharestherald.com/politics/34-politics/3116-hillary-clinton-romania-one-of-the-most-trustworthy-and-respectable-partners-of-the-usa- |date=12 May 2009 }}</ref>

] are a special case, considering that the two countries share the same language and a ].<ref name=mae/> A ] appeared in the early 1990s after both countries achieved emancipation from communist rule,<ref name=cfis>{{cite journal|url=http://studint.ong.ro/moldova.htm |title=Romania'S Relations with the Republic of Moldova |author1=Gabriel Andreescu |author2=Valentin Stan |author3=Renate Weber |journal=International Studies |publisher=Centre for International Studies |date=30 October 1994 |accessdate=31 August 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223003657/http://studint.ong.ro/moldova.htm |archivedate=23 February 2008 }}</ref> but lost ground in the mid-1990s when a new Moldovan government pursued an agenda towards preserving a Moldovan republic independent of Romania.<ref name=Ihrig>{{cite web|url=http://www.desk.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp/download/es_5_Ihrig.pdf|format=PDF|title=Rediscovering History, Rediscovering Ultimate Truth|first=Stefan|last=Ihrig|accessdate=17 September 2008}}</ref> After the ] and subsequent removal of Communists from power, relations between the two countries have improved considerably.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6967255.html|title=Moldova, Romania open new chapter in bilateral relations|work=People's Daily|accessdate=11 August 2011|date=29 April 2010}}</ref>

===Military===
<!-- ].]] -->
{{main article|Romanian Armed Forces|Military history of Romania}}
The Romanian Armed Forces consist of ], ], and ], and are led by a ] under the supervision of the ], and by the president as the Supreme Commander during wartime. The Armed Forces consist of approximately 15,000 civilians and 75,000 are military personnel—45,800 for land, 13,250 for air, 6,800 for naval forces, and 8,800 in other fields.<ref>{{cite press release|publisher=Ministry of National Defense of Romania|url=http://www.mapn.ro/briefing/030122/030121conf.htm|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20080403205407/http://www.mapn.ro/briefing/030122/030121conf.htm|archivedate=3 April 2008|title=Press conference|date=21 January 2003|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> The total defence spending in 2007 accounted for 2.05% of total national GDP, or approximately US$2.9&nbsp;billion, with a total of $11&nbsp;billion spent between 2006 and 2011 for modernization and acquisition of new equipment.<ref name="ZF">{{cite web|url= http://www.zf.ro/articol_99920/bugetul_mapn__2_05__din_pib__in_2007.html |title=MoND Budget as of 2007|publisher=]|date=30 October 2006|language=Romanian|accessdate=31 August 2008 |archiveurl =//web.archive.org/web/20080422075245/http://www.zf.ro/articol_99920/bugetul_mapn__2_05__din_pib__in_2007.html |archivedate = 22 April 2008}}</ref>

] in ] during a joint operation in 2003.]]
The Air Force currently operates modernized Soviet ] Lancer fighters which are due to be replaced by twelve ]s, recently purchased.<ref></ref> The Air Force purchased seven new ] ]ers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/04/12/340509/pictures-romania-accepts-first-c-27j-spartans.html |title=PICTURES: Romania accepts first C-27J Spartans-12/04/2010-London |publisher=Flightglobal.com |accessdate=28 September 2010}}</ref> while the Naval Forces acquired two modernized ]s from the British ].<ref name="awst_20061211">{{Cite news|title=Spartan Order|publisher=]|date=11 December 2006}}</ref>

Romania has contributed troops to the international coalition in ] since 2002,<ref>{{cite news |title = Romania: 2 soldiers killed, 1 injured in Afghanistan |date = May 7, 2016 |agency = Associated Press |newspaper = Colorado Springs Gazette |url = http://gazette.com/romania-2-soldiers-killed-1-injured-in-afghanistan/article/feed/346495 |accessdate = July 7, 2016 }}</ref> with a peak deployment of 1,600 troops in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title = Romania To Send 450 More Troops To Afghanistan |date = December 21, 2014 |agency = Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url = http://www.rferl.org/content/romania-troops-afghanistan/26755040.html |accessdate = July 7, 2016 }}</ref> Its combat mission in the country concluded in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title = Romania ends combat mission in Afghanistan with visit from Prime Minister |date = June 30, 2014 |agency = Associated Press |url = http://www.rs.nato.int/article/isaf-news/romania-ends-combat-mission-in-afghanistan-with-visit-from-prime-minister.html |accessdate = July 7, 2016 }}</ref> Romanian troops participated in the ], reaching a peak of 730 soldiers before being slowly drawn down to 350 soldiers. Romania terminated its mission in Iraq and withdrew its last troops on 24 July 2009, among the last countries to do so. The ] participated in the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-8423876-traian-basescu-sustine-declaratie-presa-ora-21-00-dupa-sedinta-csat.htm |title=''Traian Basescu: Romania va trimite fregata Regele Ferdinand cu 205 militari in Mediterana pentru operatiuni de blocare a oricarei nave suspecte ca transporta armament''|publisher=HotNews.ro |date=22 March 2011 |accessdate=22 March 2011 |language= Romanian}}</ref>

In December 2011, the ] unanimously adopted the draft law ratifying the ] signed in September of the same year that would allow the establishment and operation of a US land-based ] in Romania as part of ]'s efforts to build a continental ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Romania_ratifies_US_missile_shield_agreement_999.html |title=''Romania ratifies US missile shield agreement''|publisher=SpaceWar |date=6 December 2012}}</ref>

===Administrative divisions===
<!---]. The forty-one local administrative units (counties) are also highlighted, but Bucharest and ] are shown combined. The two form a development region of their own, surrounded by the ].]]--->
{{main article|Administrative divisions of Romania}}
Romania is divided into 41 ] (județe, pronounced judets) and the municipality of ]. Each county is administered by a county council, responsible for local affairs, as well as a ] responsible for the administration of national affairs at the county level. The prefect is appointed by the central government but cannot be a member of any political party.<ref name="descopera">{{cite web |url=http://www.descopera.net/romania_geografie.html |title=Geografia Romaniei |publisher=descopera.net |language=Romanian |accessdate=7 September 2009}}</ref> Each county is further subdivided into ] and ], which have their own mayor and local council. There are a total of 319 cities and 2,686 communes in Romania.<ref name="total">{{cite report|language=ro|url=http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/pdf/ro/cap1.pdf|format=PDF|chapter=1.8|title=Administrative Organisation of Romanian Territory, on December&nbsp;31, 2005|publisher=Romanian National Institute of Statistics|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> A total of 103 of the larger cities have ] statuses, which gives them greater administrative power over local affairs. The municipality of Bucharest is a special case as it enjoys a status on par to that of a county. It is further divided into six ] and has a prefect, a general mayor (primar), and a general city council.<ref name="total"/>

