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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 country code [time series]

.md

Internet users [time series]

total: 1.6 million | percent of population: 44.8% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way | domestic: multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 100 per 100 persons | international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 1.22 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 3.7 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

40 (2006)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.922 billion | expenditures: $3.15 billion | note: National Public Budget (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-2.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Central bank discount rate [time series]

3.5% (31 December 2013) | 4.5% (31 December 2012) | note: this is the basic rate on short-term operations | country comparison to the world: 101

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

12% (31 December 2014 est.) | 12.29% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Current account balance [time series]

-$435 million (2014 est.) | -$398.6 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

Debt - external [time series]

$6.778 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $6.501 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

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

33 (2010) | 33.2 (2003) | country comparison to the world: 101

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Despite recent progress, Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. With a moderate climate and good farmland, Moldova's economy relies heavily on its agriculture sector, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova also depends on annual remittances of about $1.6 billion from the roughly one million Moldovans working in Europe, Russia, and other former Soviet Bloc countries. With few natural energy resources, Moldova imports almost all of its energy supplies from Russia and Ukraine. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy is underscored by a growing $5 billion debt to Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom, largely the result of unreimbursed natural gas consumption in the separatist Transnistria region. In August 2013, work began on a new pipeline between Moldova and Romania that may eventually break Russia's monopoly on Moldova's gas supplies. The government's goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. Moldova experienced better than expected economic growth in 2014 due to increased agriculture production, to economic policies adopted by the Moldovan government since 2009, and to the receipt of EU trade preferences. Moldova signed an Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU during fall 2014, connecting Moldovan products to the world’s largest market. Still, growth has been hampered by high prices for Russian natural gas, a Russian import ban on Moldovan wine, increased foreign scrutiny of Moldovan agricultural products, and by Moldova’s large external debt. Over the longer term, Moldova's economy remains vulnerable to political uncertainty, weak administrative capacity, vested bureaucratic interests, corruption, higher fuel prices, Russian pressure, and the illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region.

Exchange rates [time series]

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - | 13.97 (2014 est.) | 12.587 (2013 est.) | 12.11 (2012 est.) | 11.738 (2011 est.) | 12.369 (2010 est.)

Exports [time series]

$2.63 billion (2014 est.) | $2.466 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Exports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners [time series]

Romania 18.9%, Russia 18.4%, Italy 10.6%, Germany 6%, Belarus 5.9%, Ukraine 4.7%, UK 4.7%, Turkey 4.5% (2014)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$7.944 billion (2014 est.)

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

$17.72 billion (2014 est.) | $16.94 billion (2013 est.) | $15.48 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 148

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 15.7% | industry: 20% | services: 64.3% (2014 est.)

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

$5,000 (2014 est.) | $4,800 (2013 est.) | $4,400 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 171

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

4.6% (2014 est.) | 9.4% (2013 est.) | -0.7% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Gross national saving [time series]

19.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | 19.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | 16.3% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.3% | highest 10%: 26% (2010 est.)

Imports [time series]

$5.57 billion (2014 est.) | $5.449 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Romania 15.2%, Russia 13.5%, Ukraine 10.3%, China 9.1%, Germany 8.1%, Italy 6.7%, Turkey 5.7% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75

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]

5.1% (2014 est.) | 4.6% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Labor force [time series]

1.23 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 26.4% | industry: 13.2% | services: 60.4% (2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$65.28 million (31 December 2012 est.) | $51.46 million (31 December 2012 est.) | $20.71 million (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Population below poverty line [time series]

21.9% (2010 est.)

