RomaniaChapters
The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under 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.
Source: The CIA World Factbook - Romania
Key indicators
- Area
- 238,391 km2
- Population
- 21,230,362 (July 2021 est.)
- Government type
- semi-presidential republic
- Languages
- Romanian (official) 85.4%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 1%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.)
- GDP
- $248.716 billion (2020 est.)
- Growth rate
- -3.8% (2020 est.)
- HDI
- 49
- Capital
- Bucharest
Macroeconomic indicators
Romania, which joined the EU 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. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and to address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to permeate the business environment.
In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, Romania signed a $26 billion emergency assistance package from the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders, but GDP contracted until 2011. In March 2011, Romania and the IMF/EU/World Bank signed a 24-month precautionary standby agreement, worth $6.6 billion, to promote fiscal discipline, encourage progress on structural reforms, and strengthen financial sector stability; no funds were drawn. In September 2013, Romanian authorities and the IMF/EU agreed to a follow-on standby agreement, worth $5.4 billion, to continue with reforms. This agreement expired in September 2015, and no funds were drawn. Progress on structural reforms has been uneven, and the economy still is vulnerable to external shocks.
Economic growth rebounded in the 2013-17 period, driven by strong industrial exports, excellent agricultural harvests, and, more recently, expansionary fiscal policies in 2016-2017 that nearly quadrupled Bucharest’s annual fiscal deficit, from +0.8% of GDP in 2015 to -3% of GDP in 2016 and an estimated -3.4% in 2017. Industry outperformed other sectors of the economy in 2017. Exports remained an engine of economic growth, led by trade with the EU, which accounts for roughly 70% of Romania trade. Domestic demand was the major driver, due to tax cuts and large wage increases that began last year and are set to continue in 2018.
An aging population, emigration of skilled labor, significant tax evasion, insufficient health care, and an aggressive loosening of the fiscal package compromise Romania’s long-term growth and economic stability and are the economy's top vulnerabilities.
Source: The CIA World Factbook - Economic overview Roumania
IMF Statistics:
| Subject descriptor | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gross domestic product, constant prices Percent change (Units) |
5.709 |
4.595 |
2.110 |
2.771 |
3.601 |
|
Gross domestic product, current prices Percent change (Billions) |
286.015 |
301.273 |
345.894 |
369.971 |
389.689 |
|
Gross domestic product per capita, current prices Percent change (Units) |
14,895.318 |
15,821.133 |
18,175.989 |
19,529.841 |
20,693.270 |
|
Inflation, average consumer prices Percent change (Units) |
5.046 |
13.800 |
10.397 |
6.049 |
4.048 |
|
Volume of imports of goods and services Percent change (Units) |
14.736 |
9.939 |
-1.425 |
5.726 |
6.613 |
|
Volume of exports of goods and services Percent change (Units) |
12.488 |
9.270 |
-0.254 |
4.429 |
6.922 |
|
Unemployment rate Percent change (Units) |
5.608 |
5.625 |
5.567 |
5.600 |
5.400 |
|
Current account balance Percent change (Billions) |
-20.681 |
-27.447 |
-24.548 |
-26.292 |
-26.672 |
|
Current account balance Percent change (Units) |
-7.231 |
-9.110 |
-7.097 |
-7.107 |
-6.845 |
Estimates
Source: IMF Statistics - Romania
Relationships with Luxembourg
Existing conventions and agreements
Non double taxation agreement
In order to promote international economic and financial relations in the interest of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Luxembourg government negotiates bilateral agreements for the avoidance of double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on fortune with third countries.
- Convention from 14.12.1993 (Memorial 1995, A No.68, p.1699)
- Effective as of 01.01.1993 (Memorial 1995, A No.68, p.1699)
- Amendment of the Convention from 14.10.2011 (Memorial 2013, A No.114, p.1713)
- Effective as of 01.01.2014 (Memorial 2013, A No.114, p.1713)
Air Services agreement
- Agreement from 27.10.1972 (Memorial 1974, A, p. 699)
- Effective as of 07.03.1974 (Memorial 1974, A, p. 1324)
Source: Administration des Contributions Directes
http://www.impotsdirects.public.lu/conventions/conv_vig/index.html
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Further information
Foreign Trade
The Statec Foreign Trade statistics provide information on the trade of goods - by product and by country. This information is collected respectively through the INTRASTAT declaration and on the basis of customs documents.
You can see the statistics on the website of the Statec.
Contact points in Romania
Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Romania
Ambassador with residence in Athens: Mr Paul STEINMETZ
23A, Ave. Vas. Sophias
2, rue Neophytou Vamva
GR-106 74 Athens
Greece
Tel.: (+210) 725 64 00
Fax: (+210) 725 64 05
E-Mail: athenes.amb@mae.etat.lu
Website: athenes.mae.lu
Honorary Consuls
Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over Greater Wallachia:
Mr Mihai FERARIU
Chancellarie Str. Dr. Raureanu
Nr 4, sector 5
R-05 0048 Bucharest
Romania
Tel.: (+40) 21 310 35 10
E-Mail: ferariu@rdslink.ro
Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over Transylvania:
Mr Daniel PLIER
str Gheorghe Doja 1
555600 Ocna Sibiului
Romania
Tel.: (+40) 722 407 768; (+353) 621 610914
E-Mail: sibiu@consul-hon.lu
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg
Country risk as defined by Office du Ducroire for Romania
Ducroire is the only credit insurer covering open account deals in over 200 countries. A rating on a scale from 1 to 7 shows the intensity of the political risk. Category 1 comprises countries with the lowest political risk and category 7 countries with the highest. Macroeconomics experts also assess the repayment climate for all buyers in a country.
Link: Ducroire Office - Country Risk for Romania
Other useful links
- CIA World Factbook on Romania
- Embassy of Romania in Luxembourg
- Romania Luxembourg Business Forum
- Chamber of Commerce of Romania
- Roumanie sur le site du l'AWEX
- National Bank of Romania
- Romanian Banking Association
- National Institute of Statistics
- Doing Business in Romania
- Economic Freedom Index - Romania