01
Physical geography
Central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps.
Local timeBucharest ·
Europe / Southeast Europe · Card 042
Romania
Romania is a country in Southeast Europe. Its capital is Bucharest.
Find Romania
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Bucharest
- Languages
- Romanian
- Currency
- Romanian leu (RON)
- Population
- 19.0 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 238,391 km²92,043.24 square miles
- Independence
- 1877 / 1878Declared in 1877; internationally recognized in 1878.
Romania in context
Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Bucharest; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Romanian.
03
Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine.
Flag
Three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red
History & independence
The union of Moldavia and Wallachia in 1859 laid the foundation of modern Romania. Independence from the Ottoman Empire was declared in 1877 and recognized in 1878. Communist rule ended with the 1989 revolution.
-
Moldavia and Wallachia unite under one ruler
-
Romanian independence is internationally recognized
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The revolution ends communist rule
Economy
Main activities
Services, manufacturing, information technology, agriculture and energy contribute to the economy. Vehicle production and other export industries are connected to European supply chains. Romania is an EU member and retains the leu.
Industry and production
electric machinery and equipment, auto assembly, textiles and footwear, light machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining, mining, timber, construction materials
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people19.02025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 20,250,398 | 20.250 |
| 1980 | 22,207,282 | 22.207 |
| 1990 | 23,201,835 | 23.202 |
| 2000 | 22,442,971 | 22.443 |
| 2010 | 20,246,871 | 20.247 |
| 2020 | 19,265,250 | 19.265 |
| 2025 | 19,020,271 | 19.020 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars239.02025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 116,460,149,705 | 116.460 |
| 1991 | 101,415,582,149 | 101.416 |
| 1992 | 92,524,246,376 | 92.524 |
| 1993 | 93,938,788,973 | 93.939 |
| 1994 | 97,632,408,356 | 97.632 |
| 1995 | 103,718,335,743 | 103.718 |
| 1996 | 107,771,339,314 | 107.771 |
| 1997 | 102,545,439,457 | 102.545 |
| 1998 | 100,463,958,893 | 100.464 |
| 1999 | 100,085,550,636 | 100.086 |
| 2000 | 102,548,919,722 | 102.549 |
| 2001 | 107,900,062,083 | 107.900 |
| 2002 | 114,053,593,614 | 114.054 |
| 2003 | 116,723,756,275 | 116.724 |
| 2004 | 128,895,841,499 | 128.896 |
| 2005 | 134,912,890,211 | 134.913 |
| 2006 | 145,744,791,283 | 145.745 |
| 2007 | 156,287,689,281 | 156.288 |
| 2008 | 170,834,114,653 | 170.834 |
| 2009 | 161,409,698,529 | 161.410 |
| 2010 | 155,105,339,844 | 155.105 |
| 2011 | 162,078,238,595 | 162.078 |
| 2012 | 165,163,587,446 | 165.164 |
| 2013 | 165,624,017,080 | 165.624 |
| 2014 | 172,441,103,432 | 172.441 |
| 2015 | 177,885,131,240 | 177.885 |
| 2016 | 182,972,525,962 | 182.973 |
| 2017 | 197,967,999,561 | 197.968 |
| 2018 | 208,647,427,408 | 208.647 |
| 2019 | 216,910,469,745 | 216.910 |
| 2020 | 209,105,975,818 | 209.106 |
| 2021 | 220,789,460,074 | 220.789 |
| 2022 | 230,035,489,109 | 230.035 |
| 2023 | 235,229,078,940 | 235.229 |
| 2024 | 237,383,786,158 | 237.384 |
| 2025 | 238,992,844,284 | 238.993 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.845Very High human developmentRank 55 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.719
20000.730
20100.822
20200.832
20230.845
75.9 yearsLife expectancy at birth
11.6 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Semi-presidential republic. Parliament of Romania (Parlamentul României) has two chambers (a bicameral legislature).
Knowledge check
Three questions about Romania.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Romania?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.