The NUTS-3 (]) level divisions of European Union reflect Romania's administrative-territorial structure, and correspond to the 41 counties plus Bucharest.<ref name=nuts/> The cities and communes correspond to the NUTS-5 level divisions, but there are no current NUTS-4 level divisions. The NUTS-1 (four ]) and NUTS-2<ref name="LEGE nr.151 din 15 iulie 1998">{{cite web|title=LEGE nr. 151 din 15 iulie 1998|url=http://www.cdep.ro/pls/legis/legis_pck.htp_act_text?idt=17411|language=Romanian|accessdate=1 July 2012}}</ref> (eight ]) divisions exist but have no administrative capacity, and are instead used for coordinating regional development projects and statistical purposes.<ref name=nuts>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/comm/eurostat/ramon/nuts/codelist_en.cfm?list=nuts|archiveurl= //web.archive.org/web/20080118234301/http://ec.europa.eu/comm/eurostat/ramon/nuts/codelist_en.cfm?list=nuts|archivedate= 18 January 2008|title=Hierarchical list of the Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics – NUTS and the Statistical regions of Europe|accessdate=31 August 2008}}{{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref>
{{Romanian counties map |Map=Regiuni de dezvoltare.svg}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!]
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
!Population (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sR_TAB_2.xls | title=2011 Regions Population | date=4 July 2013 | accessdate=9 July 2013| publisher = ] }}</ref>
!]<sup>*</sup><ref name="INSSER">{{cite web | url = http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sR_TAB_3.xlsx | title = Population at 20 October 2011 | date = 5 July 2013 | accessdate = 5 July 2013 | publisher = ] | language = Romanian}}{{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|style="background:#a1e0a1;"|]
|34,159
|2,600,132
|] (411,379)
|- style="text-align:center;"
|style="background:#dedfde;"|]
|34,082
|2,360,805
|] (369,896)
|- style="text-align:center;"
|style="background:#f9e185;"|]
|36,850
|3,302,217
|] (382,484)
|- style="text-align:center;"
|style="background:#d296de;"|]
|35,762
|2,545,923
|] (425,916)
|- style="text-align:center;"
|style="background:#fab485;"|]
|34,489
|3,136,446
|] (276,279)
|- style="text-align:center;"
|style="background:#e4d59e;"|]
|1,811
|2,272,163
|] (2,272,163)
|- style="text-align:center;"
|style="background:#a3c5f8;"|]
|29,212
|2,075,642
|] (356,544)
|- style="text-align:center;"
|style="background:#fab1b1;"|]
|32,028
|1,828,313
|] (384,809)
|}
<!-- |-
| <sup>*</sup><small>Together with its metropolitan area.</small>
-->{{Clear}}

==Economy==
] concept at the ] (2009).]]
{{main article|Economy of Romania}}
{{further information|Agriculture in Romania|Industry of Romania}}
In 2015, Romania had a GDP (PPP) of around $414&nbsp;billion and a ] (]) of $20,787.<ref name="auto1">, ] World Economic Outlook Database, April 2016</ref> According to CIA's ], Romania is an upper-middle income country economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20421402~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html#Upper_middle_income |publisher=World Bank |title=Country Classification Groups |year=2005 |accessdate=31 August 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524215837/http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20421402~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html |archivedate=24 May 2008 }}</ref> According to ], Romania's GDP per capita (PPS) was at 57% of the EU average in 2015, an increase from 41% in 2007 (the year of Romania's accession to the EU), making Romania one of the fastest growing economies in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tec00114&plugin=1 |title=GDP per capita in PPS |accessdate=21 June 2016}}</ref>

After 1989 the country experienced a decade of economic instability and decline, led in part by an obsolete industrial base and a lack of structural reform. From 2000 onward, however, the Romanian economy was transformed into one of relative ] stability, characterized by high growth, low unemployment and declining inflation. In 2006, according to the ], GDP growth in real terms was recorded at 7.7%, one of the highest rates in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|language=Romanian|url=http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/statistici/comunicate/pib/pibr06.pdf|format=PDF|title=GDP in 2006|publisher=Romanian National Institute of Statistics|accessdate=10 January 2008}}</ref> However, a recession following the ] forced the government to borrow externally, including an ] €20bn bailout program.<ref></ref> GDP has been growing by over 2% each year since.<ref name="Eurostat - Real GDP growth rate">{{cite web|url=http://www.ziare.com/articole/crestere+economica+romania+2014 |title=Veste excelenta pentru Romania de la Banca Mondiala (Video)|accessdate=11 June 2014}}</ref> According to IMF, the GDP per capita ] grew from $14,875 in 2007 to an estimated $19,397 in 2014.<ref name="auto1"/> Romania still has one of the lowest net average monthly wage in the EU of €540 in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.romania-insider.com/average-romanian-household-income-was-eur-540-a-month-in-q3-2012/72668/|title=Average Romanian household income was EUR 540 a month in Q3 2012|publisher=Romanian-Insider|date=9 January 2013}}</ref> and an inflation of 3.7% in 2013.<ref name="Eurostat">{{cite web|url= http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?query=BOOKMARK_DS-055112_QID_4B4205F9_UID_-3F171EB0&layout=TIME,C,X,0;GEO,L,Y,0;INFOTYPE,L,Z,0;COICOP,L,Z,1;INDICATORS,C,Z,2;&zSelection=DS-055112INFOTYPE,MV12R;DS-055112INDICATORS,OBS_FLAG;DS-055112COICOP,CP00;&rankName1=TIME_1_0_0_0&rankName2=INFOTYPE_1_2_-1_2&rankName3=INDICATORS_1_2_-1_2&rankName4=COICOP_1_2_-1_2&rankName5=GEO_1_2_0_1&pprRK=FIRST&pprSO=PROTOCOL&ppcRK=FIRST&ppcSO=ASC&sortC=ASC_-1_FIRST&rStp=&cStp=&rDCh=&cDCh=&rDM=true&cDM=true&footnes=false&empty=false&wai=false&time_mode=ROLLING&lang=EN&cfo=%23%23%23%2C%23%23%23.%23%23%23 |title=Eurostat, HICP (2005 = 100) - monthly data (12-month average rate of change)|publisher=Eurostat|accessdate=14 December 2013}}</ref> Unemployment in Romania was at 7% in 2012, which is very low compared to other EU countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php?title=File:Unemployment_rate,_2001-2012_(%25).png&filetimestamp=20130417141135/ |title=Unemployment rate, 2001–2012 (%)&#124;Eurostat |publisher=Epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu |accessdate=4 April 2014}}</ref>

].]]

Industrial output growth reached 6.5% year-on-year in February 2013, the highest in the EU-27.<ref>. Eurostat (12 April 2013). Retrieved on 13 May 2013.</ref> The largest local companies include car maker ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Chirileasa |first=Andrei |url=http://www.romania-insider.com/top-20-companies-in-romania-by-turnover/124291/ |title=Top 20 companies in Romania by turnover |publisher=Romania-Insider.com |date=9 June 2014 |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> Exports have increased substantially in the past few years, with a 13% annual rise in exports in 2010. Romania's main exports are cars, software, clothing and textiles, industrial machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, metallurgic products, raw materials, military equipment, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and agricultural products (fruits, vegetables, and flowers). Trade is mostly centered on the member states of the European Union, with Germany and Italy being the country's single largest trading partners. The account balance in 2012 was estimated to be −4.52% of the GDP.<ref name="imf.org">{{cite web|url= http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2016&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=77&pr1.y=1&c=968&s=NGDP_RPCH%2CNGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CPCPIPCH%2CLUR&grp=0&a= |title=IMF World Economic Outlook Database, April 2011 – Central and Eastern Europe|date=April 2011|publisher=IMF|accessdate=27 April 2011}}</ref>

After a series of privatizations and reforms in the late 1990s and 2000s, government intervention in the Romanian economy is somewhat lower than in other European economies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/country.cfm?id=Romania|title=Index of Economic Freedom: Romania|publisher=heritage.org|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> In 2005, the government replaced Romania's ] system with a ] of 16% for both personal income and corporate profit, among the lowest rates in the European Union.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2007/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2007_MONTH_06/2-26062007-EN-AP.PDF|format=PDF|title=Taxation trends in the EU|publisher=]|date=26 June 2007|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> The economy is predominantly based on services, which account for 51% of GDP, even though industry and agriculture also have significant contributions, making up 36% and 13% of GDP, respectively. Additionally, 30% of the Romanian population was employed in 2006 in agriculture and primary production, one of the highest rates in Europe.<ref name="CIA">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ro.html|title=Romania|publisher=CIA World Factbook|year=2010|accessdate=27 April 2011}}</ref>

