Moldova

A large portion of present-day Moldovan territory became a province of the Russian Empire in 1812 and then unified with Romania in 1918 in the aftermath of World War I. This territory was then incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although Moldova has been independent from the Soviet Union since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru River in the breakaway region of Transnistria.

Years of Communist Party rule in Moldova from 2001 to 2009 ultimately ended with election-related violent protests and a rerun of parliamentary elections in 2009. A series of pro-Europe ruling coalitions governed Moldova from 2010 to 2019, but pro-Russia candidate Igor DODON won the presidency in 2016, and his Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova won a plurality in the legislative election in 2019. Pro-EU reformist candidate Maia SANDU defeated DODON in his reelection bid in 2020, and SANDU's Party of Action and Solidarity won a parliamentary majority in an early legislative election in 2021. Prime Minister Natalia GAVRILITA and her cabinet took office in 2021. In early 2023, Moldova's parliament confirmed a new cabinet led by Prime Minister Dorin RECEAN, which retained the majority of the former ministers.

47 00 N, 29 00 E

landslides

slightly larger than Maryland

soil and water pollution from heavy use of agricultural chemicals; extensive soil erosion and declining soil fertility from farming methods

Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol

moderate winters, warm summers

0 km (landlocked)

Total: 1,885 km

Border countries (2): Romania 683 km; Ukraine 1202 km

Agricultural land: 69.3% (2022 est.)

Arable land: 52.4% (2022 est.)

Permanent crops: 6.7% (2022 est.)

Permanent pasture: 10.2% (2022 est.)

Forest: 11.8% (2022 est.)

Other: 18.9% (2022 est.)

none (landlocked)

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land

landlocked; has many types of sedimentary rocks and minerals, including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Europe

2,150 sq km (2022)

12.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

pockets of agglomeration exist throughout the country, with the largest in the center of the country around the capital of Chisinau, followed by Tiraspol and Balti

Highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Lowest point: Dniester (Nistru) 2 m

Mean elevation: 139 m

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Dunărea (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Nistru (Dniester) (shared with Ukraine [s/m]) - 1,411 km

Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Total : 33,851 sq km

Land: 32,891 sq km

Water: 960 sq km

0-14 years: 14.8% (male 266,493/female 266,166)

15-64 years: 70.2% (male 1,225,535/female 1,300,640)

65 years and over: 15% (2024 est.) (male 206,221/female 334,473)

At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Noun: Moldovan(s)

Adjective: Moldovan

Total: 15 years (2023 est.)

Male: 15 years (2023 est.)

Female: 15 years (2023 est.)

Urban population: 43.4% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 97.7% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 87.7% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 92% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 2.3% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 12.3% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 8% of population (2022 est.)

488,000 CHISINAU (capital) (2023)

4.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

5.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

25.2 years (2019 est.)

Total dependency ratio: 42.5 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 21.1 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 21.4 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 4.7 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 89.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 10.3% of population (2022 est.)

Moldovan 75.1%, Romanian 7%, Ukrainian 6.6%, Gagauz 4.6%, Russian 4.1%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 0.8% (2014 est.)

Orthodox 90.1%, other Christian 2.6%, other 0.1%, agnostic <0.1%, atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.9% (2014 est.)

Moldovan/Romanian 80.2% (official) (56.7% Moldovan; 23.5% Romanian), Russian 9.7%, Gagauz 4.2% (a Turkish language), Ukrainian 3.9%, Bulgarian 1.5%, Romani 0.3%, other 0.2% (2014)

Major-language sample(s):
Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Moldovan/Romanian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Note: Data represent mother tongue; as of March 2023, "Romanian" replaced "Moldovan" as the name of Moldova's official language

7.8% of GDP (2021)

12.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.61 (2024 est.)

67% (2023 est.)

Total: 3.3% (2024 est.)

Male: 3.4% (2024 est.)

Female: 3.3% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 39.9 years (2024 est.)

Male: 38.6 years

Female: 41.3 years

19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

1.26 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 3,599,528 (2024 est.)

Male: 1,698,249

Female: 1,901,279

Total: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 16 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 28.7% (2025 est.)

Male: 54.2% (2025 est.)

Female: 6.4% (2025 est.)

18.9% (2016)

14.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

8.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 1.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 3.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 2.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.)

Male: 66.1 years

Female: 74.4 years

6.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

15.9% national budget (2023 est.)

-0.58% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 160 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 583 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 55 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.981 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36.9% (2022 est.)

