Romania is the largest Balkan country, where the Carpathian arc encloses the historic regions of Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia, and the Danube reaches the Black Sea through one of Europe's last great deltas.
Geography & landscape
Romania sits in Eastern Europe, in the northern hemisphere of Europe. With an area of approximately 238,397 km², it is a mid-sized country, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the temperate climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Bucharest, lies near coordinates 46°, 25°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Europe, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Eastern Europe region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Romania.
People & society
The population of Romania is around 19M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
The official language is Romanian, used in government, education and most public life. Regional dialects, minority languages and immigrant communities add further linguistic texture.
Government & politics
Romania is structured as a semi-presidential republic. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Bucharest, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Romania is the Romanian Leu (RON). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Bucharest and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Romania shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Romania through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Bucharest, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +40, and clocks are set to the EET (UTC+2) time zone. ISO standards identify Romania as RO (alpha-2) and ROU (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇷🇴, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Bucharest | — |
| Continent | Europe | — |
| Sub-region | Eastern Europe | — |
| Population | 19M | people |
| Area | 238,397 | km² |
| Currency | Romanian Leu (RON) | — |
| Calling code | +40 | international dialling |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | standard time |
| Government type | Semi-presidential republic | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | RO | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | ROU | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | 46 | degrees |
| Longitude | 25 | degrees |
Did you know?
Romania's Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is the heaviest building in the world, weighing approximately 4.1 million tonnes.