Since 2000, Romania has attracted increasing amounts of foreign investment, becoming the single largest investment destination in Southeastern and Central Europe. ] was valued at €8.3&nbsp;billion in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portalino.it/nuke/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=20346|title=Romania: FDI reached over EUR 8.3 bn|accessdate=31 August 2008 |archiveurl = //web.archive.org/web/20070928125042/http://www.portalino.it/nuke/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=20346 |archivedate = 28 September 2007}}{{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref> According to a 2011 ] report, Romania currently ranks 72nd out of 175 economies in the ease of doing business, scoring lower than other countries in the region such as the ].<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.doingbusiness.org/EconomyRankings/|title=Economy Ranking|work=Doing Business|year=2007|publisher=World Bank|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> Additionally, a study in 2006 judged it to be the world's second-fastest economic reformer (after ]).<ref>{{cite report|url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21041782~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html|title=Doing Business 2007 Report|publisher=World Bank|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref>

Since 1867 the official currency has been the ] ("lion") and following a denomination in 2005, it has been valued at €0.2–0.3. After joining the EU in 2007, Romania is expected to adopt the euro sometime around 2020.<ref name=EUROENTRY>{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0434en01.pdf | format=PDF | title=Fifth Report on the Practical Preparations for the Future Enlargement of the Euro Area | date=16 July 2007 | publisher=Commission of the European Communities | accessdate=31 May 2013}}</ref>

At 1 July 2015, Romanian's external debt was €90.59 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Banca Națională a României|url = http://bnr.ro/page.aspx?prid=10616|website = bnr.ro|accessdate = 2015-09-29}}</ref>

Concerns about stability were raised after the resignation of the ] government<ref name="nytimes.com">https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/05/world/europe/romania-victor-ponta-resigns.html?_r=0</ref> on November 4, 2015. However, the effects of the current political uncertainty on the economy would depend on how quickly a new Cabinet is formed and the measures it will take, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said on November 5, 2015; the country is macroeconomically stable, he added.<ref></ref><ref>economy remains stable.</ref> Romania's economic growth estimate is 3.5 percent for the current year, according to the European Commission's (EC) November 5, 2015 forecast.<ref>http://www.globalpost.com/article/6682166/2015/11/05/romanias-2015-growth-estimate-upgraded-35-pct-european-commission</ref>

===Infrastructure===
{{main article|Transport in Romania|Energy in Romania}}
].]]
]

According to the '']'', Romania's total road network was estimated in 2009 at {{convert|81713|km|0|abbr=out}} (excluding urban areas), out of which {{convert|66632|km|0|abbr=on}} was paved roads.<ref name="cia">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ro.html |title=The CIA world factbook :Romania |publisher=Cia.gov |accessdate=4 April 2014}}</ref> The World Bank estimates the railway network at {{convert|22298|km}} of track, the fourth-largest railroad network in Europe.<ref name="cai ferate">{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.ro/jf/romana/0208/retea.htm |title=Reteaua feroviara |language=Romanian |publisher=cfr.to |accessdate=6 September 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608211134/http://www.cfr.ro/jf/romana/0208/retea.htm |archivedate=8 June 2009 }}</ref> ] experienced a dramatic decline after 1989, and was estimated at 99&nbsp;million passenger journeys in 2004; but has experienced a recent (2013) revival due to infrastructure improvements and partial privatization of lines,<ref name="Europaworld">{{Cite book|encyclopedia=The Europa World Year Book|year=2007|volume=2|edition=48|publisher=Routledge|location=London and New York|title=Romania|pages=3734–3759|isbn=978-1-85743-412-5}}</ref> accounting for 45% of all passenger and freight movements in the country.<ref name="Europaworld"/> ], the only ] railway system, was opened in 1979 and measures {{convert|61.41|km|2|abbr=on}} with an average ridership in 2007 of 600,000 passengers during the workweek.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfin.ro/articol_8634/transferul_metrorex_la_primaria_capitalei_a_incins_spiritele.html |title=Metrorex ridership |language=Romanian |publisher=Financial Week newspaper |date=23 April 2007 |accessdate=31 August 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516140935/http://www.sfin.ro/articol_8634/transferul_metrorex_la_primaria_capitalei_a_incins_spiritele.html |archivedate=16 May 2008 }}</ref> There are ] in service today, with five of them (], ], ], ] and ]) being capable of handling ]. Over 9.2 million passengers flew through Bucharest's ] in 2015.<ref></ref>

Romania is a net exporter of electrical energy and is 48th worldwide in terms of consumption of electric energy.<ref name=eia>{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/List_of_countries_by_electricity_consumption |title=List of countries by electricity consumption |date= |accessdate=20 February 2017}}</ref> Around a third of the produced energy comes from renewable sources, mostly as hydroelectric power.<ref>http://www.minind.ro/energie/PNAER_final.pdf</ref> In 2015, the main sources were coal (28%), hydroelectric (25%), nuclear (18%), and hydrocarbons (14%) .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hidroelectrica.ro/rapoarte/Raport_Anual_2015_RO.pdf |title=Raport Anual 2015 energie |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=20 February 2017}}</ref> It has one of the largest refining capacities in Eastern Europe, even though oil and natural gas production has been decreasing for more than a decade.<ref name=eia/> With one of the largest reserves of ] and ] in Europe,<ref name=eia/> it is among the most energy-independent countries in the European Union,<ref>{{cite web|author=Ana Hontz-Ward |url=http://www.voanews.com/content/romania-expects-energy-independence-despite-ukraine-crisis/1956837.html |title=Romania Expects to be Energy Independent Despite Ukraine Crisis |publisher=Voanews.com |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> and is looking to further expand its nuclear power plant at ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://economie.hotnews.ro/stiri-energie-16428344-contractul-pentru-unitatile-3-4-centrala-nucleara-cernavoda-parafa-mai-chinezii-vor-avea-51-din-actiuni-nicolae-moga-psd.htm |title=Contractul pentru unitatile 3 si 4 de la centrala nucleara Cernavoda se va parafa in mai. Chinezii vor avea 51% din actiuni - Nicolae Moga (PSD) - Energie - HotNews.ro |publisher=Economie.hotnews.ro |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref>

There were almost 18,3 million connections to the Internet in June 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gandul.info/it-c/numarul-conexiunilor-la-internet-a-crescut-cu-22-8-cate-milioane-de-romani-au-acces-la-internet-13701212|title=Numărul conexiunilor la internet a crescut cu 22,8%. Câte milioane de români au acces la internet|publisher=]|date=4 December 2014}}</ref> According to ], in 2013 Romania ranked 5th in the world, and according to ] , it ranks number one in Europe at internet speeds,<ref>https://www.statista.com/chart/3348/europes-fastest-downloaders/</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/slideshow/2013-01-23/top-10-countries-with-the-fastest-internet.html#slide7|title=Top 10: Where to Find the World's Fastest Internet|publisher=]|date=23 January 2013}}</ref> with ] ranked among the highest in the world.<ref name=Akamai>{{cite web|url=http://www.romania-insider.com/romanian-city-comes-out-first-in-the-world-in-internet-download-speed-ranking/103102/|title=Romanian city comes out first in the world in Internet download speed ranking|publisher=Net Index|date=3 July 2013}}</ref>

