World Factbook
Romania
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red meaning: the colors come from the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania history: modeled on the French flag; the national coat of arms that used to be centered on the yellow band has been removed
note: similar to the flag of Chad, which has a darker blue band; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
Capital
name
Bucharest
etymology
the name is said to come from a shepherd named Bucur who is reputed to have founded the town in 1457, but a settlement probably already existed on the site; the name may come from the personal name of an early landowner
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
44 26 N, 26 06 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991
amendment process
initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania’s counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or – if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended
Country name
former
Kingdom of Romania, Romanian People's Republic, Socialist Republic of Romania
etymology
the name derives from the Latin Romani , meaning "people from Rome;" the area was an outpost of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century A.D., and the current name was adopted when Moldavia and Wallachia merged in 1861
local long form
none
local short form
Romania
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Romania
Independence
9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
Legal system
civil law system
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; regional tribunals; first instance courts; military and arbitration courts
judge selection and term of office
High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists; judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms
Executive branch
note
note: the prime ministerial position will be rotated in 2027 from BOLOJAN to another coalition party member as part of a power-sharing agreement
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
chief of state
President Nicușor DAN (since 26 May 2025)
election results
2025: Nicușor DAN elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Nicușor DAN (unaffiliated) 53.6%, George SIMION (AUR) 46.4% 2019: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%
head of government
Prime Minister Ilie BOLOJAN (since 23 June 2005)
most recent election date
18 May 2025
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament
expected date of next election
2030
National holiday
Unification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
National color(s)
blue, yellow, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
11 (9 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Danube Delta (n); Churches of Moldavia (c); Monastery of Horezu (c); Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (c); Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (c); Historic Center of Sighişoara (c); Wooden Churches of Maramureş (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n); Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c); Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia (c)
Political parties
Alliance for the Fatherland or APP Alliance for the Unity of Romanians or AUR Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD Civic Hungarian Party Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR Ecologist Party of Romania or PER Force of the Right or FD Greater Romania Party or PRM Green Party National Liberal Party or PNL Popular Movement Party or PMP PRO Romania or PRO Romanian Nationhood Party or PNR Save Romania Union Party or USR Social Democratic Party or PSD Social Liberal Humanist Party or PUSL (formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) or PPU-SL) S.O.S. Romania The Right Alternative or AD United Romania Party or PRU We are Renewing the European Project in Romania or REPER
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament of Romania (Parlamentul României)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian!)
history
adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution
lyrics/music
Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN
National symbol(s)
golden eagle
Administrative divisions
41 counties ( judete , singular - judet ) and 1 municipality* ( municipiu ); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Camera Deputatilor)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
331 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
12/1/2024
expected date of next election
November 2028
percentage of women in chamber
22.4%
parties elected and seats per party
Social Democratic Party (PSD) (86); Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) (63); National Liberal Party (PNL) (49); Save Romania Union (USR) (40); S.O.S. Romania (28); Party of Young People (POT) (24); Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) (22)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Senatul)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
136 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
12/1/2024
expected date of next election
November 2028
percentage of women in chamber
20.9%
parties elected and seats per party
Social Democratic Party (PSD) (36); Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) (28); National Liberal Party (PNL) (22); Save Romania Union (USR) (19); S.O.S. Romania (12); Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) (10); Party of Young People (POT) (7)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 232-4748
chancery
1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 332-4829
chief of mission
Ambassador Dan-Andrei MURARU (since 15 September 2021)
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
email address and website
washington@mae.ro https://washington.mae.ro/en
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[40] (21) 200-3442
embassy
4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118
telephone
[40] (21) 200-3300
mailing address
5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael L. DICKERSON (since 20 May 2025)
email address and website
ACSBucharest@state.gov https://ro.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA,UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction