Romania-The Intelligentsia
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Background | | The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
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Location | | Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
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Area(sq km) | | total: 238,391 sq km
land: 229,891 sq km
water: 8,500 sq km
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Geographic coordinates | | 46 00 N, 25 00 E
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Land boundaries(km) | | total: 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km
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Coastline(km) | | 225 km
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Climate | | temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
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Elevation extremes(m) | | lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
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Natural resources | | petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
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Land use(%) | | arable land: 39.49%
permanent crops: 1.92%
other: 58.59% (2005)
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Irrigated land(sq km) | | 30,770 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources(cu km) | | 42.3 cu km (2003)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) | | total: 6.5 cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%)
per capita: 299 cu m/yr (2003)
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Natural hazards | | earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
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Environment - current issues | | soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
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Environment - international agreements | | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note | | controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
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Population | | 22,215,421 (July 2009 est.)
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Age structure(%) | | 0-14 years: 15.5% (male 1,772,583/female 1,681,539)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 7,711,062/female 7,784,041)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,332,120/female 1,934,076) (2009 est.)
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Median age(years) | | total: 37.7 years
male: 36.3 years
female: 39.2 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate(%) | | -0.147% (2009 est.)
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Birth rate(births/1,000 population) | | 10.53 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Death rate(deaths/1,000 population) | | 11.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
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Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population) | | -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Urbanization(%) | | urban population: 54% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio(male(s)/female) | | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births) | | total: 22.9 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth(years) | | total population: 72.45 years
male: 68.95 years
female: 76.16 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate(children born/woman) | | 1.39 children born/woman (2009 est.)
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Nationality | | noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian
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Ethnic groups(%) | | Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)
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Religions(%) | | Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)
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Languages(%) | | Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%
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Country name | | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania
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Government type | | republic
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Capital | | name: Bucharest
geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E
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
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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, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
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Constitution | | 8 December 1991; revised 29 October 2003
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Legal system | | based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage | | 18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch | | chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Emil BOC (since 22 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Marko BELA (since 23 December 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 November 2009 with runoff on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in November-December 2014); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament
election results: Traian BASESCU reelected president; percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 50.3%, Mircea GEOANA 49.7%
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Legislative branch | | bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote in a mixed electoral system to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (334 seats; members are elected by popular vote in a mixed electoral system to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PC 34.2%, PD-L 33.6%, PNL 18.7%, UDMR 6.4%, other 7.1%; seats by alliance/party - PSD-PC 49, PD-L 51, PNL 28, UDMR 9; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PC 33.1%, PD-L 32.4%, PNL 18.6%, UDMR 6.2%, ethnic minorities 3.6%, other 6.1%; seats by alliance/party - PSD-PC 114, PD-L 115, PNL 65, UDMR 22, ethnic minorities 18
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Judicial branch | | Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges appointed for three-year terms by the president in consultation with the Superior Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister of justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society representatives appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and prosecutors elected by their peers); a separate body, the Constitutional Court, validates elections and makes decisions regarding the constitutionality of laws, treaties, ordinances, and internal rules of the Parliament; it is comprised of nine members serving nine-year terms, with three members each appointed by the president, the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies
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Political pressure groups and leaders | | other: various human rights and professional associations
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International organization participation | | Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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Flag description | | three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
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Economy - overview | | Romania, which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Domestic consumption and investment have fueled strong GDP growth in recent years, but have led to large current account imbalances. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to handicap its business environment. Inflation rose in 2007-08, driven in part by strong consumer demand and high wage growth, rising energy costs, a nation-wide drought affecting food prices, and a relaxation of fiscal discipline. Romania's strong GDP growth moderated markedly in the last quarter of 2008 as the country began to feel the effects of a global downturn in financial markets and trade, and growth is expected to be much weaker in 2009. Romania hopes to adopt the euro by 2014.
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GDP (purchasing power parity) | | $272 billion (2008 est.)
$254 billion (2007 est.)
$239.2 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate) | | $200.1 billion (2008 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate(%) | | 7.1% (2008 est.)
6.2% (2007 est.)
7.9% (2006 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP) | | $12,200 (2008 est.)
$11,400 (2007 est.)
$10,700 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector(%) | | agriculture: 8.1%
industry: 36%
services: 55.9% (2008 est.)
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Labor force | | 9.32 million (2008 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation(%) | | agriculture: 29.7%
industry: 23.2%
services: 47.1% (2006)
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Unemployment rate(%) | | 4.4% (2008 est.)