===Tourism===
] near ], sometimes advertised as "]'s Castle", is a popular attraction for tourists.]]
{{main article|Tourism in Romania}}
Tourism is a significant contributor to the Romanian economy, generating around 5% of GDP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/pdf/tourism/Romania.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=World Economic Forum|title=Country/Economy Profiles: Romania, Travel&Tourism|accessdate=11 January 2008}}</ref> According to the ], Romania was estimated to have the fourth-fastest-growing travel and tourism total demand in the world, with an estimated potential growth of 8% per year from 2007 to 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=WTTC spells out policy recommendations for Romania to tap travel and tourism potential|publisher=WTTC|url=http://www.wttc.travel/eng/News_and_Events/Press/Press_Releases_2006/WTTC_spells_out_recommendations_for_Romania/index.php|accessdate=11 January 2008}}</ref> The number of tourists has been steadily rising, reaching 3.5&nbsp;million in the first half of 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wall-street.ro/articol/Turism/169954/fluxul-de-turisti-cazati-in-romania-in-s1-a-crescut-cu-5-1-la-3-5-milioane.html |title=Fluxul de turisti cazati in Romania in S1 a crescut cu 5,1%, la 3,5 milioane |publisher=Wall-street.ro |date=1 August 2014 |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> Tourism in Romania attracted €400&nbsp;million in investments in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|language=ro |url=http://www.gandul.info/social/turismul-atras-2005-investitii-400-milioane-euro.html?3932;255059 |publisher=''Gandul'' Newspaper |title=Tourism attracted in 2005 investments worth €400&nbsp;million |accessdate=11 January 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205071459/http://www.gandul.info/social/turismul-atras-2005-investitii-400-milioane-euro.html?3932;255059 |archivedate=5 December 2010 }}</ref>

More than 60% of the foreign visitors in 2007 were from other EU countries.<ref name=turism>{{cite report|url=http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/statistici/comunicate/turism/a07/turism09e07.pdf |format=PDF|title=Report from Romanian National Institute of Statistics|quote=for the first 9 months of 2007 an increase from the previous year of 8.7% to 16.5&nbsp;million tourists; of these 94.0% came from European countries and 61.7% from EU|accessdate=11 January 2008}}</ref> The popular summer attractions of ] and other ] attracted 1.3 million tourists in 2009.<ref name="litoral2010-08-21">, 9 July 2010, jurnalul.ro, accessed on 21 August 2010</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unseenromania.com/places-to-go-romania/tan-and-fun-at-the-black-sea.html|title=Tan and fun at the Black Sea|publisher=UnseenRomania|accessdate=10 January 2008 |archiveurl =//web.archive.org/web/20071011041935/http://unseenromania.com/places-to-go-romania/tan-and-fun-at-the-black-sea.html |archivedate = 11 October 2007}}</ref> Most popular skiing resorts are along the ] and in ]. ] in ]n cities such as ], ], and ] also attract a large number of tourists. ], near ], is one of the most famous attractions in Romania, drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists every year as it is often advertised as being ]'s Castle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Lejer/Magazin/Castelul+Bran+marcat+de+istorie+dar+si+de+legenda+lui+Dracula+at|title=Castelul Bran, marcat de istorie, dar şi de legenda lui Dracula atrage anual sute de mii de turişti|website=www.digi24.ro|access-date=2016-06-28}}</ref>

Rural tourism, focusing on folklore and traditions, has become an important alternative,<ref>{{Cite news|publisher=Romania Libera|language=Romanian|date=5 July 2008|title= Turismul renaste la tara|url=http://www.romanialibera.ro/a128995/turismul-renaste-la-tara.html| accessdate=28 August 2008}}</ref> and is targeted to promote such sites as ] and its ], the ], and the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ruraltourism.ro/|language=Romanian|publisher=RuralTourism.ro|title=Bine ati venit pe site-ul de promovare a pensiunilor agroturistice din Romania !!!|accessdate=28 August 2008}}</ref> Other attractions include the ], and the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turism.ro/statiuni.php |title=Turism in Romania |publisher=Turism.ro |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.romaniaturistica.com/obiective-turistice/ansamblul-sculptural-constantin-brancusi.html |title=Ansamblul sculptural Constantin Brancusi din Targu Jiu |publisher=Romaniaturistica.com |date=16 March 1957 |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

In 2014, Romania had 32,500 companies which were active in the hotel and restaurant industry, with a total turnover of EUR 2.6 billion.<ref></ref> More than 1.9 million foreign tourists visited Romania in 2014, 12% more than in 2013.<ref name="romania-insider.com"></ref> According to the country's National Statistics Institute, some 77% came from Europe (particularly from Germany, Italy and France), 12% from Asia, and less than 7% from North America.<ref name="romania-insider.com"/>

===Science and technology===
{{main article|Science and technology in Romania|List of Romanian inventors and discoverers}}
] was an early aircraft with ducted fan propulsion.]]
Historically, Romanian researchers and inventors have made notable contributions to several fields. In the history of flight, ] made the first airplane to take off on its own power<ref name="RomAcademyLib">{{cite web|url=http://www.biblacad.ro/Vuiaeng.htm |title=Traian Vuia in a Century of Aviation |publisher=Romanian Academy Library|page=1|accessdate=7 August 2012}}</ref> and ] built and flew some of the earliest successful ], while ] discovered the ] of fluidics. ] discovered more than 50 types of ]; biologist ] discovered ], while ], received the ] for his contributions to ]. ] was the first chemist to synthesize ] and he also invented the procedure of separating valuable petroleum components with selective solvents, while ] developed numerous new classes of compounds in ]. Notable mathematicians include ], ], and ]; physicists and inventors: ], ], and ].

During the 1990s and 2000s, the development of research was hampered by several factors, including corruption, low funding and a considerable ].<ref>http://www.ad-astra.ro/journal/2/editorial_en.pdf</ref> However, since the country's accession to the ], this has begun to change.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-16869790-laserul-magurele-institutul-cercetare-pentru-fizica-inginerie-nucleara-semnat-contractul-pentru-realizarea-sistemului-fascicul-gamma.htm |title=Laserul de la Magurele: Institutul de Cercetare pentru Fizica si Inginerie Nucleara a semnat contractul de 66 milioane euro pentru realizarea Sistemului Fascicul Gamma - Esential |publisher=HotNews.ro |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> After being slashed by 50% in 2009 because of the global recession, R&D spending was increased by 44% in 2010 and now stands at $0.5 billion (1.5 billion lei).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=124097 |title=Bulgaria: Science fortunes of Balkan neighbours diverge – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency |publisher=Novinite.com |date=13 January 2011 |accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref> In January 2011, the Parliament also passed a law that enforces "strict quality control on universities and introduces tough rules for funding evaluation and peer review".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110112/full/469142a.html |title=Science fortunes of Balkan neighbours diverge : Nature News |publisher=Nature.com |accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref> The country has joined or is about to join several major international organizations such as ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epochtimes-romania.com/article.php?article_id=97824 |title=Funeriu: Stiinta din Romania 'se imbunatateste', insa mai sunt multe lucruri de facut |publisher=Epochtimes-romania.com |date=13 January 2011 |accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actmedia.eu/2011/01/20/top+story/romania+is+to+sign+agreement+on+joining+european+space+agency+convention+/31695 |title=Romania is to sign agreement on joining European space agency convention |publisher=Actmedia.eu |date=20 January 2011 |accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref> Overall, the situation has been characterized as "rapidly improving", albeit from a low base.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110112/full/news.2011.8.html |title=Romania's high hopes for science : Nature News |publisher=Nature.com |accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref>

The ] facility of the ]'s proposed ] ] will be built in Romania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eli-np.ro/ |title=ELI-NP &#124; Extreme Light Infrastructure – Nuclear Physics |publisher=Eli-np.ro |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref> In early 2012, Romania launched its first ] from the ] in French Guyana.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://english.hotnews.ro/stiri-top_news-11498074-video-romania-39-first-satellite-goliat-successfully-launch-from-kourou-base-french-guyana.htm |title=VIDEO Romania's first satellite Goliat successfully launch from Kourou base in French Guyana - Top News |publisher=HotNews.ro |accessdate=4 April 2014}}</ref> Starting December 2014, Romania is a co-owner of the ].<ref name="autogenerated4">{{cite web |url=http://www.rosa.ro/index.php/en/news-menu/stiri/787-romania-va-detine-o-parte-din-statia-spatiala-internationala-si-va-contribui-la-dezvoltarea-celei-mai-noi-rachete-europene-ariane-6 |title=Romania will own a part of the International Space Station and will contribute to the development of the latest European rocket, Ariane 6 |work=Romanian Space Agency |date=3 December 2014}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{main article|Demographics of Romania}}
{{see also|Minorities of Romania|Romanian diaspora}}

