Published on Eurydice (https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/eurydice)

Demographic Situation

Romania's population at 1st July 2008 was of 21.504.442 inhabitants, with the average density of 90.2 inhabitants per sq. km (the area of is 238.391 sq. km). In 2008, 55% of Romania’s population lived in urban areas and 45% in rural areas. Demographic decline is present both in urban and in rural areas. In 2008, average life expectancy was of 73.03 years, being of 76.68 years, for women and 69.49 years, for men. During the last 25 years, a constant process of ageing can be observed. This process of demographic ageing is more important in rural areas than in urban areas.

Official and Minority Languages

Article 13 of the Constitution stipulates that in Romania the official language is Romanian.

The Constitution and the legislation recognise all the nationalities (ethnic groups) other than Romanian and living in Romanian territory as national minorities of Romania and their mother tongues as national minorities’ languages.

According to the 2002 census, of the total population of Romania 89.48% were , 6.60% , 2.47% Rromas (Gypsies), 0.28% , 0.28% and approximately 0.9% other nationalities.

Applying the provisions of the Constitution, the Law of National Education (Law 1/2011) states that:

Education and training at all levels is provided in Romanian Language. Education and training can also be provided in the national minorities languages and in foreign languages of international circulation.

Schools or classes are organized and function with tuition in Romanian and, as required, in the national minorities languages in each locality or schooling is ensured in the national minorities languages in the nearest locality where this is possible.

Learning in school of Romanian, as the official language, is compulsory for all Romanian citizens, irrespective of their nationality. The curriculum frameworks shall ensure the necessary number of classes and conditions for mastering the official language.

The persons belonging to the national minorities have the right to study and be instructed in their mother tongue at all levels and forms of education as well as in all types of education providing there is a sufficient demand. The Law of National Education regulates in detail, the specific conditions for organizing and accomplishing education for persons belonging to national minorities.

Religions

The Constitution guarantees the freedom of religious beliefs and the equality of all citizens regardless their belief and stipulates the basic principles for religious freedom and the organisation of religious cults in Romania. Religious cults are freely organised according to their own statutes and are autonomous from the State.

According to the Constitution, the State supports the officially recognized religious cults through: facilitating religious assistance in the army and in hospitals, penitentiaries, asylums and orphanages; guaranteeing the freedom of religious education according to the specific requirements of the cults; ensuring conditions for religion to be taught in public schools, according to the religious beliefs and requirements of students and/or parents.

Any forms, means, acts or actions of religious enmity in the relationships among religious cults are expressly prohibited by the Constitution.

The general legal framework provided by the Constitution regarding religion is developed and detailed through various legislative acts. Therefore, a specific law stipulates the general regime of the religious cults and exertion of religious freedoms (Law 489/28.12.2006). The Ministry of Culture and Cults is the authority of the central public administration to elaborate and implement strategies and policies in the domain.

The large majority of Romania’s citizens are of the orthodox belief – according to the 2002 census, approximately 18.8 million persons, meaning 86.8% of the Romanian population. Beside the orthodox religion, in Romania various other religious cults, organisations and churches are recognised officially, more important being the following cults: Catholic, Protestant, Evangelic, Islamic and Mosaic.

Religious cults freely elect their leaders and nominate their clerical servants, without any interference from the State. Education of the clerical servants is accomplished through schools, faculties and theological institutes of the religious cults, most of these being part of the public education and training system.

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Source URL: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/eurydice/content/population-demographic-situation-languages-and-religio ns-64_et