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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (1999)

Internet country code [time series]

.md

Internet users [time series]

15,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios [time series]

3.22 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau, some effort to modernize is under way domestic: new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile cellular telephone service being introduced international: service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

627,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2,200 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions [time series]

1.26 million (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $536 million expenditures: $594 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Moldovan leu (MDL)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

MDL

Debt - external [time series]

$1.3 billion (2002)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

41 (1997)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$100 million (2000)

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. As part of an ambitious reform effort, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The government entered into agreements with the World Bank and the IMF to promote growth and reduce poverty. The economy returned to positive growth, of 2.1% in 2000 and 6.1% in 2001. Growth remained strong in 2002, in part because of the reforms and because of starting from a small base. Further reforms are in doubt because of strong political forces backing government controls. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the scepticism of foreign investors.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

3.655 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

630 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1.2 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

3.317 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 90% hydro: 10% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

lei per US dollar - 12.8579 (October 2001), 12.4342 (2000), 10.5158 (1999), 5.3707 (1998), 4.6236 (1997); note - lei is the plural form of leu

Exports [time series]

$590 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, textiles, and machinery (2001)

Exports - partners [time series]

Russia 43%, Ukraine 10.1%, Italy 8.1%, Germany 7.2%, Romania 6.7% (2001)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $11 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 28% industry: 23% services: 49% (2000)

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

purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2002 est.)

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

4% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 31% (1997)

Imports [time series]

$980 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

mineral products and fuel 32%, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles (2000)

Imports - partners [time series]

Ukraine 18%, Russia 15.1%, Romania 13.1%, Germany 10.5%, Italy 6.4% (2001)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9% (2002 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) [time series]

5.5% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.7 million (1998) (1998)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998) (1998)

Population below poverty line [time series]

80% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 33,843 sq km water: 472 sq km land: 33,371 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than Maryland

Climate [time series]

moderate winters, warm summers

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Dniester River 2 m highest point: Dealul Balanesti 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geographic coordinates [time series]

47 00 N, 29 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

Irrigated land [time series]

3,070 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 54.08% permanent crops: 12.1% other: 33.82% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

landslides (57 cases in 1998)

Natural resources [time series]

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Terrain [time series]

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 counties (judetele, singular - judetul), 1 municipality* (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit** (unitate teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit*** (unitate teritoriala); Balti, Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Edinet, Gagauzia**, Lapusna, Orhei, Soroca, Stinga Nistrului***, Tighina, Ungheni

Capital [time series]

Chisinau

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela Hyde SMITH embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 mailing address: use embassy street address; pouch address - American Embassy Chisinau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7080 telephone: [373] (2) 23-37-72 FAX: [373] (2) 23-30-44

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mihai MANOLI FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130 chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April 2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Vasile IOVV (since NA 2002), Deputy Prime Minister Stefan ODAGIU (since NA 2002) cabinet: selected by prime minister, subject to approval of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 4 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2005); note - presidential elections were scheduled for December 2000, but in July 2000, Parliament canceled direct, popular elections; Parliament's failure to chose a new president in December 2000 led to early parliamentary elections in February 2001; prime minister designated by the president, upon consultation with Parliament; note - within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 15 April 2001, cabinet received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001 election results: Vladimir VORONIN elected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 71, Dumitru BRAGHIS 15, Valerian CHRISTEA 3; Vasile TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 75 of 101

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]

ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)

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 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs, as well as independent candidates, elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - PCM 50.1%, Braghis Alliance 13.4%, PPCD 8.2%, other parties 28.3%; seats by party - PCM 71, Braghis Alliance 19, PPCD 11

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

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

Braghis Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Popular Christian Democratic Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Social Democratic Union (composed of Braghis Alliance and the Democratic Party of Moldova) [leader NA]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.

Military

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

Ground Forces (includes Air and Air Defense Forces), Republic Security Forces (includes paramilitary Internal Troops and Border Troops)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$6 million (FY01)

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

0.4% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,172,714 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 929,316 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 42,268 (2002 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 21.7% (male 490,414; female 472,912) 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 1,451,962; female 1,572,561) 65 years and over: 10.1% (male 165,860; female 280,838) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.82 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.64 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.) note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.2% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

4,500 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

42.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.74 years female: 69.31 years (2002 est.) male: 60.39 years

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]

-0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

4,434,547 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.09% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)

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 (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.71 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Moldovan difficulties with break-away Transnistria region inhibit establishment of a joint customs regime with Ukraine to curtail smuggling, arms transfers, and other illegal activities

Illicit drugs [time series]

limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity

Transportation

Airports [time series]

30 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 14 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 20,000 km paved: 13,900 km (includes some all-weather gravel-surfaced roads) unpaved: 6,100 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1990)

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 (2001)

Waterways [time series]

424 km (1994)