Moldova

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<p>A large portion of present-day Moldovan territory became a province of the Russian Empire in 1812 and then unified with Romania in 1918 in the aftermath of World War I. This territory was then incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although Moldova has been independent from the Soviet Union since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru River in the breakaway region of Transnistria.</p> <p>Years of Communist Party rule in Moldova from 2001 to 2009 ultimately ended with election-related violent protests and a rerun of parliamentary elections in 2009. A series of pro-Europe ruling coalitions governed Moldova from 2010 to 2019, but pro-Russia candidate Igor DODON won the presidency in 2016, and his Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova won a plurality in the legislative election in 2019. Pro-EU reformist candidate Maia SANDU defeated DODON in his reelection bid in 2020, and SANDU's Party of Action and Solidarity won a parliamentary majority in an early legislative election in 2021. Prime Minister Natalia GAVRILITA and her cabinet took office in 2021. In early 2023, Moldova's parliament confirmed a new cabinet led by Prime Minister Dorin RECEAN, which retained the majority of the former ministers.</p> <p> </p>

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Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

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47 00 N, 29 00 E

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Europe

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slightly larger than Maryland

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0 km (landlocked)

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none (landlocked)

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moderate winters, warm summers

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rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

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lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land

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2,150 sq km (2022)

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<p>Dunărea (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Nistru (Dniester) (shared with Ukraine [s/m]) - 1,411 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth</p>

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pockets of agglomeration exist throughout the country, with the largest in the center of the country around the capital of Chisinau, followed by Tiraspol and Balti

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landslides

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landlocked; has many types of sedimentary rocks and minerals, including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

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Moldovan 75.1%, Romanian 7%, Ukrainian 6.6%, Gagauz 4.6%, Russian 4.1%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 0.8% (2014 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represent mother tongue; as of March 2023, "Romanian" replaced "Moldovan" as the name of Moldova's official language

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Orthodox 90.1%, other Christian 2.6%, other 0.1%, agnostic &lt;0.1%, atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.9% (2014 est.)

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-0.57% (2025 est.)

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8.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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14.06 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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pockets of agglomeration exist throughout the country, with the largest in the center of the country around the capital of Chisinau, followed by Tiraspol and Balti

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488,000 CHISINAU (capital) (2023)

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25.2 years (2019 est.)

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19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.61 (2025 est.)

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4.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

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5.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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18.9% (2016)

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68.7% (2020 est.)

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soil and water pollution from heavy use of agricultural chemicals; extensive soil erosion and declining soil fertility from farming methods

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moderate winters, warm summers

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12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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12.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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parliamentary republic

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<strong>note:</strong> pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov)

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32 districts (<em>raioane</em>, singular - <em>raion</em>), 3 municipalities (<em>municipii</em>, singular - <em>municipiul</em>), 1 autonomous territorial unit (<em>unitatea teritoriala autonoma</em>), and 1 territorial unit (<em>unitatea teritoriala</em>) <br><br><strong>districts:</strong> 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 <br><br><strong>municipalities:</strong> Balti, Bender, Chisinau <br><br><strong>autonomous territorial unit:</strong> Gagauzia <br><br><strong>territorial unit:</strong> Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)

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civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note:</strong> the Constitutional Court is autonomous; it interprets the Constitution and reviews the constitutionality of parliamentary laws and decisions, decrees of the president, and acts of the government

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Common Action Party - Civil Congress or PAC-CC<br>Democracy at Home Party or PPDA<br>Future of Moldova Party or PVM<br>National Alternative Movement or MAN<br>Our Party or PN<br>Party of Action and Solidarity or PAS<br>Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM<br>Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova or PDCM<br>Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova or PSRM<br><br>

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BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEU (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

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<strong>note</strong>: Moldova is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership

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27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

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Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

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<strong>description:</strong> three equal vertical bands of Prussian blue (left side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; the Moldavan coat of arms in the center is a dark gold Roman eagle outlined in black, with a red beak and talons; the eagle carries a yellow cross in its beak, a green olive branch in its right talons, and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on the eagle's breast is a red-and-blue shield divided horizontally, with a stylized aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent in black and outlined yellow; the reverse of the flag displays a mirror image of the coat of arms<br><br><strong>history:</strong> replaced the communist flag in 1990; the coat of arms is based on traditional designs

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<strong>note 1: </strong>colors are based on the Romanian flag, but Moldova's blue band is lighter<strong><br><br>note 2:</strong> one of three national flags that differ on each side -- the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia

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aurochs (type of wild cattle)

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blue, yellow, red

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upper middle-income Eastern European economy; sustained growth reversed by COVID-19; significant remittances; Russian energy and regional dependence; agricultural exporter; declining workforce due to emigration and low fertility

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$18.2 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, grapes, apples, sugar beets, barley, milk, rapeseed, potatoes (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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3.3% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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1.358 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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31.1% (2022 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

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18.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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Romania 31%, Ukraine 13%, Italy 6%, Germany 6%, Czechia 4% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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insulated wire, garments, refined petroleum, seed oils, wheat (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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Romania 16%, Ukraine 13%, China 11%, Turkey 8%, Germany 7% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; total of nearly 70 terrestrial TV channels and about 50 radio stations; Russian and Romanian channels are available (2019)

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.md

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ER

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10 (2025)

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1 (2025)

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Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova (Forțele Armate ale Republicii Moldova): National Army (comprised of Land Forces, Air Force)<br><br>Ministry of Internal Affairs: General Inspectorate of Police (GPI), Border Police Department, Carabinieri Troops Department (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the Carabinieri is a quasi-militarized gendarmerie responsible for protecting public buildings, maintaining public order, and other national security functions; the GPI is the primary law enforcement body, responsible for internal security, public order, traffic, and criminal investigations

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approximately 6,500 Moldovan Armed Forces (2025)

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the military's inventory is limited and almost entirely comprised of Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, it has received small amounts of donated equipment from some Western European nations and the US (2025)

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18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month service obligation; conscientious objectors can perform non-military service in public institutions for a longer period (up to 24 months) (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> as of 2024, women made up about 23% of the military's full-time personnel

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the National Army is responsible for defense against external aggression, suppressing illegal military violence along the state border or inside the country, and supporting other internal security forces in maintaining public order if necessary; its primary focuses are Transnistrian separatist forces and their Russian backers; the 1992 war between Moldovan forces and the Transnistrian separatists backed by Russian troops ended with a cease-fire; the separatists maintain several armed paramilitary combat units, plus other security forces and reserves; Russia maintains approximately 1,500 troops in the breakaway region, including some Transnistrian locals who serve as Russian troops; some of those troops are under the authority of a peacekeeping force known as a Joint Control Commission that also includes Moldovan and separatist personnel, while the remainder of the Russian contingent guard a depot of Soviet-era ammunition and train separatist forces<br><br>Moldova is constitutionally neutral but has maintained a relationship with NATO since 1992 and since 2022 has enhanced bilateral security cooperation with some NATO members; it has contributed small numbers of troops to NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) since 2014, and a civilian NATO liaison office was established in Moldova in 2017 at the request of the Moldovan Government to promote practical cooperation and facilitate support; in 2024, Moldova signed a security and defense partnership agreement with the EU; it maintains close security relations with Romania, a member of the EU and NATO (2025)