Moldova | Facts & Information

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff
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Facts & Figures

  • President: Nicolae Timofti (2012)

    Prime Minister: Gheorghe Brega (2015, acting)

    Land area: 12,885 sq mi (33,371 sq km); total area: 13,067 sq mi (33,843 sq km)

    Population (2014 est.): 3,538,288 (growth rate: –1.02%); birth rate: 12.21/1000; infant mortality rate: 12.93/1000; life expectancy: 70.12

    Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Chisinau, 677,000

    Monetary unit: Leu

    National name: Republica Moldova

    Current government officials

    Languages: Moldovan 58.8% (official; virtually the same as the Romanian language), Romanian 16.4%, Russian 16%, Ukrainian 3.8%, Gagauz 3.1% (a Turkish language), Bulgarian 1.1%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.4% note: percentages represent lanugage usually spoken (2004 est.)

    Ethnicity/race: Moldovan 75.8%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.9%, Gagauz 4.4%, Romanian 2.2%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1%, unspecified 0.4% note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region (2004 est.)

    Religions: Orthodox 93.3%, Baptist 1%, other Christian 1.2%, other 0.9%, atheist 0.4%, none 1%, unspecified 2.2% (2004 est.)

    National Holiday: Independence Day, August 27

    Literacy rate: 99% (2011 est.)

    Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $13.25 billion; per capita $3,800. Real growth rate: 8.9%. Inflation: 4.6%. Unemployment: 5.8%. Arable land: 53.47%. Agriculture: vegetables, fruits, wine,grapes, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk. Labor force: 1.206 million; agriculture 26.4%, industry 13.2%, services 60.4% (2012). Industries: sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles. Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone. Exports: $2.399 billion (2012 est.): foodstuffs, textiles, machinery. Imports: $5.493 billion (2013 est.): mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles. Major trading partners: Russia, Italy, Romania, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Belarus, China, UK (2011).

    Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 1.206 million (2012); mobile cellular: 4.08 million (2012). Broadcast media: state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 TV and 2 radio stations; a total of nearly 40 terrestrial TV channels and some 50 radio stations are in operation; Russian and Romanian channels also are available (2007). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 711,564 (2012). Internet users: 1.333 million (2009).

    Transportation: Railways: total: 1,190 km (2010). Highways: total: 9,343 km; paved: 8,810 km; unpaved: 533 km (2008). Waterways: 558 km (2011). Ports and harbors: none. Airports: 7 (2013).

    International disputes: Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-mandated peacekeeping mission comprised of Moldovan, Transnistrian, Russian, and Ukrainian troops.

    Major sources and definitions