Municipiu


A municipiu is a level of administrative subdivision in Romania and Moldova, roughly equivalent to city in some English-speaking countries.
In Romania, this status is given to towns that are quite large and urbanized; at present, there are 103 municipii. There is no clear benchmark regarding the status of municipiu even though it applies to localities which have a sizeable population, usually above 15,000, and extensive urban infrastructure. Localities that do not meet these loose guidelines are classified only as towns, or if they are not urban areas, as communes. Cities are governed by a mayor and local council. There are no official administrative subdivisions of cities even though, unofficially, municipalities may be divided into quarters/districts. The exception to this is Bucharest, which has a status similar to that of a county, and is officially subdivided into six administrative sectors.
In Moldova, which has thirteen municipii, a 2002 law provides that the status applies of cities that play an important role in the country's economic, social, cultural, scientific, political and administrative life.

Complete list

Romania

CountyCommon
Abbrev
CitiesYear granted
status
AlbaABAlba Iulia
Aiud
Blaj
Sebeș
1938/1968
1994
1993
2000
AradARArad1925/1968
ArgeșAGPitești
Câmpulung
Curtea de Argeș
1968
1994
1995
BacăuBCBacău
Onești
Moinești
1929†/1968
1968
2001
BihorBHOradea
Beiuș
Marghita
Salonta
1925/1968
2003
2003
2001
Bistrița-NăsăudBNBistrița1979
BotoșaniBTBotoșani
Dorohoi
1968
1994
BrașovBVBrașov
Făgăraș
Codlea
Săcele
1925/1968
1979
2000
2000
BrăilaBRBrăila1925/1968
BuzăuBZBuzău
Râmnicu Sărat
1968
1994
Caraș-SeverinCSReșița
Caransebeș
1968
1995
CălărașiCLCălărași
Oltenița
1968
1997
ClujCJCluj-Napoca
Turda
Dej
Câmpia Turzii
Gherla
1925/1968
1968
1968
1998
2000
ConstanțaCTConstanța
Mangalia
Medgidia
1925/1968
1995
1994
CovasnaCVSfântu Gheorghe
Târgu Secuiesc
1979
2000
DâmbovițaDBTârgoviște
Moreni
1968
2003
DoljDJCraiova
Băilești
Calafat
1925/1968
2001
1997
GalațiGLGalați
Tecuci
1925/1968
1968
GiurgiuGRGiurgiu1933†/1968
GorjGJTârgu Jiu
Motru
1968
2000
HarghitaHRMiercurea Ciuc
Gheorgheni
Odorheiu Secuiesc
Toplița
1979
2003
1968
2002
HunedoaraHDDeva
Hunedoara
Brad
Lupeni
Orăștie
Petroșani
Vulcan
1968
1968
1995
2003
1995
1968
2003
IalomițaILSlobozia
Fetești
Urziceni
1979
1995
1995
IașiISIași
Pașcani
1925/1968
1995
IlfovIFnone
MaramureșMMBaia Mare
Sighetu Marmației
1968
1968
MehedințiMHDrobeta-Turnu Severin
Orșova
1933†/1968
2000
MureșMSTârgu Mureș
Sighișoara
Reghin
Târnăveni
1925†/1968
1968
1994
1998
NeamțNTPiatra Neamț
Roman
1968
1968
OltOTSlatina
Caracal
1979
1994
PrahovaPHPloiești
Câmpina
1925/1968
1994
Satu MareSMSatu Mare
Carei
1929†/1968
1995
SălajSJZalău1979
SibiuSBSibiu
Mediaș
1925/1968
1968
SuceavaSVSuceava
Fălticeni
Rădăuți
Câmpulung Moldovenesc
Vatra Dornei
1968
1994
1994
1995
2000
TeleormanTRAlexandria
Roșiorii de Vede
Turnu Măgurele
1979
1995
1968
TimișTMTimișoara
Lugoj
1925/1968
1934†/1968
TulceaTLTulcea1968
VasluiVSVaslui
Bârlad
Huși
1979
1968
1995
VâlceaVLRâmnicu Vâlcea
Drăgășani
1968
1995
VranceaVNFocșani
Adjud
1934†/1968
2000
BucharestBBucharest1925/1968

† lost status in 1938
Of the seventeen municipii created in 1925, three are no longer in Romania: Cernăuți, Cetatea Albă, and Chișinău. Additionally, Bălți became one in 1929; together with Cetatea Albă, it lost the title in 1938. Cluj and Oradea temporarily lost the title in 1940 as a result of the Second Vienna Award, while it was granted to Odessa and Tiraspol during the Transnistria Governorate period. The status was not used between 1950 and 1968, so that cities which lost it in 1950 were reassigned it in 1968. The most recent municipii were created in 2003.

Moldova

Chișinău, Tiraspol, Bălți and Bender have been municipii continuously since 1995, and Comrat since 1998. Cahul, Edineț, Hîncești, Orhei, Soroca and Ungheni held the status from 1998 to 2002, and regained it in 2016. Additionally, Căușeni, Taraclia, Dubăsari, and Rîbnița held the status from 1998 to 2002.