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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.md

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

112,026 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

727,700 (2006)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait for service; 2 private operators of GSM mobile cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; license for 1 CDMA mobile telephone network currently being tendered international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik (2006)

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

1.018 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.358 million (2006)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

40 (2006)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.359 billion expenditures: $1.368 billion (2006 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Moldovan leu (MDL)

Current account balance [time series]

$-403.6 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$2.482 billion (2006 est.)

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

33.2 (2003)

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

$191.8 million (2005)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base. It 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 almost all of its energy supplies. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power to Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas to Moldova in disputes over pricing. The economy achieved 6% or more GDP growth every year from 2000-05, though this was based largely on consumption fueled by remittances received from Moldovans working abroad. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006 and greatly exacerbated Moldova's economic troubles. Economic reforms have been slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing government controls; nevertheless, the government's primary goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.551 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

220 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

3.361 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

3.881 billion kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

lei per US dollar - 13.131 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002)

Exports [time series]

$1.054 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners [time series]

Russia 22.8%, Germany 12.2%, Italy 11.1%, Romania 9.7%, Ukraine 9.6%, Belarus 5.7% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$2.573 billion (2006 est.)

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

$9.066 billion (2006 est.)

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

agriculture: 21.5% industry: 22% services: 56.5% (2006 est.)

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

$2,000 (2006 est.)

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

4% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 26.4% (2003)

Imports [time series]

$2.644 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 20.8%, Ukraine 16.9%, Romania 13.4%, Germany 8.7%, Italy 6.1%, Poland 4.4% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.9% (2006 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

12.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

27.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.339 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 40.7% industry: 12.1% services: 47.2% (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$573.9 million (2004)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

2.35 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

2.35 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

29.5% (2005)

Public debt [time series]

30% of GDP (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$775.5 million (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.3%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad (2005 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 33,843 sq km land: 33,371 sq km water: 472 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, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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]

3,000 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 54.52% permanent crops: 8.81% other: 36.67% (2005)

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]

32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala) raions: 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

Capital [time series]

name: Chisinau (Kishinev) 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

Constitution [time series]

new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994; replaced 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: Moldova former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael D. KIRBY embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300 FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

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 Zinaida GRECIANII (since 10 October 2005) cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next to be held in 2009); note - prime minister designated by the president upon consultation with Parliament; 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 reelected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; 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, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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; accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic Moldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%; seats by party - PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc 34, PPCD 11

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

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

Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV]; National Liberal Party or NLP [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Party for Social Democracy or PSD [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into 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. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,066,459 females age 18-49: 1,117,070 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 693,913 females age 18-49: 911,568 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 43,729 females age 18-49: 42,354 (2005 est.)

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

National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (2006)

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

0.4% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 12-month service obligation (2006)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.5% (male 365,733/female 347,305) 15-64 years: 72.6% (male 1,520,094/female 1,616,014) 65 years and over: 10.9% (male 175,113/female 296,231) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.88 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.85 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census) note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 300 (2001 est.)

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

5,500 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 13.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 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: 70.2 years male: 66.51 years female: 74.11 years (2007 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99.7% female: 98.6% (2005 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 34 years male: 32.1 years female: 36.1 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

4,320,490 (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.11% (2007 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.053 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.941 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.591 male(s)/female total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.25 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 OSCE supervision

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]

10 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,668 GRT/17,585 DWT by type: cargo 8 foreign-owned: 3 (Ukraine 3) (2007)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 606 km (2006)

Railways [time series]

total: 1,138 km broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 12,733 km paved: 10,976 km unpaved: 1,757 km (2004)

Waterways [time series]

424 km (on Dniester and Prut rivers) (2007)