Background: 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 Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population mostly Ukrainians and Russians who have proclaimed a 'Transnistria' republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe 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 following the opposition's gain of a narrow majority in July parliamentary elections and the Communist Party's (PCRM) subsequent inability to attract the three-fifths of parliamentary votes required to elect a president. Moldova's four opposition parties formed a new coalition the Alliance for European Integration (AEI) which acted as Moldova's governing coalition until parliamentary elections were held in November 2010 and a new governing coalition could be formed. Moldova experienced significant political uncertainty in 2009 and 2010 holding three general elections (in April 2009 July 2009 and November 2010) and four presidential ballots in parliament all of which failed to secure a president.

Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N 29 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 33,851 km²
Rank: 139
Land: 32,891 km²
Water: 960 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries
Total: 1390 km
Border countries: (2) Romania 450 km; Ukraine 940 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: moderate winters warm summers

Terrain: rolling steppe gradual slope south to Black Sea

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Dniester 2 m
Extremes highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Natural resources: lignite phosphorites gypsum arable land: limestone

Land use
Arable land: 54.52%
Permanent crops: 8.81%
Other: 36.67% (2005)

Irrigated land: 3,000 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 11.7 km³ (1997)

Natural hazards: landslides

Geography
Note: landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand gravel gypsum and limestone

Population: 4,317,483 (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 124
Growth rate: -0.072% (2010 est.)
Growth rate rank: 206
Below poverty line: 29.5% (2005)

Nationality
Noun: Moldovan
Adjective: Moldovan

Ethnic groups: 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

Languages: Moldovan (official virtually the same as the Romanian language) Russian Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.9%
15-64 years: 73.3% (male 1,536,263/female 1,629,882)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 172,070/female 294,446) (2010 est.)

Median age
Total: 35 years
Male: 33.1 years
Female: 37.1 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.072% (2010 est.)
Rank: 206

Birth rate: 11.16 births/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 174

Death rate: 10.76 deaths/1000 population (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 44

Net migration rate: -1.13 migrant(s)/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 159

Urbanization
Urban population: 42% of total population
Rate of urbanization: -1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Environment
Current 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 Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Hazardous Wastes Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.059 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 12.77 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 135
Male: 14.2 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 11.25 deaths/1000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 71.09 years
Rank: 133
Male: 67.39 years
Female: 75 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.28 children born/woman (2010 est.)
Rank: 211

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 81
People living with hivaids: 8,900 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 109
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
Deaths rank: 135

Education expenditures: 8.2% of GDP (2008)
Rank: 9

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.1%
Male: 99.7%
Female: 98.6% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 13 years (2008)

Country name
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

Government type: republic

Capital
Name: Chisinau
Note: pronounced KEE-shee-now
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

Administrative divisions: 32 raions (raioane singular - raion) 3 municipalities (municipii singular - municipiu) 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)

Independence: 27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day 27 August (1991)

Constitution: adopted 29 July 1994; effective 27 August 1994; note - replaced 1979 Soviet constitution

Legal system: 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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Acting President Marian LUPU
Note: Vladimir Filat resigned on 27 December 2010 but was reappointed on 31 December 2010
Head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir FILAT (since 25 September 2009)
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); last successful election held on 4 April 2005 most recent (failed) election held on 10 December 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 (re)designated on 31 December 2010; cabinet received a vote of confidence on 14 January 2011
Election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president (2005); parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75 Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vladimir FILAT (re)designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 59 of 101

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; members elected on an at-large basis by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 28 November 2010 (next to be held in 2014); note - this was the third parliamentary election in less than two years; the earlier parliaments (elected 5 April 2009 and 29 July 2009) could not agree on a presidential candidate
Election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 39.3% PLDM 29.4% PD 12.7% PL 10% other 8.6%; seats by party - PCRM 42 PLDM 32 PD 15 PL 12; note - the PLDM PD and PL governing coalition termed the Alliance for European Integration has 59 seats; it remains 2 votes short of the 61 needed to elect a new president

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)

Political parties and leaders
Represented in parliament: Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [Mihai LUPU]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladmir FILAT]; Liberal Party or PL [Mihai GHIMPU]
Not represented in parliament: 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]; For Nation and Country Party or PpNT [Sergiu MOCANU]; Humanist Party of Moldova or PUM [Valeriu PASAT]; Labor Party or PM [Gheorghe SIMA]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; 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]

International organization participation: BSEC CE CEI CIS EAEC (observer) EAPC EBRD FAO GCTU GUAM IAEA IBRD ICAO ICCt ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO (correspondent) ITU MIGA OIF OPCW OSCE PFP SECI UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO Union Latina UNMIL UNMIS UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCO WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Igor MUNTEANU
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 Asif J. CHAUDHRY
From the us embassy: 103 Mateevici Street Chisinau MD-2009
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [373] (22) 40-8,300
From the us fax: [373] (22) 23-3,044