{{Historical populations
|type =
|1866|4424961 |1887|5500000 |1899|5956690 |1912|7234919 |1930|18057028 |1939|19934000 |1941|13535757 |1948|15872624 |1956|17489450 |1966|19103163 |1977|21559910 |1992|22760449 |2002|21680974 |2011|20121641|2016 (est.)|19474952
|footnote = Figures prior to 1948 do not reflect current borders.
}}
]
According to the ], Romania's population is 20,121,641.<ref name="CensusRef"/> Like other countries in the region, its population is expected to gradually decline in the coming years as a result of ]s and negative ]. In October 2011, ] made up 88.9% of the population. The largest ] are the ], 6.5% of the population, and the ], 3.3% of the population.<ref group=lower-alpha>2002 census data, based on , gave a total of 535,250 Roma in Romania. Many ethnicities are not recorded, as they . International sources give higher figures than the official census (e.g., ]'s Regional Bureau for Europe], , {{cite web|url=http://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/publications/msd/journal/issue25/25-pages154-164.pdf |format=PDF|title=International Association for Official Statistics|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20080226202154/http://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/publications/msd/journal/issue25/25-pages154-164.pdf|archivedate=26 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-02-01-roma-europe_x.htm|publisher=usatoday|title=European effort spotlights plight of the Roma|accessdate=31 August 2008|date=10 February 2005}}</ref> Hungarians constitute a majority in the counties of ] and ]. Other minorities include ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="census">{{cite report|url=http://www.recensamantromania.ro/rezultate-2/ |title=Official site of the results of the 2002 Census |language=Romanian |accessdate=31 August 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205002157/http://www.recensamantromania.ro/rezultate-2 |archivedate=5 February 2012 }}</ref> In 1930, there were 745,421 ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hungarian-history.hu/lib/minor/min02.htm|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20070817040031/http://www.hungarian-history.hu/lib/minor/min02.htm|archivedate=17 August 2007|title=German Population of Romania, 1930–1948|publisher=hungarian-history.hu|accessdate=7 September 2009}}</ref> but only about 36,000 remain today.<ref name="census"/> {{As of|2009}}, there were also approximately 133,000 immigrants living in Romania, primarily from ] and ].<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/>

The ] (TFR) in 2015 was estimated at 1.33 children born per woman, which is below the replacement rate of 2.1, and one of the lowest in the world.<ref name="cia.gov"></ref> In 2014, 31.2% of births were to unmarried women.<ref></ref>
The ] (9.49‰, 2012) is much lower than the ] (11.84‰, 2012), resulting in a shrinking (−0.26% per year, 2012) and aging population (median age: 39.1, 2012), with approximately 14.9% of total population aged 65 years and over.<ref name="populationdata.net">{{cite web|first=Graeme|last=Villeret |url=http://www.populationdata.net/index2.php?option=pays&pid=180&nom=roumanie |title=Roumanie |publisher=PopulationData.net |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indexmundi.com/romania/demographics_profile.html |title=Romania demographics profile (2011) |publisher=Indexmundi.com |date=12 July 2011 |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ro.html |title=CIA World Factbook: Romania |publisher=Cia.gov |accessdate=2 October 2013}}</ref> The life expectancy in 2015 was estimated at 74.92 years (71.46 years male, 78.59 years female).<ref name="cia.gov"/>

The number of Romanians and individuals with ancestors born in Romania living abroad is estimated at around 12&nbsp;million.<ref name=diaspora/> After the ], a significant number of Romanians emigrated to other European countries, North America or Australia.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} For example, in 1990, 96,919 Romanians permanently settled abroad.<ref> European Parliament</ref>

===Languages===
{{main article|Romanian language}}
The official language is ], an ] similar to ], ], and ], but sharing many features with other ] such as ], ], ] and ]. (The ] contains the same 26 letters of the English, plus 5 others, totaling 31.) Romanian is spoken as a first language by 85% of the population, while ] and ] are spoken by 6.2% and 1.2% of the population, respectively. There are 25,000 native German speakers, and 32,000 Turkish speakers in Romania, as well as almost 50,000 speakers of Ukrainian,<ref name="census_2011_lang">{{Cite web|url=http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sR_TAB_9.xls|format=xls|title=2011 census results by native language|publisher=www.recensamantromania.ro, website of the Romanian Institute of Statistics|accessdate=2015-05-05}}</ref> concentrated in some compact regions, near the border, where they form a majority.<ref name="infomm.ro_2015-05-05">{{Citation | url=http://infomm.ro/ro/detalii/in-maramures-aproape-31-000-ucraineni-petrec-sarbatorile-de-iarna| title=IARNA UCRAINEANĂ - Află care sunt localitățile din Maramureș în care se prăznuiesc sărbătorile de iarnă după rit vechi|trans_title=Ukrainian winter: find out in which communes of Maramureș are the Winter holidays celebrated by the old calendar| newspaper=Infomm.ro| date= | accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref> According to the Constitution, local councils ensure linguistic rights to all ], with localities with ethnic minorities of over 20%, that minority's language can be used in the public administration, justice system, and education. Foreign citizens and stateless persons that live in Romania have access to justice and education in their own language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdep.ro/pls/dic/site.page?den=act2_1&par1=1 |title=Constitutia României |publisher=Cdep.ro |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref> English and French are the main foreign languages taught in schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-26092013-AP/EN/3-26092013-AP-EN.PDF|title=Two-thirds of working age adults in the EU28 in 2011 state they know a foreign language|date=26 September 2013|accessdate=21 August 2014|publisher=Eurostat}}</ref> In 2010, the ] identifies {{formatnum:4756100}} French speakers in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.francophonie.org/Roumanie.html|title=Roumanie - Organisation internationale de la Francophonie|work=francophonie.org}}</ref> According to the 2012 ], English is spoken by 31% of Romanians, French is spoken by 17%, and Italian by 7%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf|title=EUROPEANS AND THEIR LANGUAGES, REPORT|date=2012|accessdate=21 August 2014|publisher=Eurostat}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{cite-check|talk=Fake referencing|date=December 2016}}
], founded in 1833, is the largest ] church in Romania.]]
{{bar box
|float = right
|titlebar = #ddd
|title = Religion in Romania (2011 census)
|left1 = Religion
|right1 = Percentage
|bars =
{{bar percent|]|blue|81.0}}
{{bar percent|]|orange|4.3}}
{{bar percent|]|yellow|3.0}}
{{bar percent|]|violet|1.8}}
{{bar percent|]|cyan|0.7}}
{{bar percent|]|red|0.6}}
{{bar percent|]|purple|0.4}}
{{bar percent|]|green|1.8}}
{{bar percent|]|grey|0.2}}
{{bar percent|No data|black|6.2}}
}}
{{main article|Religion in Romania|Romanian Orthodox Church}}
Romania is a ] and has no ]. An overwhelming majority of the population identify themselves as ]s. At the country's 2011 census, 81.0% of respondents identified as ] belonging to the ]. Other denominations include ] (4.8%), ] (4.3%), and ] (0.8%). From the remaining population, 195,569 people belong to other Christian denominations or have another religion, which includes 64,337 ] (mostly of Turkish and Tatar ethnicity) and 3,519 ]. Moreover, 39,660 people have no religion or are ], whilst the religion of the rest is unknown.<ref name="census_2011_rel">{{Cite web|url=http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sR_TAB_12.xls|format=xls|title=2011 census results by religion|publisher=www.recensamantromania.ro, website of the Romanian Institute of Statistics|accessdate=2015-05-05}}</ref>

The Romanian Orthodox Church is an ] Eastern Orthodox Church in ] with other Orthodox churches, with a ] as its leader. It is the second-largest Orthodox Church in the world, and unlike other Orthodox churches, it functions within a Latin culture and utilizes a ] liturgical language.<ref> at cnewa.org</ref> Its canonical jurisdiction covers the territories of Romania and Moldova,<ref></ref> with ]s for Romanians living in nearby Serbia and Hungary, as well as diaspora communities in Central and Western Europe, North America and Oceania.

