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Compare Romania (2004) - Virgin Islands (2003)

Compare Romania (2004) z Virgin Islands (2003)

 Romania (2004)Virgin Islands (2003)
 RomaniaVirgin Islands
Administrative divisions 41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, 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 none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Age structure 0-14 years: 16.2% (male 1,861,801; female 1,770,746)


15-64 years: 69.4% (male 7,712,612; female 7,791,900)


65 years and over: 14.4% (male 1,330,994; female 1,887,498) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 26% (male 16,685; female 15,794)


15-64 years: 64.4% (male 36,241; female 44,157)


65 years and over: 9.5% (male 5,078; female 6,823) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Airports 62 (2003 est.) 2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 25


over 3,047 m: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 9


1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2004 est.)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 36


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 10


under 914 m: 24 (2004 est.)
-
Area total: 237,500 sq km


land: 230,340 sq km


water: 7,160 sq km
total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Oregon twice the size of Washington, DC
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 full independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories following the conflict. In 1940, it 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 by a fractious coalition of centrist parties. In 2000, the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) became Romania's leading party, governing with the support of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). The opposition center-right alliance formed by the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Party (PD) scored a surprise victory over the ruling PSD in December 2004 presidential elections. The PNL-PD alliance maintains a parliamentary majority with the support of the UDMR, the Humanist Party (PUR), and various ethnic minority groups. Although Romania completed accession talks with the European Union (EU) in December 2004, it must continue to address rampant corruption - while invigorating lagging economic and democratic reforms - before it can achieve its hope of joining the EU, tentatively set for 2007. Romania joined NATO in March of 2004. During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Birth rate 10.69 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 15.8 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $17.06 billion


expenditures: $18.38 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Capital Bucharest Charlotte Amalie
Climate temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Coastline 225 km 188 km
Constitution 8 December 1991; revision came into force 29 October 2003 Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Romania


local long form: none


local short form: Romania
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
Currency leu (ROL) US dollar (USD)
Death rate 11.69 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 5.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $18.34 billion (2003 est.) $NA
Dependency status - organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Jack Dyer CROUCH II


embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest


mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)


telephone: [40] (21) 210-4042


FAX: [40] (21) 210-0395


branch office(s): Cluj-Napoca
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Sorin Dumitru DUCARU


chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851


FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748


consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
none (territory of the US)
Disputes - international has not resolved claims to Ukrainian-administered Zmyinyy (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary despite ongoing talks based on 1997 friendship treaty to find a solution in two years; Hungary amended status law extending special social and cultural benefits to ethnic Hungarians in Romania, who had objected to the law none
Economic aid - recipient - $NA
Economy - overview Romania 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. Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept growth above 4%. An IMF standby agreement, signed in 2001, was accompanied by slow but palpable gains in privatization, deficit reduction, and the curbing of inflation. The IMF Board approved Romania's completion of the standby agreement in October 2003, the first time Romania had successfully concluded an IMF agreement since the 1989 revolution. In July 2004, the Executive Board of the IMF approved a 24-month standby arrangement for $367 million. The Romanian authorities do not intend to draw on this arrangement, viewing it as a precaution. Meanwhile, recent macroeconomic gains have done little to address Romania's widespread poverty, and corruption and red tape handicap the business environment. Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment.
Electricity - consumption 46.1 billion kWh (2001) 957.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 1.6 billion kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 400 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 50.86 billion kWh (2001) 1.03 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Black Sea 0 m


highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Environment - current issues soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands lack of natural freshwater resources
Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, 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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
-
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) black 78%, white 10%, other 12%


note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%, other 2%
Exchange rates lei per US dollar - 33,200.1 (2003), 33,055.4 (2002), 29,060.8 (2001), 21,708.7 (2000), 15,332.8 (1999) the US dollar is used
Executive branch chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004)


head of government: Prime Minister Calin Popescu TARICEANU (since 29 December 2004)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 28 November 2004, with runoff between the top two candidates held 12 December 2004 (next to be held 28 November 2009 and 12 December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, Adrian NASTASE 48.77%
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Vargrave RICHARDS (since NA January 2003)