12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

7.093 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke: 219,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 3.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas: 3.786 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

35.686 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Nick PIETROWICZ (since 2025)

Embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009

Mailing address: 7080 Chisinau Place, Washington DC  20521-7080

Telephone: [373] (22) 408-300

FAX: [373] (22) 233-044

Email address and website:
ChisinauACS@state.gov

https://md.usembassy.gov/

32 districts (raioane, singular - raion), 3 municipalities (municipii, singular - municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)

Districts: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni

Municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau

Autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia

Territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)

Name: Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)

Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 E

Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Etymology: Origin unclear but may derive from the Old Moldovan word kishineu ("spring" or "artesian well") 

Note: Pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov)

History: Previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994

Amendment process: Proposed by voter petition (at least 200,000 eligible voters), by at least one third of Parliament members, or by the government; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament within one year of initial proposal; revisions to constitutional articles on sovereignty, independence, and neutrality require majority vote by referendum; articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended

Chief of state: President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020)

Head of government: Prime Minister Dorin RECEAN (since 16 February 2023)

Cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament

Election/appointment process: President directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister designated by the president in consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence for his/her proposed work program from the Parliament

Most recent election date: 3 November 2024

Election results:
2024: In the second round of presidential elections, incumbent Maia SANDU (PAS) wins 55.4% of the vote, Alexandr STOIANOGLO (PSRM) 44.6; turnout is 54.3%

2020: Maia SANDU elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Maia SANDU (PAS) 57.7%, Igor DODON (PSRM) 42.3%

2016: Igor DODON elected president in second round; percent of vote - Igor DODON (PSRM) 52.1%, Maia SANDU (PAS) 47.9%

Expected date of next election: 2028

Description: Three equal vertical bands of Prussian blue (left side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; the Moldavan coat of arms in the center is a dark gold Roman eagle outlined in black, with a red beak and talons; the eagle carries a yellow cross in its beak, a green olive branch in its right talons, and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on the eagle's breast is a red-and-blue shield divided horizontally, with a stylized aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent in black and outlined yellow; the reverse of the flag displays a mirror image of the coat of arms

History: Replaced the communist flag in 1990; the coat of arms is based on traditional designs

Note 1: Colors are based on the Romanian flag, but Moldova's blue band is lighter

Note 2: One of three national flags that differ on each side -- the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia

27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief judge, 3 deputy-chief judges, 45 judges, and 7 assistant judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 6 judges)

Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistracy, an 11-member body of judicial officials; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy for 6-year terms; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term

Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts

Note: The Constitutional Court is autonomous; it interprets the Constitution and reviews the constitutionality of parliamentary laws and decisions, decrees of the president, and acts of the government

civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts

Legislature name: Parliament (Parlament)

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 101 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Proportional representation

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 4 years

Most recent election date: 7/11/2021

Parties elected and seats per party: Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) (63); Electoral Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BECS) (32); Șor Party (PPȘ) (6)

Percentage of women in chamber: 40%

Expected date of next election: September 2025

BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEU (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Note: Moldova is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Bloc of Communists and Socialists or BCS
Party of Action and Solidarity or PAS

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary republic

Conventional long form: Republic of Moldova

Conventional short form: Moldova

Local long form: Republica Moldova

Local short form: Moldova

Former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic

Etymology: Named for the Moldova River in neighboring eastern Romania; the river's name probably comes from the Indoeuropean root word mel, meaning "dark" or "black"

Chief of mission: Ambassador Vladislav KULMINSKI (since 5 September 2025)

Chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130

FAX: [1] (202) 667-2624

Email address and website:
Washington@mfa.gov.md

https://sua.mfa.gov.md/en

Title: "Limba noastra" (Our Tongue)

Lyrics/music: Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA

History: Adopted 1994; originally a 12-verse poem, but only stanzas 1, 2, 5, 9, and 12 are included in the anthem

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

aurochs (type of wild cattle)

Citizenship by birth: No

Citizenship by descent only: At least one parent must be a citizen of Moldova

Dual citizenship recognized: No

Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Struve Geodetic Arc

blue, yellow, red

31.1% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 4.5% (2022 est.)

Highest 10%: 22.5% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

insulated wire, garments, refined petroleum, seed oils, wheat (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Romania 31%, Ukraine 13%, Italy 6%, Germany 6%, Czechia 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, grapes, apples, sugar beets, barley, milk, rapeseed, potatoes (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $5.197 billion (2023 est.)