===Urbanization===
{{main article|List of cities and towns in Romania|Metropolitan Areas in Romania}}

Although 54.0% of the population lived in 2011 in ],<ref name="CensusRef"/> this percentage has been on the decline since 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://businessday.ro/07/2011/urbanizarea-romaniei-cum-a-crescut-populatia-urbana-de-la-37-milioane-locuitori-in-1948-la-12-milioane-in-1989/ |title=Urbanization of Romania: how urban population increased from 3.7 million in 1948 to 12 million in 1989 |publisher=Businessday.ro |accessdate= 24 April 2012}}</ref> Counties with over ⅔ urban population are ], ] and ], while with less than a third are ] (30.06%) and ] and ].<ref name="CensusRef"/> ] is the capital and the largest city in Romania, with a population of over 1.8&nbsp;million in 2011. Its ] has a population of almost 2.2&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.urbanaudit.org/index.aspx |title=Urban Audit |publisher=Urban Audit |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref> which are planned to be included into a ] up to 20 times the area of the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zmb.ro/ |title=Proiect – Zona metropolitana Bucuresti |publisher=Zmb.ro |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.romanialibera.ro/a94321/zona-metropolitana-bucuresti-va-fi-gata-peste-10-ani.html|title=Metropolitan Zone of Bucharest will be ready in 10 years|publisher=Romania Libera|language=Romanian|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=Romanian|url=http://www.zmb.ro/main.php|title=Official site of Metropolitan Zone of Bucharest Project|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> Another 19 cities have a population of over 100,000, with ] and ] of slightly more than 300,000 inhabitants, ], ], ] and ] with over 250,000 inhabitants, and ] and ] with over 200,000 inhabitants.<ref name="INSSER"/> ] have been constituted for most of these cities.
{{Largest municipalities in Romania}}

===Education===
{{main article|Romanian educational system}}
] was opened in 1864.]]
] rate by county (2011). Cooler colors indicate a lower rate of illiteracy, and warmer colors indicate a higher rate of illiteracy. The national average is 1.22%.]]
Since the ], the Romanian educational system has been in a continuous process of reform that has received mixed criticism.<ref>{{cite report|publisher=UNESCO|url=http://www.unesco.org/education/wef/countryreports/romania/rapport_1.html|title=The Romanian Educational Policy in Transition|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> In 2004, some 4.4&nbsp;million of the population were enrolled in school. Out of these, 650,000 in ] (3–6 years), 3.11&nbsp;million in primary and secondary level, and 650,000 in tertiary level (universities).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/pdf/ro/cap8.pdf|format=PDF|title=Romanian Institute of Statistics Yearbook – Chapter 8|language=Romanian|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> In the same year, the adult literacy rate was 97.3% (45th worldwide), while the combined gross enrollment ratio for primary, secondary and tertiary schools was 75% (52nd worldwide).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/pdfs/report/HDR06-complete.pdf |title= UN Human Development Report 2006|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20070202212856/http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/pdfs/report/HDR06-complete.pdf |format=PDF|archivedate=2 February 2007}}{{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref> Kindergarten is optional between 3 and 6 years. Since 2012, compulsory schooling starts at age 6 with the "preparatory school year" (''clasa pregătitoare'')<ref></ref> and is compulsory until tenth grade.<ref>{{cite report|publisher=UNESCO|url=http://www.unesco.org/education/wef/countryreports/romania/rapport_2.html|title=The Romanian Educational Policy in Transition|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> Primary and secondary education is divided into 12 or 13 grades. There also exists a semi-legal, informal ] system used mostly during secondary school, which has prospered during the Communist regime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genderomania.ro/book_gender_post/part1/Anca_Gheaus.pdf| title=Limited relevants. What feminists can learn from the eastern experience|format=PDF|accessdate=25 August 2008|publisher=genderomania.ro}}</ref>

Higher education is aligned with the ]. The results of the ] assessment study in schools for the year 2012 placed Romania on the 45th rank out of 65 participant countries,<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-16124454-publicat-rezultatele-testelor-pisa-2012-romania-ocupa-locul-45-matematica.htm|title=Rezultate PISA 2012: Aproape 40% dintre elevii romani au dificultati sa citeasca si sa inteleaga un text si pot rezolva doar exercitii de baza la Matematica|publisher=]|date=3 December 2013}}</ref> though Romania often wins medals in the ] olympiads<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.romania-insider.com/romanias-brains-rank-first-in-europe-10th-in-the-world-after-math-olympiad/60686/|title=Romania's brains rank first in Europe, 10th in the world after Math Olympiad|publisher=romania-insider.com|date=16 July 2012|language=Romanian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://business-review.eu/featured/romanian-students-win-four-medals-two-gold-at-the-european-girls-mathematical-olympiad-60542|title=Romanian students win four medals, two gold, at the European Girls Mathematical Olympiad|publisher=business-review.eu|date=16 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agerpres.ro/english/2014/03/11/romanian-students-win-32-medals-at-seemous-international-mathematical-olympiad-10-34-49|title=Romanian students win 32 medals at SEEMOUS International Mathematical Olympiad|publisher=]|date=11 March 2014}}</ref> and not only. ], ], ], and ] have been included in the ]' top 800.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2013#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search= |title=QS World University Rankings 2013|publisher=topuniversities.com |date=October 2013}} All four universities are ranked at 700+ which means they are ranked among the 701–800 places.</ref>

===Healthcare===
{{main article|Healthcare in Romania}}
Romania has a ] system, and total health expenditures by the government are roughly 5% of the GDP.<ref>, ''Mediafax.ro''</ref> It covers medical examinations, any surgical interventions, and any post-operator medical care, and provides free or subsidized medicine for a range of diseases. The state is obliged to fund public hospitals and clinics. The most common causes of death are cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Transmissible diseases, such as ], ] or viral ], are quite common by European standards.<ref>, ''România Liberă''</ref> In 2010, Romania had 428 state and 25 private hospitals,<ref>, ''Wall-Street.ro'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208111513/http://www.wall-street.ro/articol/Economie/133347/bolnavii-nostri-vs-ai-lor-cate-spitale-are-romania-fata-de-alte-state-ue.html |date=8 February 2013 }}</ref> with 6.2 hospital beds per 1,000 people,<ref>, ''România Liberă''</ref> and over 200,000 medical staff, including over 52,000 doctors.<ref>, ''Institutul Național de Statistică''</ref> {{As of|2013}}, the emigration rate of doctors was 9%, higher than the European average of 2.5%.<ref>, ''Adevărul'', 2 April 2013</ref>

==Culture==
] is the national poet of Romania and ].]]
] was an influential Romanian composer, violinist, pianist, conductor, and teacher]]
{{main article|Culture of Romania|National symbols of Romania}}

