Metropolitan areas in Romania

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The current legislation in Romania regulates the status of the 265 cities according to their population and regional importance:

Rank 0 - Bucharest, the capital of Romania - municipality of "European" importance
Rank I - municipality of national importance, with regional role and potential influence at European level
Rank II - municipality of national, regional or county-level importance, or with equilibrium role in the network of cities
Rank III - cities

Legislation also restricts the possibility to engage into a metropolitan area project to only those cities that are of rank 0 or I. Here is a list of the municipalities that as of 2007 can for metropolitan areas around them with approximate populations. Only three zones have been officially constituted by the end of 2007: Oradea, Iasi and Constanta. At least 9 others are at the level of project.

Constituted metropolitan zones

Constanţa metropolitan area (since 2007) - The project is in process and it will have a population of 550.000 in just 33% area of the Constanţa County. It includes cities like Năvodari, Ovidiu, Eforie, Techirghiol and Basarabi.

Iaşi metropolitan area (since 2005) - Today it has a population of 397,800 and 787.87 km². It will have a population over 450,000 or more if the Metropolitan Area includes cities like Ungheni over the river of Prut, territory now in Moldova.

Oradea metropolitan area (since 2005) - It had a population of 240.800 in 2006 being the largest urban area from Crişana historical region, supassing the city of Debreţin (Debrecen).

Metropolitan zones in project

Bucharest Metropolitan Area - Today has a population of 2.200.000 and is only slightly larger than the city proper (1.9 million). There are plans to greatly increase the metropollitan area within the next 5-10 years. Possible name Great/Big Bucharest. In 2018 or 2020, the metropolitan area will be 20 times larger in territory and will include cities like Giurgiu, Olteniţa or Otopeni. Bucharest Metropolitan Area will also have two ports on the Danube at Olteniţa and Giurgiu. Currently, the project advances slowly.

Braşov metropolitan area - Now has a population of 398,125, but is estimated to reach 600.000 by 2012. It includes the cities of Codlea, Săcele, Ghimbav and Râşnov and will include the city of Sfântu Gheorghe in the future.

Timişoara metropolitan area - Has a population if 387.885, but will merge with the city of Arad and its metropolitan area in the future.

Cluj-Napoca metropolitan area - Currently the population is estimated at 360,000 and will increase to over 500,000 when the metropolitan area will develop to include cities like Turda. It will probably be established in 2008.

Craiova metropolitan area - Has a population of 370.000 and will exceed 400.000 in the near future. Possible name, New Craiova.

Cantemir metropolitan area - It is formed by the cities of Galaţi and Brăila and is estimated to have a poplulation of about 600.000. After a bridge will be built over the Danube, the town of Măcin and several communes from North-Western Tulcea County will most likely join the metropolitan area. Probably, it will also extend over the border, to Ukraine (Reniysky Raion, romanian raionul Reni) and to Moldova to include the cities of Cantemir and Cahul.

Bacău metropolitan area - It includes the urban area of Bacău and will extend to Buhuşi.

Ploieşti metropolitan area - It is made up of the urban area of Ploieşti and other surrounding localities (Băicoi, Plopeni, Boldeşti-Scăeni, Urlaţi). It has a population of more than 300,000.

Other

There are some urban areas which could develop their own metropolitan areas in the future:

Cities with population over 150,000: Arad, Piteşti, Sibiu, Târgu Mureş
Cities with population between 100,000 and 150,000: Baia Mare, Buzău, Satu Mare, Botoşani, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Suceava, Piatra Neamţ, Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Focşani,

Other seemingly possible urban aglomerations:

New Sarmizegetusa (possible name, Deva-Hunedoara-Simeria, population over 180,000)
Valea Jiului (Petroşani, Petrila, Vulcan, Uricani, Lupeni; population of about 170,000)
Trotuş (Oneşti, Moineşti, Comăneşti, Dărmăneşti, Târgu Ocna, Bălan and the communes between them; population about 170,000).
Alba Iulia-Sebeş (Sebeş, Alba Iulia and Vinţu de Jos; population of about 100,000)
Turda-Câmpia Turzii (Turda and Câmpia Turzii; population of about 85,000)
Roman metropolitan area (city of Roman and the surrounding communes in Eastern Neamţ County; population of about 150,000)
Valea Prahovei (Câmpina, Breaza, Comarnic, Sinaia, Buşteni, Azuga; population of about 120,000)
Mediaş (Mediaş, Copşa Mică and several communtes from Northern Sibiu County; population of about 100,000)

Metropolitan areas in Romania

Constituted metropolitan zones

Metropolitan zones in project

Other

Municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants

Gallery

References

See also