Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
27 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
841,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
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)
Communications: Internet country code
.md
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
77.37% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
28 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
847,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
120 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
3.64 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, grapes, apples, sugar beets, barley, milk, rapeseed, potatoes (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$6.037 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$5.197 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$490.3 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$568.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$462.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$288.4 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$555.4 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$1.212 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$1.106 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$886.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$1.699 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$2.482 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$1.893 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$2.917 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$9.752 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$2.637 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
17.7919 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
12.5868 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
14.0356 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
18.8185 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
19.9238 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
18.4990 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
16.8021 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
17.5735 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
17.3218 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
17.6805 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
18.8972 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
18.1639 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
17.7919 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
insulated wire, garments, refined petroleum, seed oils, wheat (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$2.738 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$2.964 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$2.480 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$2.623 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$3.095 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$3.454 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$3.661 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$3.219 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$4.196 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$5.981 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$5.866 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$5.717 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
31.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
17.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
86.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-57.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
20% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
1.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
7.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
16.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
62.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$18,615 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$18.2 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$44.719 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
27.0 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
26.3 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
25.9 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
25.7 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
26.0 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
25.0 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
25.7 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
25.9 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
26.8 (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
22.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
4.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$4.193 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$4.457 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$4.480 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$5.337 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$6.386 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$6.624 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$5.921 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$7.917 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$10.265 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$9.84 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$10.418 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
3.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
9.68% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
6.36% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
6.57% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.05% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
4.84% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
3.77% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
5.11% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
28.74% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
13.42% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
4.68% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
1.358 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
31.60% (2023 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
19.92% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
21.07% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
32.25% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
29.67% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
27.51% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
25.45% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
33.96% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
32.12% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
34.49% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
34.26% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$24.700 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$26.084 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$28.945 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$31.002 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$35.736 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$35.647 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$40.708 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$38.835 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$39.301 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$39.342 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
-0.34% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.65% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.18% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.08% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
3.55% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-8.28% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
13.93% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
-4.60% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.20% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
0.10% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$8,643 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$9,198 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$10,326 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$11,252 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$13,413 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$13,527 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$15,682 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$16,453 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$17,747 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$2.192 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$2.076 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$1.540 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$1.877 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$2.119 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
14% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
12% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
10.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$1.757 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$2.206 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$2.803 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$2.995 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$3.060 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$3.784 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$3.902 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$4.474 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$5.453 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$5.484 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
18.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
1.50% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
1.21% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
0.79% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
0.91% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
1.57% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
1.43% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
3.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
3.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
3.3% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
90,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
86,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
88% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
5.674 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
94 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
1.264 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
779,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
550.069 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
35.686 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
10,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
219,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
3.786 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
3.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
7.093 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
moderate winters, warm summers
Environment: Environmental issues
soil and water pollution from heavy use of agricultural chemicals; extensive soil erosion and declining soil fertility from farming methods
Environment: International environmental agreements: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
74.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
11.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
13.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
12.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
55 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
583 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
160 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
43.52% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
3.981 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
36.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than Maryland
Geography: Area: land
32,891 sq km
Geography: Area: water
960 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Dniester (Nistru) 2 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
139 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
47 00 N, 29 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; has many types of sedimentary rocks and minerals, including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
Geography: Irrigated land
2,150 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Romania 683 km; Ukraine 1202 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,885 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
74.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
11.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
13.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major rivers (by length in 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
(Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
landslides
Geography: Population distribution
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
Geography: Terrain
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Government: Administrative divisions
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)
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
origin unclear but may derive from the Old Moldovan word kishineu ("spring" or "artesian well")
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
47 00 N, 28 51 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Moldova
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Moldova
Government: Country name: 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"
Government: Country name: former
Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic
Government: Country name: local long form
Republica Moldova
Government: Country name: local short form
Moldova
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Nick PIETROWICZ (since 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ChisinauACS@state.gov https://md.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[373] (22) 233-044
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
7080 Chisinau Place, Washington DC 20521-7080
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[373] (22) 408-300
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Vladislav KULMINSKI (since 5 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
washington@mfa.gov.md https://sua.mfa.gov.md/en
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 667-2624
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 667-1130
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Alexandru MUNTEANU (since 1 November 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
3 November 2024
Government: Flag
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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
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
Government: Judicial branch: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
September 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Parlament)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
9/28/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
101 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) (55); Electoral Bloc “Patriotic of Socialists, Communists, Heart and Future of Moldova” (26); Alternative Bloc (8); Our Party (6); Democracy at Home Party (6)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
37.6%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1994; originally a 12-verse poem, but only stanzas 1, 2, 5, 9, and 12 are included in the anthem
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA
Government: National color(s)
blue, yellow, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Struve Geodetic Arc
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Government: National symbol(s)
aurochs (type of wild cattle)
Government: Political parties
Common Action Party - Civil Congress or PAC-CC Democracy at Home Party or PPDA Future of Moldova Party or PVM National Alternative Movement or MAN Our Party or PN Party of Action and Solidarity or PAS Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova or PDCM Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova or PSRM
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
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.
Military and Security: Military - note
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)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
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)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 6,500 Moldovan Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory is limited and almost entirely comprised of Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, it has received small amounts of donated equipment from some Western European nations and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.30% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.34% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.32% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.33% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.36% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.39% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.37% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.36% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.57% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.60% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month service obligation; conscientious objectors can perform non-military service in public institutions for a longer period (up to 24 months) (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
14.8% (male 266,493/female 266,166)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
70.2% (male 1,225,535/female 1,300,640)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
15% (2024 est.) (male 206,221/female 334,473)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
2.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
3.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
8.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
6.74% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
68.7% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
14.06 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
22.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
4.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
43 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
20.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 87.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 92% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 97.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 12.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 2.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
6.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
16% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
6.56% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Moldovan 75.1%, Romanian 7%, Ukrainian 6.6%, Gagauz 4.6%, Russian 4.1%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 0.8% (2014 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.61 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.8% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
12.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.90% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
5.5 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
11.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
16 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
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)
People and Society: Languages: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
75.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
66.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
99.36% (2014 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
488,000 CHISINAU (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
41.3 years
People and Society: Median age: male
38.6 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
25.2 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Moldovan
People and Society: Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
18.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
4.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
2,402,306 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
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
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.57% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,891,434
People and Society: Population: male
1,687,496
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 89.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 10.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
15 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
15 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
15 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.94 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.62 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.07 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
6.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
54.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
28.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
43.52% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
6 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
136,845 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
3,164 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
10 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
ER
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 44, oil tanker 7, other 22
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
75 (2023)
Transportation: Railways: broad gauge
1,157 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
14 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
1,171 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.