===Arts and monuments===
{{main article|Romanian literature|Cinema of Romania|Music of Romania|List of World Heritage Sites in Romania}}
{{See also|List of films shot in Romania}}
The topic of the ] began to be discussed by the end of the 18th century among the ] scholars.<ref name=iciculture>{{cite web|url=http://www.ici.ro/romania/en/cultura/cultural_aspects.html|title=Cultural aspects|publisher=National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics, Romania|accessdate=28 August 2008 |archiveurl =//web.archive.org/web/20080307182620/http://www.ici.ro/romania/en/cultura/cultural_aspects.html |archivedate = 7 March 2008}}{{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref>
Several writers rose to prominence in the 19th century, including ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ], the later being considered the greatest and most influential Romanian poet, particularly for the poem '']''.<ref>{{cite web|language=Romanian|url=http://www.ici.ro/romania/en/cultura/l_eminescu.html|title=Mihai Eminescu|publisher=National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics, Romania|accessdate=20 January 2008 |archiveurl = //web.archive.org/web/20071231163537/http://www.ici.ro/romania/en/cultura/l_eminescu.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 31 December 2007}}{{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref> In the 20th century, Romanian artists reached international acclaim, including ], ],<ref>Tom Sandqvist, ''DADA EAST: The Romanians of Cabaret Voltaire'', London MIT Press, 2006.</ref> ], ], ], ],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ștefănescu|first=Alex.|title=Nichita Stănescu, The Angel with a Book in His Hands|language=Romanian|publisher=Mașina de scris|year=1999|page=8|isbn=978-973-99297-4-5}}</ref> ], ], and ]. The latter has a ], while his sculpture '']'', was auctioned in 2005 for $27.5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://antiquesandthearts.com/AW-2005-05-10-12-15-39p1.htm |title=Brancusi's 'Bird in Space' Sets World Auction Record for Sculpture at $27,456,000 |publisher=Antiques and the Arts Online |accessdate=20 January 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060213032919/http://www.antiquesandthearts.com/AW-2005-05-10-12-15-39p1.htm |archivedate=13 February 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://crib.mae.ro/index.php?lang=en&id=31&s=15441&arhiva=true |publisher=Romanian Information Center in Brussels |title=November&nbsp;9, The price record for a Brancusi masterpiece was set up in 2005 when "Bird in Space" was sold for USD 27.5 M |accessdate=20 January 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514223741/http://crib.mae.ro/index.php?lang=en&id=31&s=15441&arhiva=true |archivedate=14 May 2011 }}</ref> Romanian-born Holocaust survivor ] received the ] in 1986, while writer ] received the ] in 2009.

Prominent Romanian painters include ], ], ] ] and ]. Notable Romanian classical composers of the 19th and 20th centuries include ], ], ], ], ] and especially ]. The annual ] is held in Bucharest in honor of the 20th century ] composer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enescusociety.org/georgeenescu.php|title=George Enescu, the composer|publisher=International Enescu Society|accessdate=20 January 2008}}</ref> Contemporary musicians like ], ],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/insite/SOUNDS_LIKE_CANADA/2006/1/17.html|date=17 January 2006|publisher=CBC Radio|title=Sounds Like Canada feat. Gheorghe Zamfir|accessdate=31 August 2008 |archiveurl = //web.archive.org/web/20080428050304/http://www.cbc.ca/insite/SOUNDS_LIKE_CANADA/2006/1/17.html |archivedate = 28 April 2008}}{{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gheorghe-zamfir.com/English/diskographie-e.htm|publisher=Gheorghe Zamfir, Official Homepage|title=Gheorghe Zamfir, master of the pan pipe|accessdate=20 January 2008}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/99efca32-eea1-45fb-92cb-8798976a9769|title=Inna Biography|publisher=BBC|accessdate=26 October 2013}}</ref> ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.in/music/features/list/10-one-hit-wonders/alexandra-stan-mr-saxobeat|title=10 One-Hit Wonders to Be or Not to Be?|publisher=vh1.i|date=7 March 2014}}</ref> and many others have achieved various levels of international acclaim. At the ] Romanian singers have achieved third place in 2005 and 2010.<ref>{{cite web |first=Dan|last=Arsenie |url=http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/eurovision-2010-romania-bronz-germania-locul-intai-896221.html |title=Paula Seling despre rezultatul la Eurovision 2010: "Mai bine de atât nu se putea!" |publisher=EVZ.ro |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref>

] was the ] in 2007.]]

In cinema, several movies of the ] have achieved international acclaim. At the ], '']'' by ] won '']'' in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-festivals/cannes-2007-winners/|title=Cannes 2007 Winners|publisher=Alternative Film Guide|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> At the ], '']'' by ] won the ] in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/16/us-berlin-idUSBRE91F09P20130216 |title=Romanian film "Child's Pose" wins Berlin Golden Bear |newspaper=Reuters |author=Mike Collett-White |date=16 February 2013}}</ref>

The list of ]s includes ] located within Romania, including eight ], eight ], seven ], the ], and the ].
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldheritagesite.org/countries/romania.html|title=World Heritage Site – Romania|publisher=UNESCO|accessdate=31 January 2008}}</ref> The city of ], with its ], was selected as the 2007 ].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=The Selection Panel for the European Capital of Culture (ECOC) 2007|title=Report on the Nominations from Luxembourg and Romania for the European Capital of Culture 2007|date=5 April 2004|url=http://ec.europa.eu/culture/pdf/doc670_en.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> ] exist in Romania, including popular tourist attractions of ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://peles.ro/ |title=Muzeul National Peles &#124; Site-ul oficial al castelelor Peles si Pelisor |publisher=Peles.ro |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref> ], and "]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viaromania.eu/atractii.cfm/2-castelul_bran.html |title=Castelul Bran |publisher=Viaromania.eu |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref>

===Holidays, traditions and cuisine===
].]]
]s.]]
<!-- ] -->
{{see also|Romanian dress|Romanian folklore|Romanian cuisine}}

There are 12 non-working public holidays, including the ], celebrated on 1 December in commemoration of the 1918 ].<ref>, ''Gândul.info'', 6 March 2013</ref> Winter holidays include the Christmas festivities and the New Year during which, various unique folklore dances and games are common: '']'', '']'', ''ursul'', and ''capra''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Improve It Grup S.R.L |url=http://www.traditii.ro/ |title=Traditii si obiceiuri romanesti. Artizanat traditional romanesc. Arta populara |publisher=Traditii.ro |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Insider |first=Romania |url=http://www.romania-insider.com/winter-holidays-and-christmas-traditions-in-romania-the-bear-dance-the-masked-carolers-and-the-goat/71966/ |title=Winter holidays and Christmas traditions in Romania: the Bear dance, the Masked carolers and the Goat |publisher=Romania-Insider.com |date=21 December 2012 |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> The traditional ] that otherwise has largely fallen out of use during the 20th century, is a popular ceremonial vestment worn on these festivities, especially in the rural areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://romaniatourism.com/traditions-folklore.html |title=ROMANIA - Traditions and Folklore - Official Travel and Tourism Information |publisher=Romaniatourism.com |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> Sacrifices of live pigs during Christmas and lambs during Easter has required a special derogation from EU law after 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-2158404-ministrul-agriculturii-accepta-mieii-pasti-porcii-craciun-fie-sacrificati-mod-traditional.htm |title=Ministrul Agriculturii: UE accepta ca mieii de Pasti si porcii de Craciun sa fie sacrificati in mod traditional - Actualitate |publisher=HotNews.ro |date=11 August 2014 |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> During ], ] are very common, while on 1 March features '']'' gifting, a tradition likely of ] origin.<ref>{{cite web|author=Martisor, a Spring celebration for Eastern Europeans |url=http://www.foreignersinuk.co.uk/community_news-community-martisor_a_spring_celebration_for_eastern_europeans_3823.html |title=Martisor, a Spring celebration for Eastern Europeans |publisher=Foreigners In Uk |date=29 June 2014 |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref>