Public debt [time series]

18.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | 18.9% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.821 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Stock of broad money [time series]

$4.685 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $4.797 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$108.2 million (31 December 2012) | $88.42 million (31 December 2011) | country comparison to the world: 91

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

$3.448 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $3.262 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$3.243 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.381 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$2.102 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.077 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

37.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Unemployment rate [time series]

4% (2014 est.) | 5.2% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

9.415 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

7,330 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Electricity - consumption [time series]

4.211 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

96.4% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

3.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Electricity - imports [time series]

3.297 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

439,900 kW | note: excludes Transnistria (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Electricity - production [time series]

5.456 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

3.47 billion cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - imports [time series]

3.47 billion cu m | note: excludes Transnistria (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

21,330 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

552 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

15,280 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

321 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 33,851 sq km | land: 32,891 sq km | water: 960 sq km | country comparison to the world: 140

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 (Nistru) 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 1.07 cu km/yr (14%/83%/4%) | per capita: 290 cu m/yr (2010)

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]

2,283 sq km (2011)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,885 km | border countries (2): Romania 683 km, Ukraine 1,202 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 74.9% | arable land 55.1%; permanent crops 9.1%; permanent pasture 10.7% | forest: 11.9% | other: 13.2% (2011 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

Natural resources [time series]

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land

Terrain [time series]

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Total renewable water resources [time series]

11.65 cu km (2011)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

32 raions (raioane, singular - raion), 3 municipalities (municipii, singular - 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 (Transnistria)

Capital [time series]

name: Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian) | note: pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov) | 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]

previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994; amended 2003 (2011)

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 James D. PETTIT (since 29 January 2015) | 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 Igor MUNTEANU (since 7 September 2010) | 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 Nicolae TIMOFTI (since 23 March 2012) | head of government: Prime Minister Chiril GABURICI (since 18 February 2015) | cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament | elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2016); 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 for his/her proposed work program from the Parliament; the prime minister and Cabinet received a vote of confidence on 30 May 2013 | election results: Nicolae TIMOFTI (independent) elected president; Parliament vote - 62 of 101; Iurie LEANCA (Pro-European Coalition) designated prime minister; Parliament confidence vote - 58 of 101

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow; based on the color scheme of the flag of Romania - with which Moldova shares a history and culture - but Moldova's blue band is lighter; the reverse of the flag does not display any coat of arms | note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (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

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of a chief judges, 3 deputy-chief judges, 45 judges, and 7 assistant judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 6 judges); note - the Constitutional Court is autonomous to the other branches of government; the Court interprets the Constitution and reviews the constitutionality of parliamentary laws and decisions, decrees of the president, and acts of the government | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges appointed by Parliament upon the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the Moldovan president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term; other judges appointed for 6-year terms | subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts

Legal system [time series]

civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral Parliament or Parlament (101 seats; members directly elected in a single, nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 30 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2018) | election results: percent of vote by party - PSRM 21.3%, PLDM 19.5%, PCRM 18%, PD 15.8%, PL 9.4%, other 16%; seats by party - PSRM 25, PLDM 23, PCRM 21, PD 19, PL 13

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Limba noastra" (Our Language) | lyrics/music: Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA | note: adopted 1994

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

National symbol(s) [time series]

