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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 9, FM 5, shortwave NA (1994)

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

telecommunication system not well developed; 215,000 unsatisfied requests for telephone service (1991 est.); in early 1997, Chisinau was considering privatizing its state-owned telephone company domestic: NA international: international connections to other former Soviet republics by landline and microwave radio relay through Ukraine and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations - 1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

600,000 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (one national and one private) (1995)

Televisions [time series]

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; meat, milk

Budget [time series]

revenues: $570 million expenditures: $645 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

the Moldovan leu (MLD) (plural lei) was introduced in late 1993

Debt - external [time series]

$950.7 million (of which $240 million to Russia) (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA note: commitments, $1,335 million ($500 million disbursements), 1992-95

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Moldovan Government has recently been making progress on an ambitious economic reform agenda, and the IMF has called Moldova a model for the region. As part of its reform efforts, Moldova introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and backed their steady privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. With the election of President LUCINSCHI in December 1996, it is unclear how rapidly the reforms will be pushed.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

3.222 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

324 kWh (1996 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.4 billion kWh (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

lei (MLD) per US$1 (end of period) - 4.6870 (January 1997), 4.6743 (1996), 4.4990 (1995), 4.2700 (1994), 3.6400 (1993), 0.4145 (1992); period average - 4.6121 (August 1996), 4.4958 (1995)

Exports [time series]

total value: $775 million (1996) commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear, machinery partners : Russia, Kazakstan, Ukraine, Romania, Germany

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $10.8 billion (1996 estimate extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 48% industry: 28% services: 24% (1994)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

1.5% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $1.048 billion (1996) commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, foodstuffs, automobiles, and other consumer durables partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Romania, Germany

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

15% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 2.03 million (January 1994) by occupation: agriculture 39.5%, industry 12.0%, other 48.5% (1994)

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.4% (includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (January 1996)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 33,700 sq km land : 33,700 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly more than twice the size of Hawaii

Climate [time series]

moderate winters, warm summers

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point : Nistru River 2 m highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

47 00 N, 29 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

3,110 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 53% permanent crops: 14% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 13% other : 7% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Map references [time series]

Commonwealth of Independent States

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum

Terrain [time series]

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

previously divided into 40 rayons; new districts possible under new constitution of 1994

Constitution [time series]

new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Moldova conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova local short form : none former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador John Todd STEWART embassy : Strada Alexei Mateevicie #103, Chisinau 277014 mailing address: use embassy street address; pouch address - American Embassy Chisinau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7080 telephone: [373] (2) 23-37-72, RNX (plus extension)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae TAU chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state : President Petru LUCINSCHI (since 15 January 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC (since 15 January 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Ion GUTU (since NA April 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 1996; runoff election 1 December 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament election results: Petru LUCINSCHI ran against Mircea SNEGUR and was elected president; percent of vote - LUCINSCHI 54%, SNEGUR 46%; Prime Minister Ion CIUBU was appointed by the president 15 January 1997 and was elected by a parliamentary vote of 75-15 on 24 January 1997

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 667-1204

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[373] (2) 23-30-44

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CIS, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and OSCE documents

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament (104 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections : last held 27 February 1994 (next to be held NA February 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDAM 56, Socialist/Yedinstvo Bloc 28, Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc 11, FPCDM 9; note - seats as of June-July 1995 were as follows: PDAM 45, PSM/UN 28, Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc 11, PRCM 11, FPCDM 9 note : the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Chisinau

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 August 1991

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Christian Democratic Popular Front or FPCDM (formerly Moldovan Popular Front) [Iurie ROSCA, chairman]; Socialist Unity Faction or US of the Socialist Party of Moldova or PSM; Social Democratic Party of Moldova or PSDM [Anatol TARAN, chairman]; Agrarian Democratic Party of Moldova or PDAM [Dumitru MOTPAN, chairman]; Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc [Lidia ISTRATI, chairwoman]; Liberal Party of Modova or PLM [Mircea RUSU, chairman]; Socialist Party of Moldova or PSM [Valeriu SENIC and Victor MOREV, cochairmen]; Party of Rivival and Conciliation of Moldova or PRCM [Mircea SNEGUR, chairman]; Moldovan Party of Democratic Forces or PFDM [Valeriu MATEI, chairman]; Party for Social Progress or PPSM [Eugen SOBOR, chairman]; Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Civic Unity [Vladimir SOLONARI]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

The Ecology Movement of Moldova or EMM [Alecu RENITSA, chairman]; The Christian Democratic League of Women of Moldova or CDLWM [Lidia ISTRATI, chairwoman]; National Christian Party of Moldova or NCPM [V. NIKU, leader]; The Peoples Movement Gagauz Khalky or GKh [S. GULGAR, leader]; The Democratic Party of Gagauzia or DPG [G. SAVOSTIN, chairman]; The Alliance of Working People of Moldova or AWPM [G. POLOGOV, president]; Liberal Convention of Moldova (now the Liberal Party); Association of Victims of Repression [Alexander USATIUC]; Christian Democratic Youth Organization [Valeriu BARBA]; National Youth League [Valeriu STRELETS]; Union of Youth of Moldova [Petru GAVTON]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

203 million lei (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,134,619 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 894,337 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 37,689 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26% (male 580,839; female 560,784) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,384,380; female 1,503,831) 65 years and over: 9% (male 158,886; female 268,486) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.32 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.33 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 figures) note : internal disputes with ethnic Russians and Ukrainians in the Nistru region and Gagauz Turks in the south

Infant mortality rate [time series]

43.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.25 years male : 59.46 years female: 69.29 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 99% female: 94% (1989 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

4,457,206 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.02% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about 1,000 members) (1991) note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldavian

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.89 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

certain territory of Moldova and Ukraine - including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - are considered by Bucharest as historically a part of Romania; this territory was incorporated into the former Soviet Union following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940

Illicit drugs [time series]

limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and Russia MONACO

Transportation

Airports [time series]

26 (1994 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m : 3 (1994 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m : 5 under 914 m: 8 (1994 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 12,259 km paved: 10,690 km unpaved: 1,569 km (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 310 km (1992)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

total: 1,328 km broad gauge: 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)

Waterways [time series]

424 km (1994)