History of Romania in Timeline

Romania is a country located in Southeast and Central Europe, bordering Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and the Black Sea. Its capital and largest city is Bucharest. With a population of nearly 20 million, it is the sixth-most populous member state of the European Union and the twelfth-largest country in Europe by area. Other major cities include Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Constanța, Timișoara, Brașov, Oradea, and Sibiu.

1912: High Fertility Rate

In 1912, the total fertility rate in Romania was high of 5.82 children born per woman.

1913: Second Balkan War

In 1913, Romania entered the Second Balkan War against Bulgaria and obtained Southern Dobruja at the end of the conflict.

1914: King Carol I's Death

In 1914, King Carol I of Romania died, and his nephew, Ferdinand I, succeeded him to the throne.

1916: Romania Enters WWI

In 1916, Romania entered World War I on the side of the Entente Powers.

1918: Great Union Day in 1918

The Great Union Day, celebrated on 1 December, commemorates the 1918 union of Transylvania with Romania.

1919: Treaty of Saint Germain

In 1919, after World War I, the union of Bukovina with Romania was ratified by the Treaty of Saint Germain.

1920: Treaty of Trianon

In 1920, the Treaty of Trianon defined the new border between Hungary and Romania, ratifying the annexation of Crișana, Transylvania and parts of Banat and Maramureș to Romania.

October 1922: Royal Coronation

In October 1922, King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria were crowned sovereign of all Romanians in Alba Iulia.

1922: First Match of the Romania National Football Team in 1922

The Romania national football team played its first match in 1922.

1925: Carol II's Abdication

In 1925, Carol II left the country and renounced his claim to the throne.

1930: Carol II's Return

In 1930, Carol II returned and usurped his son's throne.

1930: Jewish Population in 1930

In 1930, Jews constituted 4% of the Romanian population, totaling 728,115 persons according to the census that year.

1930: German Population

In 1930, there were 745,421 Germans living in Romania.

1937: 1937 elections

In May 1990, the first free elections in Romania since the 1937 elections were held.

1938: Dictatorial Powers

In 1938, Carol II assumed dictatorial powers, undermining the democratic system.

1938: Suspension of Constitution

In 1938, King Carol II suspended the 1938 Constitution of Romania and appointed General Ion Antonescu as Prime Minister.

1939: Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

Following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939, Romania faced territorial losses.

June 1940: Loss of Territories to USSR

In June 1940, Romania accepted the loss of Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and the Hertsa region to the USSR, according to the Soviet ultimatum of June 28, 1940.

September 1940: Cession of Northern Transylvania

In September 1940, Romania ceded Northern Transylvania to Hungary following Hitler's arbitration.

1940: Loss of Territories

In 1940, under pressure from the Axis powers, Romania was compelled to cede territories to Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union.

1941: Romania Enters WWII

In 1941, Romania entered World War II as an ally of Nazi Germany, declaring war on the Soviet Union.

August 1944: King Michael's Coup

In August 1944, King Mihai I removed Marshal Ion Antonescu from power and Romania switched sides to join the Allies.

1947: King Michael's Abdication

In 1947, King Michael I was forced to abdicate, leading to the proclamation of the People's Republic of Romania.

1959: Romania's Involvement in the International Mathematical Olympiad since 1959

Romania has participated in the International Mathematical Olympiad since 1959.

1961: Handball World Championship in 1961

The Romanian men's handball team won the world championship in 1961.

1962: Women's Handball World Championship in 1962

The Romanian women's handball team won the world championship in 1962.

1964: Handball World Championship in 1964

The Romanian men's handball team won the world championship in 1964.

1965: Dinamo București wins EHF Champions League in 1965

Dinamo București won the EHF Champions League in 1965.

1965: Gheorghiu-Dej's Death

In 1965, communist leader Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej died, leading to a power struggle and the rise of Nicolae Ceaușescu.

1967: Ceaușescu's Presidency

In 1967, Nicolae Ceaușescu became President of the State Council.

1968: Steaua București wins EHF Champions League in 1968

Steaua București won the EHF Champions League in 1968.

1969: Davis Cup Finals in 1969

Romania reached the Davis Cup finals in 1969.

1970: Handball World Championship in 1970

The Romanian men's handball team won the world championship in 1970.

1971: Davis Cup Finals in 1971

Romania reached the Davis Cup finals in 1971.

1972: IMF and World Bank

In 1972, Romania joined the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

1972: Davis Cup Finals in 1972

Romania reached the Davis Cup finals in 1972.

1974: President of the Republic

In 1974, Nicolae Ceaușescu became President of the Socialist Republic of Romania.

1974: Handball World Championship in 1974

The Romanian men's handball team won the world championship in 1974.

1977: Steaua București wins EHF Champions League in 1977

Steaua București won the EHF Champions League in 1977.

1979: Bucharest Metro Opening

In 1979, the Bucharest Metro, the only underground railway system, was opened.

1984: Dinamo București in 1984

Dinamo București reached the UEFA Champions League semi-final in 1984.

1984: Romania's Performance at the 1984 Summer Olympics

The 1984 Summer Olympics was Romania's most successful run, winning 53 medals, including 20 gold medals.

1986: Elie Wiesel's Nobel Peace Prize in 1986

In 1986, Romanian-born Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel received the Nobel Peace Prize.

1986: Steaua București wins UEFA Champions League in 1986

Steaua București became the first Eastern European team to win the UEFA Champions League in 1986.

December 1989: Romanian Revolution Escalates

In December 1989, a protest in Timișoara escalated into a national uprising against the communist regime, resulting in the execution of Ceaușescu and his wife.

December 1989: Strengthening Western Relations

Since December 1989, Romania has strengthened relations with the West, particularly the United States and the EU.

1989: Post-Revolution Instability

After 1989, Romania experienced a decade of economic instability and decline.

1989: Decline in Rail Transport

After 1989, Romania's rail transport experienced a dramatic decline.

1989: After the Romanian Revolution

After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, a significant number of Romanians emigrated to other European countries, North America or Australia.

1989: Ceaușescu's Rule

From 1965 to 1989, Ceaușescu's rule grew increasingly authoritarian during the 1980s.

1989: Post-1989 Protests

From 2017 to 2019, some of the biggest post-1989 protests took place in Romania, with over 500,000 people protesting nationwide.

1989: Romania's Involvement in the International Olympiad in Informatics since 1989

Romania has participated in the International Olympiad in Informatics since 1989.

1989: Post-Communist Transition

Since 1989, Romania has experienced the privatization and closure of former industrial enterprises, with corruption becoming a major issue.

1989: Romanian Educational System Reform in 1989

Since the Romanian Revolution of 1989, the Romanian educational system has been in a continuous process of reform.

1989: Steaua București as Runners-Up in 1989

Steaua București were runners-up in the UEFA Champions League in 1989.

May 1990: First Free Elections

In May 1990, the first free elections in Romania since 1937 were held, with Iliescu winning the presidency.

1990: Dinamo București in 1990

Dinamo București reached the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup semi-final in 1990.

1990: Settled Abroad

In 1990, 96,919 Romanians permanently settled abroad.

1992: Re-election of Iliescu

In 1992, Iliescu was reelected in the first election after the adoption of a permanent constitution.

1994: Romania's Performance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup

The Romania national football team finished 6th at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

1995: Ciprian Manolescu's Achievement in 1995

In 1995, Ciprian Manolescu achieved a perfect paper (42 points) for a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad.

1996: Ciprian Manolescu's Achievement in 1996

In 1996, Ciprian Manolescu achieved a perfect paper (42 points) for a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad.

1996: Election Loss

In 1996, Illiescu lost the election to Emil Constantinescu.

1996: Decline in Urban Population Since 1996

The percentage of the Romanian population living in urban areas has been declining since 1996.

1997: Ciprian Manolescu's Achievement in 1997

In 1997, Ciprian Manolescu achieved a perfect paper (42 points) for a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad.

1997: FIFA Ranking in 1997

The Romania national football team was ranked 3rd by FIFA in 1997.

2000: Economic Transformation

From 2000 onwards, the Romanian economy was transformed into one of relative macroeconomic stability.

2000: Return to Power

In 2000, Illiescu returned to power as president.

2002: Troop Contribution to Afghanistan

In 2002, Romania began contributing troops to the international coalition in Afghanistan.

2002: Anticorruption Directorate Formed

In 2002, a National Anticorruption Directorate was formed in Romania.

March 2004: Joined NATO

In March 2004, Romania joined NATO.

2004: Passenger Journeys

In 2004, Romania's rail transport was estimated at 99 million passenger journeys.

2004: Băsescu Elected

In 2004, Traian Băsescu was elected president.

2004: School Enrollment in 2004

In 2004, approximately 4.4 million individuals were enrolled in the Romanian school system, including kindergarten, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.

December 2005: Agreement with the United States

In December 2005, Romania and the United States signed an agreement allowing a U.S. military presence at Romanian facilities.

2005: Eurovision Song Contest in 2005

At the Eurovision Song Contest, Romanian singers achieved third place in 2005.

2005: The Death of Mr. Lazarescu wins Prix Un Certain Regard in 2005

In 2005, "The Death of Mr. Lazarescu" by Cristi Puiu won the Prix Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival.

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2005: Auction of Brâncuși's Sculpture in 2005

In 2005, Constantin Brâncuși's sculpture "Bird in Space" was auctioned for $27.5 million.

2005: Flat Tax Implementation

In 2005, the Romanian government replaced the progressive tax system with a flat tax of 16% for personal income and corporate profit.

2005: Leu Redenomination

In 2005, the Romanian leu was redenominated, with the exchange rate set at 1 new leu = 10,000 old lei.

2005: Tourism Investments

In 2005, tourism in Romania attracted €400 million in investments.

2006: GDP Growth

In 2006, Romania recorded a GDP growth of 7.7%, one of the highest rates in Europe.

January 2007: Joined the EU

In January 2007, Romania joined the EU.

2007: Special Exemption from EU Law after 2007

After 2007, the sacrifices of live pigs during Christmas and lambs during Easter required a special exemption from EU law.

2007: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days wins Palme d'Or in 2007

In 2007, "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" by Cristian Mungiu won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

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2007: Schengen Area Application

In 2007, Romania applied to join the Schengen Area.

2007: EU Accession

In 2007, Romania joined the EU.

2007: Sibiu as European Capital of Culture in 2007

In 2007, the city of Sibiu, with its Brukenthal National Museum, was selected as the European Capital of Culture.

2007: Entry into the EU

Romania's 2007 entry into the EU has significantly influenced its domestic policy.

2008: Financial Crisis

The Great Recession in Europe followed the 2008 financial crisis.

July 2009: Withdrawal from Iraq

On 24 July 2009, Romania terminated its mission in Iraq and withdrew its last troops, among the last countries to do so.

2009: Improved Relations with Moldova

After the 2009 protests in Moldova and the subsequent removal of Communists from power, relations between Moldova and Romania improved considerably.

2009: Immigrant Population

As of 2009, there were approximately 133,000 immigrants living in Romania, primarily from Moldova and China.

2009: Herta Müller's Nobel Prize in Literature in 2009

In 2009, Banat Swabian writer Herta Müller received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

2009: Bailout by IMF

In 2009, Romania was bailed out by the International Monetary Fund due to the Great Recession.

2009: Economic Setback

In 2009, Romania's development suffered a setback during the late 2000s' recession, leading to a large GDP contraction and budget deficit.

2009: Black Sea Resorts Tourists

In 2009, the popular summer attractions of Mamaia and other Black Sea Resorts attracted 1.3 million tourists.

