Romania is a relatively large country in Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine. The oldest skeletons of modern humans in Europe were found in present day Romania more than 40,000 years ago. In Roman times the region were known as the Kingdom of Dacia and later became a province of Rome. Dacia was heavily colonised and subjected to strong romanization. However, the Romans had to abandon Dacia in 270 AD.

Later Romania became part of the first Bulgarian Empire, where it remained until the 12th Century. A few hundreds year later the Romanian principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia were founded. Later they were followed by the principality of Transylvania. One famous ruler of Wallachia was Vlad the Impaler, who served as inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but he also successfully dealt with the treat from the Ottoman Empire. The unification of the principalities into an independent Romania took place in 1878 and the new country became a kingdom three years later. During World War I, Romania first declared itself neutral, but in 1916 joined the Allies.

During World War II, Romania again tried to remain neutral, but after the King was forced to abdicate, Romania joined the Axis. In 1944 it shifted sides and joined the Allies, but the country was still occupied by Soviet troops. After the war, Romania became a communist country although it behaved independently in several matters after the retreat of Soviet troops in 1957. It 1989 the Romanian people overthrew the communist dictator Ceauşescu. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007.

Inhabitants: 22,300,000
Area: 240,000 km2
Capital: Bucharest (1,900,000 inhabitants)
Languages: Romanian
Religion: Romanian Orthodox (87%), Roman Catholicism (5%), Protestantism (4%), others (4%)
GBD per capita: $11,800
Government: Unitary semi-presidential republic
Climate: Romania has moderate continental climate