Flag description: 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; based on the color scheme of the flag of Romania - with whom 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

National anthem
Name: 'Limba noastra'
Lyricsmusic: Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA
Note: adopted 1994

Economy overview: 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 in disputes over pricing. In January 2009 gas supplies were cut during a dispute between Russia and Ukraine. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas have hurt growth. The onset of the global financial crisis and poor economic conditions in Moldova's main foreign markets caused GDP to fall 6.5% in 2009. Unemployment almost doubled and inflation disappeared - at -0.1% a record low. Moldova's IMF agreement expired in May 2009. In fall 2009 the IMF allocated $186 million to Moldova to cover its immediate budgetary needs and the government signed an new agreement with the IMF in January 2010 for a program worth $574 million. In 2010 an upturn in the world economy boosted GDP growth to 3.1% and inflation to 7.3%. 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 granting of EU trade preferences and increased exports to Russia will encourage higher growth rates but the agreements are unlikely to serve as a panacea given the extent to which export success depends on higher quality standards and other factors. The economy has made a modest recovery but remains vulnerable to political uncertainty weak administrative capacity vested bureaucratic interests higher fuel prices poor agricultural weather and the skepticism of foreign investors as well as the presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 147
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 115

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 178
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 16.3%
Industry: 20.1%
Services: 63.6% (2010 est.)

Agriculture products: vegetables fruits grapes grain sugar beetssunflower seed tobacco; beef milk; wine

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

Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (2010 est.)
Rank: 75

Labor force: 1.203 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 138
By occupation agriculture: 40.6%
By occupation industry: 16%
By occupation services: 43.3% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3.1% (2009 est.)
Rank: 26

Population below poverty line: 29.5% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3%
Highest 10: 28.2% (2004)

Distribution of family income gini index: 40.6 (1997)
Rank: 95

Public debt: 25.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 99

Inflation rate consumer prices: -0.1% (2009 est.)
Rank: 184

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 21.06% (31 December 2008 est.)
Rank: 15

Stock of narrow money: $1.189 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Rank: 134

Stock of broad money: $2.942 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 133

Stock of domestic credit: $2.251 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 124

Market value of publicly traded shares: $573.9 million (2004)
Rank: 103

Current account balance: -$464.6 million (2009 est.)
Rank: 119

Exports: $1.332 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 138
Commodities: foodstuffs textiles machinery
Partners: Russia 23.77% Italy 14.11% Romania 12.74% Germany 6.92% Turkey 6.08% Belarus 5.38% (2009)

Imports: $3.276 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 132
Commodities: mineral products and fuel machinery and equipment chemicals textiles
Partners: Ukraine 19.9% Romania 15.1% Russia 14.52% Germany 8.69% Italy 5.7% Belarus 4.38% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.48 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 104

Debt external: $3.844 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 115

Stock of direct foreign investment at home:

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $NA

Exchange rates: Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - 12.443 (2010) 11.11 (2009) 10.326 (2008) 12.177 (2007) 13.131 (2006)

Electricity
Production: 3.617 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 120
Consumption: 4.37 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 114
Exports: 240 million kWh (2007 est.)
Imports: 2.931 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 50 million m³ (2007 est.)
Production rank: 82
Consumption: 2.52 billion m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 77
Exports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Exports rank: 94
Imports: 2.52 billion m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 44
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2010 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 145

Telephones
Main lines in use: 1.139 million (2009)
Main lines in use rank: 72
Mobile cellular: 2.785 million (2009)
Mobile cellular rank: 116

Telephone system
General assessment: poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way
Domestic: depending on location new subscribers may face long wait for service; 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 90 per 100 persons
International: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat Eutelsat and Intersputnik) (2009)

Broadcast media: state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 television 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: .md
Hosts: 492,181 (2010)
Hosts rank: 50
Users: 1.333 million (2009)
Users rank: 89

Military expenditures: 0.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 168

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month service obligation (2009)

Airports: 11 (2010)
Rank: 154
With paved runways total: 5
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 6
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 1906 km (2009)

Railways
Total: 1138 km
Rank: 88
Broad gauge: 1124 km 1.520-m gauge
Standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways
Total: 9,343 km
Rank: 137
Paved: 8,810 km
Unpaved: 533 km (2008)

Waterways: 558 km (in public use on Danube Dniester and Prut rivers) (2008)
Rank: 83

Merchant marine
Total: 107
Rank: 48
By type: bulk carrier 7 cargo 89 chemical tanker 2 passenger/cargo 1 petroleum tanker 1 refrigerated cargo 1 roll on/roll off 6
Foreign owned: 63 (Belgium 2 Egypt 5 Greece 4 Israel 4 Lebanon 1 Romania 2 Russia 5 Syria 3 Turkey 18 UK 6 Ukraine 12 Yemen 1) (2010)

Disputes international: 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: 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