Expenditures: $6.037 billion (2023 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
17.792 (2024 est.)
18.164 (2023 est.)
18.897 (2022 est.)
17.68 (2021 est.)
17.322 (2020 est.)

sugar processing, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles

upper middle-income Eastern European economy; sustained growth reversed by COVID-19; significant remittances; Russian energy and regional dependence; agricultural exporter; declining workforce due to emigration and low fertility

$18.2 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 86.8% (2024 est.)

Government consumption: 17.9% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 20% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories: 1.1% (2024 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 31.4% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -57.3% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Romania 16%, Ukraine 13%, China 11%, Turkey 8%, Germany 7% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

10.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
12% of GDP (2023 est.)
14% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

1.358 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$2.637 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

$5.484 billion (2024 est.)
$5.453 billion (2023 est.)
$4.474 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

34.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

1.5% (2024 est.)
1.6% (2023 est.)
0.9% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

18.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$39.342 billion (2024 est.)
$39.301 billion (2023 est.)
$38.835 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

4.7% (2024 est.)
13.4% (2023 est.)
28.7% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$2.917 billion (2024 est.)
-$1.893 billion (2023 est.)
-$2.482 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$16,500 (2024 est.)
$16,000 (2023 est.)
$15,400 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$10.418 billion (2024 est.)
$9.84 billion (2023 est.)
$10.265 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$5.717 billion (2024 est.)
$5.866 billion (2023 est.)
$5.981 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

0.1% (2024 est.)
1.2% (2023 est.)
-4.6% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

3.3% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 7.1% (2024 est.)

Industry: 16.8% (2024 est.)

Services: 62.3% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Consumption: 90,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 86,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 88% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Hydroelectricity: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Production: 10,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Consumption: 2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports: 2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 779,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 5.674 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Exports: 94 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports: 1.264 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 550.069 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)

.md

state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; total of nearly 70 terrestrial TV channels and about 50 radio stations; Russian and Romanian channels are available (2019)

Total subscriptions: 4.01 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2022 est.)

Total: 841,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 847,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)

Total: 1,171 km (2014)

Standard gauge: 14 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Broad gauge: 1,157 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge

ER

10 (2025)

Total: 75 (2023)

By type: Bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 44, oil tanker 7, other 22

1 (2025)

18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month service obligation (2024)

Note: As of 2024, women made up about 23% of the military's full-time personnel

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova (Forțele Armate ale Republicii Moldova): National Army (comprised of Land Forces, Air Force)

Ministry of Internal Affairs: General Inspectorate of Police (GPI), Border Police Department, Carabinieri Troops Department (2025)

Note: The Carabinieri is a quasi-militarized gendarmerie responsible for protecting public buildings, maintaining public order, and other national security functions; the GPI is the primary law enforcement body, responsible for internal security, public order, traffic, and criminal investigations

approximately 6,500 Moldovan Armed Forces (2025)

the military's inventory is limited and almost entirely comprised of Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, it has received donated equipment from Western European nations and the US (2024)

the National Army is responsible for defense against external aggression, suppressing illegal military violence along the state border or inside the country, and supporting other internal security forces in maintaining public order if necessary; its primary focuses are Transnistrian separatist forces and their Russian backers; the 1992 war between Moldovan forces and the Transnistrian separatists backed by Russian troops ended with a cease-fire; the separatists maintain several armed paramilitary combat units, plus other security forces and reserves; Russia maintains approximately 1,500 troops in the breakaway region, including some Transnistrian locals who serve as Russian troops; some of those troops are under the authority of a peacekeeping force known as a Joint Control Commission that also includes Moldovan and separatist personnel, while the remainder of the Russian contingent guard a depot of Soviet-era ammunition and train separatist forces

Moldova is constitutionally neutral but has maintained a relationship with NATO since 1992 and since 2022 has enhanced bilateral security cooperation with some NATO members; it has contributed small numbers of troops to NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) since 2014, and a civilian NATO liaison office was established in Moldova in 2017 at the request of the Moldovan Government to promote practical cooperation and facilitate support; in 2024, Moldova signed a security and defense partnership agreement with the EU; it maintains close security relations with Romania, a member of the EU and NATO (2025)

Refugees: 136,845 (2024 est.)

IDPs: 6 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons: 3,164 (2024 est.)

25.9 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality