Moldova (Republic of Moldova)

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. 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.

The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens Reconsider Travel to Moldova due to armed conflict in neighboring Ukraine. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html

US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as the stay is less than 90 days, within a six-month period.

+(373)(22) 40-83-00; US Embassy Chisinau, 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009, Republic of Moldova; ChisinauACS@state.gov; https://md.usembassy.gov/

373

Ambulance: 903; Fire: 901; Police; 902

See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/

Moderate winters, warm summers

Moldovan lei (MDL)

230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F

Moldovan/Romanian, Russian, Gagauz, Ukrainian, Bulgarian

Orthodox 90.1%, other Christian 2.6%

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

Opt for bottled water

Suggested

Right

Orheiul Vechi complex; Saharna Monastery; Milestii Mici Wine Cellar; Chisinau; Republic of Transnistria & Tiraspol

Soccer, rugby, basketball, cycling

Better to address people with their last name until invited to use their first name.

A service charge is often included in restaurant bills, but a further 5-10% is expected. Tips are not customary for taxis, but are appreciated.

Woodworking crafts, straw- and wool-knitted items, ceramics, traditional costumes, handmade carpets, wine/brandy

Mămăligă — yellow maize flour porridge cooked to a bread-like consistency; grape or cabbage leaves stuffed with ground meat are a popular accompaniment

Wednesday, August 03, 2022

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

47 00 N, 29 00 E

Europe

33,851 sq km

32,891 sq km

960 sq km

slightly larger than Maryland

1,885 km

Romania 683 km; Ukraine 1202 km

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

moderate winters, warm summers

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Dniester (Nistru) 2 m

139 m

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land

74.1% (2023 est.)

arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.)

permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture: 9.4% (2023 est.)

11.3% (2023 est.)

13.8% (2023 est.)

2,150 sq km (2022)

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 note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

(Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

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

landslides

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

3,578,930 (2025 est.)

1,687,496

1,891,434

Moldovan(s)

Moldovan

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

Moldovan/Romanian 80.2% (official) (56.7% Moldovan; 23.5% Romanian), Russian 9.7%, Gagauz 4.2% (a Turkish language), Ukrainian 3.9%, Bulgarian 1.5%, Romani 0.3%, other 0.2% (2014)

Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Moldovan/Romanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

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

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

14.8% (male 266,493/female 266,166)

70.2% (male 1,225,535/female 1,300,640)

15% (2024 est.) (male 206,221/female 334,473)

43 (2025 est.)

20.8 (2025 est.)

22.2 (2025 est.)

4.5 (2025 est.)

40.4 years (2025 est.)

38.6 years

41.3 years

-0.57% (2025 est.)

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

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

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

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

43.4% of total population (2023)

0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

488,000 CHISINAU (capital) (2023)

1.07 male(s)/female

1 male(s)/female

0.94 male(s)/female

0.62 male(s)/female

0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

25.2 years (2019 est.)

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

13.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

16 deaths/1,000 live births

11.5 deaths/1,000 live births

70.1 years (2024 est.)

66.1 years

74.4 years

1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.61 (2025 est.)

urban: 97.7% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 87.7% of population (2022 est.)

total: 92% of population (2022 est.)

urban: 2.3% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 12.3% of population (2022 est.)

total: 8% of population (2022 est.)

7.8% of GDP (2021)

12.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

4.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

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

urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)

total: 89.7% of population (2022 est.)

urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)

total: 10.3% of population (2022 est.)

18.9% (2016)

7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

1.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

3.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

2.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

28.7% (2025 est.)

54.2% (2025 est.)

6.4% (2025 est.)

68.7% (2020 est.)

6.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

16% national budget (2024 est.)

15 years (2023 est.)

15 years (2023 est.)

15 years (2023 est.)

Republic of Moldova

Moldova

Republica Moldova

Moldova

Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic

named for the Moldova River in neighboring eastern Romania; the river's name probably comes from the Indoeuropean root word mel , meaning "dark" or "black"

parliamentary republic

Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)

47 00 N, 28 51 E

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

origin unclear but may derive from the Old Moldovan word kishineu ("spring" or "artesian well")

note: pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov)

32 districts ( raioane , singular - raion ), 3 municipalities ( municipii , singular - municipiul ), 1 autonomous territorial unit ( unitatea teritoriala autonoma ), and 1 territorial unit ( unitatea teritoriala ) districts: 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)

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

previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994

proposed by voter petition (at least 200,000 eligible voters), by at least one third of Parliament members, or by the government; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament within one year of initial proposal; revisions to constitutional articles on sovereignty, independence, and neutrality require majority vote by referendum; articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

no

at least one parent must be a citizen of Moldova

no

10 years

18 years of age; universal

President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020)

Prime Minister Alexandru MUNTEANU (since 1 November 2025)

Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament

president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister designated by the president in 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

3 November 2024

2024: In the second round of presidential elections, incumbent Maia SANDU (PAS) wins 55.4% of the vote, Alexandr STOIANOGLO (PSRM) 44.6; turnout is 54.3% 2020: Maia SANDU elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Maia SANDU (PAS) 57.7%, Igor DODON (PSRM) 42.3%

2028

Parliament (Parlament)

unicameral

101 (all directly elected)

proportional representation

full renewal

4 years

9/28/2025

Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) (55); Electoral Bloc “Patriotic of Socialists, Communists, Heart and Future of Moldova” (26); Alternative Bloc (8); Our Party (6); Democracy at Home Party (6)

37.6%

September 2029

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief judge, 3 deputy-chief judges, 45 judges, and 7 assistant judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 6 judges)

Supreme Court of Justice judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistracy, an 11-member body of judicial officials; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy for 6-year terms; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term

Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts

note: 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

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

Ambassador Vladislav KULMINSKI (since 5 September 2025)

2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

[1] (202) 667-1130

[1] (202) 667-2624

washington@mfa.gov.md https://sua.mfa.gov.md/en

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Nick PIETROWICZ (since 2025)

103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009

7080 Chisinau Place, Washington DC 20521-7080

[373] (22) 408-300

[373] (22) 233-044

ChisinauACS@state.gov https://md.usembassy.gov/

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

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

27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

description: 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 history: replaced the communist flag in 1990; the coat of arms is based on traditional designs

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

aurochs (type of wild cattle)

blue, yellow, red

"Limba noastra" (Our Tongue)

Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA

adopted 1994; originally a 12-verse poem, but only stanzas 1, 2, 5, 9, and 12 are included in the anthem

1 (cultural)

Struve Geodetic Arc

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

$39.342 billion (2024 est.)

$39.301 billion (2023 est.)

$38.835 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

0.1% (2024 est.)

1.2% (2023 est.)

-4.6% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$16,500 (2024 est.)

$16,000 (2023 est.)

$15,400 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$18.2 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

4.7% (2024 est.)

13.4% (2023 est.)

28.7% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

7.1% (2024 est.)

16.8% (2024 est.)

62.3% (2024 est.)

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

86.8% (2024 est.)

17.9% (2024 est.)

20% (2024 est.)

1.1% (2024 est.)

31.4% (2024 est.)

-57.3% (2024 est.)

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

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

3.3% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

1.358 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

1.5% (2024 est.)

1.6% (2023 est.)

0.9% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

3.3% (2024 est.)

3.4% (2024 est.)

3.3% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

31.1% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

25.9 (2022 est.)

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

4.5% (2022 est.)

22.5% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

10.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

12% of GDP (2023 est.)

14% of GDP (2022 est.)

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

$5.197 billion (2023 est.)

$6.037 billion (2023 est.)

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

34.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

18.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

-$2.917 billion (2024 est.)

-$1.893 billion (2023 est.)

-$2.482 billion (2022 est.)

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

$5.717 billion (2024 est.)

$5.866 billion (2023 est.)

$5.981 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

$10.418 billion (2024 est.)

$9.84 billion (2023 est.)

$10.265 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

$5.484 billion (2024 est.)

$5.453 billion (2023 est.)

$4.474 billion (2022 est.)

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

$2.637 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar -

17.792 (2024 est.)

18.164 (2023 est.)

18.897 (2022 est.)

17.68 (2021 est.)

17.322 (2020 est.)

100% (2022 est.)

779,000 kW (2023 est.)

5.674 billion kWh (2023 est.)

94 million kWh (2023 est.)

1.264 billion kWh (2023 est.)

550.069 million kWh (2023 est.)

88% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

90,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

86,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

10,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)

2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

35.686 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

847,000 (2023 est.)

28 (2023 est.)

3.64 million (2024 est.)

120 (2024 est.)

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)

.md

80% (2023 est.)

841,000 (2023 est.)

27 (2023 est.)

ER

10 (2025)

1 (2025)

1,171 km (2014)

14 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

1,157 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge

75 (2023)

bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 44, oil tanker 7, other 22

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

note: 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

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

approximately 6,500 Moldovan Armed Forces (2025)

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)

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)

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

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 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)

136,845 (2024 est.)

6 (2024 est.)

3,164 (2024 est.)

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

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol

moderate winters, warm summers

74.1% (2023 est.)

arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.)

permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture: 9.4% (2023 est.)

11.3% (2023 est.)

13.8% (2023 est.)

43.4% of total population (2023)

0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

7.093 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

219,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

3.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

3.786 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

3.981 million tons (2024 est.)

36.9% (2022 est.)

160 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

583 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

55 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

12.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)