Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania, serving as the nation's primary cultural, political, and economic hub. Located in south-eastern Romania on the River Dâmbovița, it functions as the seat of government and the capital of the Muntenia region. The city is administratively designated as the Municipality of Bucharest, which holds the same administrative level as a national county.
The city proper covers an area of 240 km² (93 sq mi) and is subdivided into six sectors, each governed by its own local mayor. It is an enclave entirely surrounded by Ilfov County. With an official population of approximately 1.71 million residents within the city limits and a greater metropolitan area of 2.31 million, Bucharest ranks as the ninth most-populous city in the European Union by population within city limits.