cabinet: NA


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products refined petroleum products
Exports - partners Italy 24.3%, Germany 15.7%, France 7.4%, UK 6.7%, Turkey 5.1% (2003) US, Puerto Rico
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
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 white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
GDP purchasing power parity - $155 billion (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 13.1%


industry: 38.1%


services: 48.8% (2003)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.9% (2003 est.) 2% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 46 00 N, 25 00 E 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Geography - note controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
Heliports 1 (2003 est.) -
Highways total: 198,603 km


paved: 98,308 km (including 113 km of expressways)


unpaved: 100,295 km (2000)
total: 856 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3.2%


highest 10%: 25% (1998)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos -
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, basic metals, agricultural products crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners Italy 19.6%, Germany 14.9%, Russia 8.3%, France 7.3% (2003) US, Puerto Rico
Independence 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from Turkey; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed 26 March 1881); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed) -
Industrial production growth rate 2.3% (2003) NA%
Industries textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Infant mortality rate total: 27.24 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 30.41 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 23.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 9 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 15.3% (2003) 2% (1992)
International organization participation ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 50 (2000)
Irrigated land 28,800 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates) US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Labor force 9.28 million (2003 est.) 49,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 41.4%, industry 27.3%, services 31.3% (2000) agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)
Land boundaries total: 2,508 km


border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia and Montenegro 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 40.82%


permanent crops: 2.25%


other: 56.93% (2001)
arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)
Languages Romanian (official), Hungarian, German English (official), Spanish, Creole
Legal system former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic based on US laws
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (332 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held 28 November 2004 (next to be held 28 November 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 28 November 2004 (next to be held 28 November 2008)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 37.1%, PNL-PD 31.8%, PRM 13.6%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 46, PNL 28, PD 21, PRM 21, PUR 11, UMDR 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 36.6%, PNL-PD 31.3%%, PRM 12.9%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 113, PNL 64, PD 48, PRM 48, UDMR 22, PUR 19, ethnic minorities 18
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
Life expectancy at birth total population: 71.12 years


male: 67.63 years


female: 74.82 years (2004 est.)
total population: 78.59 years


male: 74.73 years


female: 82.68 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98.4%


male: 99.1%


female: 97.7% (2003 est.)
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references Europe Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 395,350 GRT/510,232 DWT


by type: bulk 7, cargo 26, container 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 4, rail car carrier 2, roll on/roll off 4


foreign-owned: Greece 1, Italy 2


registered in other countries: 39 (2004 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the US
Military branches Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (AMR), Civil Defense -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $985 million (2002) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.47% (2002) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 5,952,834 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 5,007,375 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 163,577 (2004 est.) -
National holiday Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918) Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Nationality noun: Romanian(s)


adjective: Romanian
noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
Natural hazards earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Natural resources petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower sun, sand, sea, surf
Net migration rate -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2004) -
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party or PD [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; Humanist Party or PUR [Dan VOICULESCU]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Adrian NASTASE], formerly known as the Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders various human rights and professional associations NA
Population 22,355,551 (July 2004 est.) 124,778 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 44.5% (2000) NA%
Population growth rate -0.11% (2004 est.) 1.02% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Braila, Constanta, Galati, Mangalia, Sulina, Tulcea Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Radio broadcast stations AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998) AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)
Railways total: 11,385 km (3,888 km electrified)


standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge


broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge


narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2003)
0 km
Religions Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 87%, Protestant 6.8%, Catholic 5.6%, other (mostly Muslim) 0.4%, unaffiliated 0.2% (2002) Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Sex ratio 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: 0.71 male(s)/female


total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female


total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Telephone system general assessment: poor domestic service, but improving


domestic: 90% of telephone network is automatic; trunk network is mostly microwave radio relay, with some fiber-optic cable; about one-third of exchange capacity is digital; roughly 3,300 villages have no service


international: country code - 40; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; new digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest; note - Romania is an active participant in several international telecommunication network projects (1999)
general assessment: NA


domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Telephones - main lines in use 4.3 million (2003) 65,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 6.9 million (2003) 2,000 (1992)
Television broadcast stations 48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995) 2 (2002)
Terrain central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Total fertility rate 1.35 children born/woman (2004 est.) 2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 7.2% (2003) 4.9% (March 1999)
Waterways 1,731 km (2004) none
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