Statistical information Moldova 1999

Moldova in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 Nistru (Dnister) River supporting the Slavic majority population (mostly Ukrainians and Russians) who have proclaimed a 'Transnistria' republic.
top of pageLocation: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map reference:
Commonwealth of Independent StatesAreaTotal: 33,843 km²
Land: 33,371 km²
Water: 472 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundariesTotal: 1,389 km
Border countries: (2) Romania 450 km;
, Ukraine 939 kmCoastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Nistru River 2 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum
Land useArable land: 53%
Permanent crops: 14%
Permanent pastures: 13%
Forests and woodland: 13%
Other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,110 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: landslides (57 cases in 1998)
GeographyNote: landlocked
top of pagePopulation: 4,460,838 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Moldovan(s)
Adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 est.)
Note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians in the Transdniester region
Languages: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about 1,000 members) (1991)
Note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldovans
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 24% (male 555,096; female 535,625)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,408,334; female 1,529,542)
65 years and over: 10% (male 160,317; female 271,924) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.43 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.5 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.92 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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 (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 43.52 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 64.39 years
Male: 59.76 years
Female: 69.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 96%
Male: 99%
Female: 94% (1989 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Moldova
Conventional short form: Moldova
Local long form: Republica Moldova
Local short form: none
Former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
Government type: republic
Capital: Chisinau
Administrative divisions: 40 raions (singular_raion) and 4 municipalities*; Anenii Noi, Balti*, Basarabeasca, Bender*, Briceni, Cahul, Cainari, Calarasi, Camenca, Cantemir, Causeni, Ceadir-Lunga, Chisinau*, Cimislia, Comrat, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Grigoriopol, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Ribnita, Riscani, Singerei, Slobozia, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Tiraspol*, Ungheni, Vulcanesti
Note: in accordance with the Law on Territorial Administrative Reform, the 40 raions have been reorganized into 9 counties (judets), one municipality*, and 2 territorial units**:Baltsi, Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Dubossary district (Transnistria)**, Edinets, Gagauzia**, Lapushna, Orhei, Soroca, Tighina, Ungheni; the status of the Dubossary district is still under negotiation
Dependent areasIndependence: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 August 1991
Constitution: new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979
Legal system: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Petru LUCINSCHI (since 15 January 1997)
Head of government: Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC (since 15 January 1997) and four deputy prime ministers
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 1996; runoff election 1 December 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; names of deputy prime ministers are submitted by the prime minister for acceptance by the president
Election results: Petru LUCINSCHI ran against Mircea SNEGUR and was elected president; percent of vote_LUCINSCHI 54%, SNEGUR 46%; Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC was appointed by the president 15 January 1997 and was elected by a parliamentary vote of 75-15 on 24 January 1997
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held spring 2002)
Election results: percent of vote by party_PCM 30%, CDM 19%, PMDP 18%, PFD 9%; seats by party_PCM 40, CDM 26, PMDP 24, PFD 11
Note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ceslav CIOBANU
In the us chancery: 2,101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Rudolf Villem PERINA
From the us embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevicie, #103, Chisinau 2009
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address; pouch address_American Embassy Chisinau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20,521-7,080
From the us telephone: [373] (2) 23-37-72
From the us FAX: [373] (2) 23-30-44
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: 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. The Moldovan Government has recently been making progress on an ambitious economic reform agenda. As part of its reform efforts, Moldova introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. In 1998, the economic troubles of Russia, with whom Moldova conducts 55% of its trade, was a major cause of the 8.6% drop in GDP. In 1999, the IMF resumed payment on Moldova's Extended Fund Facility, which had been suspended since 1997. The IMF intends to grant $135 million in 1999.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: -8.6% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $2,200 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 30%
Industry: 29%
Services: 41% (1997)
Agriculture products: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk
Industries: food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.7 million (1998)
By occupation agriculture: 40.2%
By occupation industry: 14.3%
By occupation other: 45.5% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 2% (includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (September 1998)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $536 million
Expenditures: $594 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1998 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $633 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear, machinery
Partners: Russia 58%, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, US, Germany, Italy (1997)
Imports: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, chemical products, metals, metal products, foodstuffs, automobiles, other consumer durables
Partners: Russia 26%, Ukraine 20%, Belarus, Romania, Germany, Italy (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: more than $1.2 billion (February 1999)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: lei (MLD) per US$1 (end of period)_8.3226 (December 1998), 8.3395 (1998), 4.6605 (1997), 4.6500 (1996), 4.4990 (1995), 4.2700 (1994; period average_4.6758 (January 1998), 4.6236 (1997), 4.6045 (1996), 4.4958 (1995)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 8.325 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 96.1%
Production by source hydro: 3.9%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 6.825 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 3.1 billion kWh (1996)
Imports: 1.6 billion kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 600,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Information, Computers, and Telecommunications controls telecommunications; the carrier is Modtelecom
Domestic: local_Chisinau has a fiber-optic loop and one cellular GSM provider; the waiting list for telephones is long; local service outside Chisinau is poor; intercity_Moldova's two fiber-optic segments form a synchronous digital hierarchy ring through Romania's system; an analog backbone system runs from south to north in Moldova
International: two fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Romania; worldwide service can be available to Moldova through this infrastructure; additional analog lines are to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $6.3 million (FY99)
Percent of gdp: 1% (1999)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 26 (1994 est.)
With paved runways total: 8
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 18
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 8 (1994 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: natural gas 310 km (1992)
RailwaysTotal: 1,328 km
Broad gauge: 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
RoadwaysWaterways: 424 km (1994)
Merchant marinePorts and terminalsMoldova - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: separatist Transdniester region, comprising the area between the Nistru (Dniester) River and Ukraine, has its own de facto government, dominated by Moldovan Slavs
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: 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 United States