aurochs (a type of wild cattle); national colors: blue, yellow, red

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

Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN] | Democratic Party or PD [Marian LUPU] | Liberal Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladimir FILAT] | Liberal Party or PL [Mihai GHIMPU] | Party of Socialists or PSRM [Igor DODON] | Anti-Fascist Movement or Antifa [Grigore PETRENCO] | Anti-Mafia Movement [Sergiu MOCANU] | Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA] | Conservative Party or PC [Natalia NIRCA] | Ecological Party of Moldova "Green Alliance" or PEMAVE [Vladimir BRAGA] | European Action Movement or MAE [Veaceslav UNTILA] | Humanist Party of Moldova or PUM [Valeriu PASAT] | Labor Party or PM [Gheorghe SIMA] | Liberal Reformers Party or PLR [Ion HADARCA] | National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO] | Our Party [Renato USATII] | Patriots of Moldova Party or PPM [Mihail GARBUZ] | Popular Republican Party or PPR [Nicolae ANDRONIC] | Republican Party of Moldova or PRM [Andrei STRATAN] | Roma Social Political Movement of the Republic of Moldova or MRRM [Ion BUCUR] | Social Democratic Party or PSD [Victor SELIN] | Social Political Movement "Equality" or MR [Valeriy KLIMENCO] | United Moldova Party or PMUEM [Vladimir TURCAN]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Part of Romania during the interwar period, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although the country has been independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru River supporting the separatist region of Transnistria, composed of a Slavic majority population (mostly Ukrainians and Russians), but with a sizable ethnic Moldovan minority. Europe's poorest economy, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a communist, Vladimir VORONIN, as its president in 2001. VORONIN served as Moldova's president until he resigned in September 2009. Four Moldovan opposition parties then formed a new coalition, the Alliance for European Integration (AEI), iterations of which acted as Moldova's governing coalitions over the next several years. In May 2013, two of the original AEI parties and a splinter group from a third re-formed a ruling coalition called the Pro-European Coalition. The Moldovan Government in summer 2014 signed and ratified an Association Agreement with the EU, advancing the Coalition's policy priority of EU integration. Following the country’s most recent legislative election in November 2014, the three pro-European parties that entered Parliament won a total of 55 of the body’s 101 seats, enough for a majority coalition. After negotiations among the three broke down, however, two of the parties — the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) and the Democratic Party (PD) — agreed to form the Alliance for a European Moldova (AEM) and a minority government with their combined 42 seats. In February 2015, the PLDM and the PD secured Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova support to win parliamentary approval with 60 votes for their minority government.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,143,440 | females age 16-49: 1,156,958 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 875,224 | females age 16-49: 969,903 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 28,213 | female: 26,614 (2010 est.)

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

National Army: Land Forces Command, Air Forces Command (includes air defense unit) (2014)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.3% of GDP (2014) | 0.3% of GDP (2012) | 0.3% of GDP (2011) | 0.3% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 128

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; male registration required at age 16; 1-year service obligation (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17.86% (male 326,681/female 306,763) | 15-24 years: 13.49% (male 247,183/female 231,389) | 25-54 years: 43.73% (male 777,648/female 773,401) | 55-64 years: 13.24% (male 214,846/female 254,818) | 65 years and over: 11.68% (male 159,145/female 254,973) (2015 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]

total number: 72,364 | percentage: 16% (2009 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

2.2% (2012) | country comparison to the world: 111

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

67.8% (2005)

Death rate [time series]

12.59 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 34.6% | youth dependency ratio: 21.2% | elderly dependency ratio: 13.4% | potential support ratio: 7.5% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

8.3% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 10

Ethnic groups [time series]

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.63% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

800 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72

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

17,600 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

11.8% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 8

Hospital bed density [time series]

6.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 14.44 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 10.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Languages [time series]

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.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.42 years | male: 66.55 years | female: 74.54 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.4% | male: 99.7% | female: 99.1% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

CHISINAU (capital) 725,000 (2015)

Median age [time series]

total: 36 years | male: 34.2 years | female: 38 years (2015 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Moldovan(s) | adjective: Moldovan

Net migration rate [time series]

-9.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 214

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

15.7% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 91

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population [time series]

3,546,847 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Population growth rate [time series]

-1.03% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 229

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years | male: 12 years | female: 12 years (2013)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.56 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 13.1% | male: 12.8% | female: 13.4% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 45% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: -0.73% annual rate of change (2010-15 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 the auspices of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-mandated peacekeeping mission comprised of Moldovan, Transnistrian, Russian, and Ukrainian troops

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 6,779 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015) | stateless persons: 2,036 (2014)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

7 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 169

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 5 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 121 | by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 88, carrier 1, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11, specialized tanker 1 | foreign-owned: 63 (Bulgaria 1, Denmark 1, Egypt 5, Greece 1, Israel 2, Lebanon 1, Pakistan 1, Romania 2, Russia 5, Syria 5, Turkey 18, UK 3, Ukraine 14, Yemen 4) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 45

Pipelines [time series]

gas 1,906 km (2013)

Railways [time series]

total: 1,171 km | broad gauge: 1,157 km 1.520-m gauge | standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 86

Roadways [time series]

total: 9,352 km | paved: 8,835 km | unpaved: 517 km (2012) | country comparison to the world: 137

Waterways [time series]

558 km (in public use on Danube, Dniester and Prut rivers) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 82