2010: Eurovision Song Contest in 2010

At the Eurovision Song Contest, Romanian singers achieved third place in 2010.

2010: Peak Deployment in Afghanistan

In 2010, Romania had a peak deployment of 1,600 troops in Afghanistan, which was the 4th largest contribution according to the US.

2010: French Speakers

In 2010, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie identified 4,756,100 French speakers in Romania.

January 2011: Law on Quality Control

In January 2011, Parliament passed a law that enforces strict quality control on universities and introduces tough rules for funding evaluation and peer review.

December 2011: Ratification of US Agreement

In December 2011, the Romanian Senate unanimously adopted the draft law ratifying the Romania-United States agreement signed in September of the same year for a US land-based ballistic missile defence system in Romania.

2011: Urban Population in 2011

In 2011, 54.0% of the Romanian population lived in urban areas.

2011: ESA Membership

In 2011, Romania joined the European Space Agency (ESA).

2011: Participation in Libya Intervention

In 2011, the Romanian frigate Regele Ferdinand participated in the military intervention in Libya.

2012: Eurobarometer Survey

According to the 2012 Eurobarometer, English is spoken by 31% of Romanians, French is spoken by 17%, and Italian and German, each by 7%.

2012: Birth and Mortality Rates

In 2012, the birth rate in Romania was 9.49‰, while the mortality rate was 11.84‰.

2012: Political Crisis

In 2012, worsening economic conditions led to unrest and triggered a political crisis in Romania.

2012: First Satellite Launch

In early 2012, Romania launched its first satellite from the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana.

2013: Internet Speed Ranking

According to Bloomberg, in 2013, Romania ranked fifth in the world in Internet speeds.

2013: Child's Pose wins Golden Bear in 2013

In 2013, "Child's Pose" by Călin Peter Netzer won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

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2013: Revival of Rail Transport

In 2013, Romania's rail transport experienced a revival due to infrastructure improvements and partial privatization of lines.

2013: Foreign Tourists visited

In 2013, less foreign Tourists visited, that is, by 12% than in 2014.

June 2014: Internet Connections

In June 2014, there were almost 18.3 million connections to the Internet in Romania.

December 2014: Co-ownership of ISS

Starting in December 2014, Romania became a co-owner of the International Space Station.

2014: Births to Unmarried Women

In 2014, 31.2% of births in Romania were to unmarried women.

2014: Iohannis Elected

In 2014, Klaus Iohannis succeeded Traian Băsescu as president.

2014: End of Combat Mission in Afghanistan

In 2014, Romania concluded its combat mission in Afghanistan.

2014: Hotel and Restaurant Industry

In 2014, Romania had 32,500 companies active in the hotel and restaurant industry, with a total turnover of €2.6 billion.

2014: Foreign Tourists Increase

In 2014, more than 1.9 million foreign tourists visited Romania, 12% more than in 2013.

2014: Anti-Corruption Effort

Since 2014, Romania has launched an anti-corruption effort leading to the prosecution of political, judicial and administrative offenses.

2015: Road Network

In 2015, Romania's total road network was estimated at 86,080 kilometers.

2015: Colectiv Nightclub Fire

In 2015, massive anti-corruption protests following the Colectiv nightclub fire led to the resignation of prime minister Victor Ponta.

2016: Foreign Tourists

According to the Worldbank, the number of tourists in Romania reached 9.33 million foreign tourists in 2016.

2016: CSM București wins EHF Champions League in 2016

CSM București lifted the EHF Champions League trophy in 2016.

2016: Low R&D Spending

In 2016, Romania ranked the lowest or second-lowest in the EU by research and development spending as a percentage of GDP, standing at roughly 0.5%.

2016: Aegis Ashore Operational

In 2016, the Aegis Ashore missile system based at Deveslu became operational.

2017: Post-1989 Protests

From 2017 to 2019, some of the biggest post-1989 protests took place in Romania against measures perceived to weaken the fight against corruption.