4.1% (2007 est.)
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Population below poverty line(%) | | 25% (2005 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share(%) | | lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 20.8% (2006)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index | | 32 (2008)
28.8 (2003)
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Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP) | | 33.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
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Budget | | revenues: $65.29 billion
expenditures: $74.99 billion (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%) | | 7.8% (2008 est.)
4.8% (2007 est.)
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Stock of money | | $25.3 billion (31 December 2008)
$25.17 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money | | $36.09 billion (31 December 2008)
$34.96 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of domestic credit | | $72.85 billion (31 December 2008)
$58.76 billion (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares | | $19.92 billion (31 December 2008)
$44.93 billion (31 December 2007)
$32.78 billion (31 December 2006)
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Economic aid - recipient | | $914.3 million (2004)
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Public debt(% of GDP) | | 14.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
23.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Agriculture - products | | wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep
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Industries | | electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining
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Industrial production growth rate(%) | | 7.1% (2008 est.)
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Current account balance | | -$24.81 billion (2008 est.)
-$23.02 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports | | $49.41 billion (2008 est.)
$40.32 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities(%) | | machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products
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Exports - partners(%) | | Germany 16.5%, Italy 15.6%, France 7.4%, Turkey 6.6%, Hungary 5.1%, Bulgaria 4.2% (2008)
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Imports | | $76.17 billion (2008 est.)
$64.54 billion (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities(%) | | machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, metals, agricultural products
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Imports - partners(%) | | Germany 16.3%, Italy 11.4%, Hungary 7.4%, Russia 6%, France 5.7%, Turkey 4.9%, Austria 4.9%, Kazakhstan 4.6%, China 4.2% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | | $39.47 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$39.96 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external | | $102.2 billion (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | | $72.61 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$62.86 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | | $921 million (31 December 2008 est.)
$1.238 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Exchange rates | | lei (RON) per US dollar - 2.5 (2008 est.), 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004)
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Currency (code) | | new leu (RON) was introduced in 2005; "old" leu (ROL) was phased out in 2006; note - because of currency revaluation, 10,000 ROL = 1 RON
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Telephones - main lines in use | | 5.036 million (2007)
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Telephones - mobile cellular | | 24.467 million (2008)
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Telephone system | | general assessment: the telecommunications sector is being expanded and modernized; domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially mobile-cellular services
domestic: more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic; fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, expanding rapidly, roughly 110 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 40; the Black Sea Fiber Optic System provides connectivity to Bulgaria and Turkey; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2008)
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Internet country code | | .ro
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Internet users | | 6.132 million (2008)
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Airports | | 53 (2009)
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Pipelines(km) | | gas 3,588 km; oil 2,424 km (2008)
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Roadways(km) | | total: 198,817 km
paved: 60,043 km (includes 228 km of expressways)
unpaved: 138,774 km (2004)
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Ports and terminals | | Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea
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Military branches | | Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2009)
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Military service age and obligation(years of age) | | 18-35 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription officially ended October 2006; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive contracts for 3-year terms until age 36 (2009)
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Manpower available for military service | | males age 16-49: 5,682,299
females age 16-49: 5,557,098 (2008 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service | | males age 16-49: 4,542,720
females age 16-49: 4,604,484 (2009 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually | | male: 124,356
female: 118,430 (2009 est.)
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Military expenditures(% of GDP) | | 1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Disputes - international | | the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to issue a rejoinder, in their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania also opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea
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Electricity - production(kWh) | | 58.28 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production by source(%) | | fossil fuel: 62.5%
hydro: 27.6%
nuclear: 9.9%
other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption(kWh) | | 49.44 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - exports(kWh) | | 5.169 billion kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity - imports(kWh) | | 921 million kWh (2008 est.)
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Oil - production(bbl/day) | | 115,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - consumption(bbl/day) | | 219,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - exports(bbl/day) | | 115,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - imports(bbl/day) | | 217,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - proved reserves(bbl) | | 600 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural gas - production(cu m) | | 11.42 billion cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption(cu m) | | 16.92 billion cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - exports(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008)
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Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m) | | 63 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%) | | less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | | 15,000 (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths | | 350 (2001 est.)
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Literacy(%) | | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 98.4%
female: 96.3% (2002 census)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years) | | total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)
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Education expenditures(% of GDP) | | 3.5% of GDP (2005)
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