Romanian cuisine shares some similarities with other Balkan cuisines such as ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/aeer/article/view/362/437 |title=Christina Bradatan, Cuisine and Cultural Identity in Balkans |publisher=Scholarworks.iu.edu |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> '']'' includes a wide range of ]s, while '']'', '']'' (similar to ]), and '']'' are featured commonly in main courses.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}} Pork, chicken and beef are the preferred meats, but lamb and fish are also popular.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bucataras.ro/retete-traditionale/140/ |title=Retete traditionale Moldova: retete peste sau cu carne de porc.|publisher=Bucataras.ro |date=15 December 2008 |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref> Certain traditional recipes are made in direct connection with the holidays: '']'', '']'' and '']'' at Christmas; '']'', '']'' and '']'' at Easter and other Romanian holidays.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gastronomie.ele.ro/Bucatarie_romaneasca_--a304.html |title=Bucatarie romaneasca – Cultura si retete – Articole |publisher=Gastronomie.ele.ro |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref> '']'' is a strong plum ] reaching a 70% alcohol content which is the country's traditional alcoholic beverage, taking as much as 75% of the national crop (Romania is one of the ]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regard-est.com/home/breve_contenu.php?id=868 |title=Țuica production consumed 75% of Romanian plums in 2003 |publisher=Regard-est.com |accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref><ref name=educations>{{cite web|url=http://www.educations.com/Study_in_Romania__d2929.html |title=Study in Romania |publisher=Educations.com |date=5 February 2008 |accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref> Traditional alcoholic beverages also include ], '']'', '']'' and '']'', but ] consumption has increased dramatically over the recent years.<ref>{{cite web|first=Diana|last=Tudor |url=http://www.zf.ro/zf-english/romania-enters-global-top-10-for-beer-consumption-3053140/ |title=Romania enters global top 10 for beer consumption &#124; Ziarul Financiar |publisher=Zf.ro |accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref>

===Sports===
{{main article|Sports in Romania}}
] is among the top-ranked female tennis players in the world.]]
] (soccer) is the most popular sport in Romania with over 234,000 registered players {{As of|2010|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zf.ro/eveniment/topul-sporturilor-in-functie-de-numarul-de-sportivi-legitimati-9143072 |title=Topul sporturilor în funcție de numărul de sportivi legitimați |publisher=zf.ro |date= 12 January 2012}}</ref> The governing body is the ], which belongs to ]. The ] has taken part seven times in the ] games and had its most successful period during the 1990s, when they reached the quarterfinals of the ] and was ranked third by ] in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=rou/ranking/gender=m/index.html |title=Romania: FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking |publisher=FIFA.com |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> The core player of this "]" was ], who was nicknamed "the ] of the Carpathians."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1677201.stm|title=Hagi leaves Romania post|date=26 November 2001|publisher=BBC Sport|quote=Hagi earned a legendary status in Romania where he spearheaded the 'Golden Generation' of players&nbsp;... |accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/football/europe/1264097.stm|title=Hagi snubs Maradona|publisher=BBC Sport Online|date=6 April 2001|accessdate=31 August 2008}}</ref> Other successful players include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] or ], and most recently ], ], ] or ].

The most famous successful club is ] and was the first Eastern European team to win the ] in ], and were runners-up in ]. ] reached the European Champions' Cup semifinal in ] and the ] semifinal in ]. Other important Romanian football clubs are ], ], ], ] and ].

] was the first gymnast to score a perfect ten in an ] event.]]
Tennis is the second-most-popular sport, with over 15,000 registered players.<ref name=EYb2007>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=The Europa World Year Book |publisher=Routledge |year=2007 |volume=2 |title=Romania}}</ref> Romania reached the ] finals three times (1969, 1971, 1972). The tennis player ] won several ] titles, and was the first player to be ] by ] between 1973 and 1974. ] won the ] in 1978, and was runner-up in 1980, ] played the final in 2014 and is currently ranked 2nd by the ].<ref></ref>

Other popular ]s are ],<ref name="EYb2007" /> ]<ref name="CESport">{{cite web|url=http://www.cesport.eu/en/Nd/i/more/What%E2%80%99s+the+most+popular+sport+in+Romania%3F/idn/3196 |title=What's the most popular sport in Romania? |publisher=cesport.eu |accessdate=29 May 2016}}</ref> and ]. Both the ] and ] handball national teams are multiple world champions. On 13 January 2010, ] became the first Romanian in handball to win the ] award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ihf.info//MediaCenter/News/NewsDetails/tabid/130/Default.aspx?ID=536 |title=Cristina Neagu - World Handball Player of the Year 2010 |publisher=Ihf.info |date=13 January 2011 |accessdate=24 February 2014}}</ref> Basketball is widely enjoyed, especially by the youth.<ref name="CESport"/> ] was one of the two tallest players to ever play in the ]. In 2016, Romania was chosen as a host for the ]. The rugby ] has ] in every ]. Popular ]s include athletics, chess, judo, ], table tennis and ]s (], ], ] aka Michael Loewe, ], ], ], etc.).<ref name="EYb2007" /> While it has a limited popularity nowadays, ] is a traditional Romanian sporting game similar to ] that has been continuously practiced since at least the 14th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oina.ro/originea_jocului_sportiv_national_roman_de_oina.html |title=Originea jocului de Oina - Sport National Roman |publisher=Oina.ro |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref>

Romania participated in the ] for the first time in 1900 and has taken part in 18 of the 24 summer games. It has been one of the more successful countries at the ], with a total of 301 medals won throughout the years, of which 88 gold ones, ranking ], and second (behind neighbour Hungary) of the nations that have never hosted the game. It participated at the ] in Los Angeles in defiance of a ] and finished second in gold medals (20) and third in total medal count (53).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adevarul.ro/cultura/istorie/recurs-istorie-s-a-prabusit-romania-olimpida-londrad-1_502cfffd8a396968668d41ac/index.html |title=Recurs la ISTORIE: De ce s-a "prăbușit" România la Olimpiada de la Londra? |publisher=adevarul.ro |date= |accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref> Almost a quarter of all the medals and 25 of the gold ones were won in ], with ] becoming the first gymnast ever to score a perfect ten in an Olympic event at the ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.gymn-forum.net/Articles/NYT-1976_AmCup2.html|title=Gymnast Posts Perfect Mark|first=Robin|last=Herman|publisher=New York Times|date=28 March 1976|accessdate=13 August 2008}}</ref> Romanian competitors have won gold medals in other Olympic sports: rowing, athletics, canoeing, wrestling, shooting, fencing, swimming, weightlifting, boxing, and judo. At the ], Romania has won only a bronze medal in bobsleigh at the ].

==See also==
* ]
* ]
*{{Books-inline|Romania}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Sources==

===Primary sources===
{{Refbegin}}
*'''' (Translated by William Beloe) (1859). Derby & Jackson.
*'''' (Translated by John Selby Watson) (1886). George Bell and Sons.
{{Refend}}

===Secondary sources===
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Hitchins |first=Keith |title=A Concise History of Romania |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2014 |pages=|isbn=978-0-521-87238-6|ref=harv}}
*{{cite book |last=Pohl |first=Walter |editor1-last=Geary |editor1-first=Patrick J. |editor2-last=Klaniczay |editor2-first=Gábor | title=Manufacturing Middle Ages: Entangled History of Medievalism in Nineteenth-Century Europe |publisher=BRILL |year=2013 |pages=13–50 |chapter=''National origin narratives in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy'' |isbn=978-90-04-24487-0|ref=harv}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Romania|voy=Romania}}
* from ].
* from ]
* from ].
*{{CIA World Factbook link|ro|Romania}}
* information from the ].
* from the United States ].
* at ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''.
*{{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Romania}}
*{{wikiatlas|Romania}}
*{{osmrelation-inline|90689}}
* from ].
*

===Government===
*
*

===Culture and history links===
*
*

===Travel===
*
*
*

{{Geographic Location
| Centre = {{flag|Romania}}
| North = {{flag|Ukraine}}
| Northeast =
| East = {{flag|Moldova}}<br><br>{{flag|Ukraine}}
| Southeast = ]
| South = {{flag|Bulgaria}}
| Southwest =
| West = {{flag|Hungary}}<br><br>{{flag|Serbia}}
| Northwest =
}}
{{Romania topics |expanded}}
{{Sovereign states of Europe}}
{{Portal bar|Geography|<!-- Eurasia -->|Europe|European Union|NATO}}

{{Authority control}}

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Revision as of 15:54, 25 February 2017