Romania
Romania is a country of about 21 million inhabitants in Eastern Europe.
Up until 1989, Romania was under the
communist regime of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. In December 1989 this
regime fell after an anti-communist revolution. Despite of the freedom
gained, life did not change for the better overnight for most Romanians.
Many people lost their jobs and with them the little means they had.
The nineties brought few of the necessary economic reforms, while unemployment rates went up and people’s purchasing power decreased dramatically.
The new millennium brought some economic
growth as Romania strived to live up to the EU accession conditions. In
spite of its 2007 accession to the EU, many challenges remain for
Romania. Additional structural reforms are crucial for building a
competitive market economy. Moreover, poverty persists with a
significant number of the population living below the poverty line.
Despite Romania’s potential in agriculture, forestry and fishery,
two-thirds of its poor live in rural areas.
Quick Statistics
(March-2007):
Population: 22 Million
Average Wage per month (before taxes): 1,367 RON (405 Euro or 540 USD)
GDP per Capita: $9,869
Unemployment: 4.9%
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania (see for more detailed or current information)