2017: Low R&D Spending

In 2017, Romania ranked the lowest or second-lowest in the EU by research and development spending as a percentage of GDP, standing at roughly 0.5%.

2017: Airport Passengers

In 2017, over 12.8 million passengers flew through Bucharest's Henri Coandă International Airport.

2017: Service Sector Domination

In 2017, the service sector accounted for 56.2% of Romania's total GDP.

December 2018: Lowest FDI outward stock

In December 2018, Romania's FDI outward stock amounted to $745 million, the lowest value among the 28 EU member states.

2018: Registered Football Players in 2018

As of 2018, there were over 219,000 registered football players in Romania.

2018: Loss of ESA Voting Rights

In 2018, Romania lost its voting rights in the ESA due to a failure to pay €56.8 million in membership contributions.

2018: Adult Literacy Rate in 2018

In 2018, the adult literacy rate in Romania was reported as 98.8%.

2018: Total Fertility Rate

In 2018, the total fertility rate (TFR) in Romania was estimated at 1.36 children born per woman.

June 2019: Foreign Direct Investment

In June 2019, the stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Romania rose to €83.8 billion.

2019: Anti-Corruption Protests

During 2017–2019, in response to measures which were perceived to weaken the fight against corruption, some of the biggest post-1989 protests took place in Romania, with over 500,000 people protesting nationwide.

2019: Iohannis Re-elected

In 2019, Klaus Iohannis was re-elected as president.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2019, Romania had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.95/10, ranking it 90th globally.

2019: Sibiu as European Region of Gastronomy in 2019

In 2019, the city of Sibiu was selected as the European Region of Gastronomy.

September 2020: FTSE Russell Upgrade

In September 2020, FTSE Russell upgraded the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) from a Frontier market to a Secondary Emerging Market.

2020: Compulsory Schooling Age Change in 2020

Since 2020, compulsory schooling in Romania starts at age 5 with the last year of kindergarten and continues until twelfth grade.

2021: Romanian Census Results

According to the 2021 Romanian census, Romania's population was 19,053,815.

2021: Bucharest Population in 2021

In 2021, Bucharest, the capital of Romania, had a population of over 1.7 million, with its larger urban zone having almost 2.2 million residents.

2021: Healthcare Costs in 2021

In 2021, healthcare costs in Romania amounted to US$16.7 billion, or US$2,385 per person.

2021: Metro Ridership

In 2021, the Bucharest Metro had an average ridership of 720,000 passengers during the workweek.

2021: 2021 Census Data

In 2021, the Romanian census revealed that 73.60% of respondents identified as Orthodox Christians, with 73.42% belonging to the Romanian Orthodox Church.

2021: Political Crisis

In 2021, the Romanian political crisis led to the ousting of Florin Cîțu's government and a shift towards authoritarianism and illiberalism, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: GDP per capita

In 2022, Romania's GDP per capita (PPS) was 77% of the EU average.

2023: Defence Spending

In 2023, Romania's total defence spending accounted for 2.44% of total national GDP, or approximately US$8.48 billion.

2023: GDP per capita

In 2023, according to The World Bank, GDP per capita in purchasing power parity grew to $47,903.

2024: Healthcare Spending Increase from 2024

Healthcare spending in Romania is expected to rise by US$5 billion from 2024.

2024: Presidential Election

In 2024, Independent candidate Călin Georgescu achieved a surprise win in the first round of the presidential election, but the results were annulled due to Russian meddling.

2024: GDP (PPP)

In 2024, Romania had a GDP (PPP) of around $894 billion and a GDP per capita (PPP) of $47,203.

2024: Air Base Expansion

In 2024, construction work started on expanding the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base (RoAF 57th Air Base), which is set to become the largest NATO base in Europe.

2024: Stock Exchange Data

In 2024, the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) boasted a $74 billion market capitalisation and a trading volume of $7.2 billion with 86 companies listed.