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Compare Virgin Islands (2008) - Romania (2007)

Compare Virgin Islands (2008) z Romania (2007)

 Virgin Islands (2008)Romania (2007)
 Virgin IslandsRomania
Administrative divisions 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 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
Age structure 0-14 years: 21.8% (male 11,897/female 11,696)


15-64 years: 66.5% (male 34,204/female 37,911)


65 years and over: 11.7% (male 5,642/female 7,098) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 1,787,334/female 1,696,270)


15-64 years: 69.6% (male 7,721,160/female 7,793,063)


65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,344,673/female 1,933,556) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep
Airports 2 (2007) 61 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
total: 25


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 9


1,524 to 2,437 m: 12


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 36


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 12


under 914 m: 22 (2007)
Area total: 1,910 sq km


land: 346 sq km


water: 1,564 sq km
total: 237,500 sq km


land: 230,340 sq km


water: 7,160 sq km
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Oregon
Background 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. 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.
Birth rate 13.68 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 10.67 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA
revenues: $38.08 billion


expenditures: $40.1 billion (2006 est.)
Capital name: Charlotte Amalie


geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Coastline 188 km 225 km
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies


abbreviation: USVI
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Romania


local long form: none


local short form: Romania
Death rate 6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 11.81 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $NA $54.39 billion (2006 est.)
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 none (territory of the US) chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas F. TAUBMAN


embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest


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


telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300


FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniela GITMAN


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


telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852


FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748


consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Disputes - international none 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
Economic aid - recipient $NA -
Economy - overview Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment. 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 GDP growth above 4%. However, macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty, while corruption and red tape continue to handicap the business environment. Romanian government confidence in continuing disinflation was underscored by its currency revaluation in 2005, making 10,000 "old" lei equal 1 "new" leu. The economy grew at 6.4% in 2006, the strongest growth in the last decade. Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, and the IMF has praised the country's recent reform efforts in preparation for EU accession.
Electricity - consumption 926.4 million kWh (2005) 48.17 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 5.224 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 2.321 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 996.1 million kWh (2005) 56.91 billion kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m


highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
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
Ethnic groups black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census) 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)
Exchange rates the US dollar is used lei per US dollar - 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003), 3 (2002)
Executive branch 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 John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)


cabinet: NA


elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)


election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%
chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004); note - President Traian BASESCU was suspended by vote of parliament on 19 April 2007, but resumed his duties on 23 May 2007 after a popular referendum confirmed that his impeachment should not stand


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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 November 2004 with runoff between the top two candidates held 12 December 2004 (next to be held in November-December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament


election results: percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, Adrian NASTASE 48.77%
Exports 397,400 bbl/day (2004) NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico (2006) Italy 17.9%, Germany 15.7%, Turkey 7.7%, France 7.5%, Hungary 4.9%, UK 4.7% (2006)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September calendar year
Flag description 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 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
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 19%


services: 80% (2003 est.)
agriculture: 9.1%


industry: 34.9%


services: 56% (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2002 est.) 7.7% (2006 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 46 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography - note 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 controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
Heliports - 2 (2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 3.3%


highest 10%: 24.4% (2003)
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 493,000 bbl/day (2004) 181,100 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, basic metals, agricultural products
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico (2006) Germany 15.2%, Italy 14.5%, Russia 7.8%, France 6.5%, Turkey 4.9%, China 4.3% (2006)
Independence none (territory of the US) 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 5.7% (2006 est.)
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining
Infant mortality rate total: 7.69 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 27.71 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 21.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.2% (2003) 6.6% (2006 est.)
International organization participation IOC, UPU ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Irrigated land NA 30,770 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) 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
Labor force 43,980 (2004 est.) 9.33 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 1%


industry: 19%


services: 80% (2003 est.)
agriculture: 31.6%


industry: 30.7%


services: 37.7% (2004)
Land boundaries 0 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
Land use arable land: 5.71%


permanent crops: 2.86%


other: 91.43% (2005)
arable land: 39.49%


permanent crops: 1.92%


other: 58.59% (2005)
Languages English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census) Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%
Legal system based on US laws based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (332 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held 28 November 2004 (next expected to be held in November 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 28 November 2004 (next expected to be held 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%, other 11.3%; seats by party - PSD 44, PNL 30, PD 20, PRM 20, PC 11, UDMR 10, independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 36.8%, PNL-PD 31.5%, PRM 13%, UDMR 6.2%, other 12.5%; seats by party - PSD 111, PNL 66, PD 45, PRM 34, UDMR 22, PC 20, ex-PRM (Ciontu Group) 12, PIN (GUSA Group) 3, independent 1, ethnic minorities 18
Life expectancy at birth total population: 79.2 years


male: 75.4 years


female: 83.22 years (2007 est.)
total population: 71.91 years


male: 68.41 years


female: 75.62 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 90-95% est.


male: NA%


female: NA% (2005 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 97.3%


male: 98.4%


female: 96.3% (2002 census)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Europe
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Merchant marine - total: 19 ships (1000 GRT or over) 146,307 GRT/165,548 DWT


by type: cargo 13, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1


registered in other countries: 50 (Cambodia 1, Georgia 15, North Korea 6, Malta 10, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 8, Sierra Leone 2, St Kitts and Nevis 1, St Vincent and The Grenadines 1, Syria 4, Tuvalu 1, unknown 4) (2007)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US -
Military branches - Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2006)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.47% (2005 est.)
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun: Romanian(s)


adjective: Romanian
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Net migration rate -8.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Pipelines - gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] Conservative Party or PC [Dan VOICULESCU] (formerly Humanist Party or PUR); Democratic Party or PD [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu-TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romania Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA] (formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR)
Political pressure groups and leaders NA various human rights and professional associations
Population 108,448 (July 2007 est.) 22,276,056 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line 28.9% (2002) 25% (2005 est.)
Population growth rate -0.171% (2007 est.) -0.127% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005) AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)
Railways - total: 11,385 km


broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge


standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge (3,888 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% 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)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.017 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.902 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.795 male(s)/female


total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.054 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.991 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.695 male(s)/female


total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


domestic: full range of services available


international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA
general assessment: rapidly improving domestic and international service, especially in wireless telephony


domestic: 90% of telephone network is automatic; liberalization in 2003 is transforming telecommunications; there has been 20% growth in fixed lines with a penetration rate of 58% of households; nation-wide wireless service is growing even faster with 4 major providers and a penetration rate of 32%


international: country code - 40; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2005)
Telephones - main lines in use 71,700 (2005) 4.231 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular 80,300 (2005) 17.4 million (2006)
Television broadcast stations 5 (2006) 48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land 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
Total fertility rate 2.16 children born/woman (2007 est.) 1.38 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 6.2% (2004) 6.1% (2006 est.)
Waterways - 1,731 km


note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals (2006)
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