Background: 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.

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

Land boundaries
Total: 1,885 km
Border countries (2): (2) Romania 683 km; Ukraine 1202 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: moderate winters, warm summers

Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Elevation
Highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Lowest point: Dniester (Nistru) 2 m
Mean elevation: 139 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 74.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Other: 13.8% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,150 km² (2022)

Major rivers: 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

Natural hazards: landslides

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

Population
Total: 3,599,528 (2024 est.)
Male: 1,698,249
Female: 1,901,279
Distribution: 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
Growth rate: -0.58% (2024 est.)

Languages: 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)
Major-language sample(s): ; 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

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 266,493/female 266,166)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 1,225,535/female 1,300,640)
65 years and over: 15% (2024 est.) (male 206,221/female 334,473)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 42.5 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 21.1 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 21.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 4.7 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 39.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 38.6 years
Female: 41.3 years

Population growth rate: -0.58% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 8.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 14.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: 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

Urbanization
Urban population: 43.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 488,000 CHISINAU (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 66.1 years
Female: 74.4 years

Total fertility rate: 1.26 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 2.3% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 12.3% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 10.3% of population (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 1.5% (2024 est.); 1.6% (2023 est.); 0.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)
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
Etymology: origin unclear but may derive from the Old Moldovan word kishineu ('spring' or 'artesian well')
Note: pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov)

Administrative divisions: 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)

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

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020)
Head of government: Prime Minister Dorin RECEAN (since 16 February 2023)
Cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament
Election/appointment process: 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
Most recent election date: 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%
2016: Igor DODON elected president in second round; percent of vote - Igor DODON (PSRM) 52.1%, Maia SANDU (PAS) 47.9%
Expected date of next election: 2,028

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Parlament)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 101 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 9/28/2025
Parties elected and seats per party: 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)
Percentage of women in chamber: 37.6%
Expected date of next election: September 2,029

Flag 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

National anthem
Title: 'Limba noastra' (Our Tongue)
Lyrics/music: Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA
History: adopted 1994; originally a 12-verse poem, but only stanzas 1, 2, 5, 9, and 12 are included in the anthem

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 0.1% (2024 est.); 1.2% (2023 est.); -4.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 0.1% (2024 est.); 1.2% (2023 est.); -4.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 86.8% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 17.9% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 20% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.1% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 31.4% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -57.3% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 7.1% (2024 est.)
Industry: 16.8% (2024 est.)
Services: 62.3% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 1.358 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 1.5% (2024 est.); 1.6% (2023 est.); 0.9% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 1.5% (2024 est.); 1.6% (2023 est.); 0.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $5.197 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $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

Taxes and other revenues: 18.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $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
Commodities: insulated wire, garments, refined petroleum, seed oils, wheat (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $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
Commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 779,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 5.674 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 94 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.264 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 550.069 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 88% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 90,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 86,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 10,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.093 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 219,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.087 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 3.786 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 35.686 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 847,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4.01 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 841,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 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.)

Airports: 10 (2025)

Heliports: 1 (2025)

Railways
Total: 1,171 km (2014)
Standard gauge: 14 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Broad gauge: 1,157 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge

Merchant marine
Total: 75 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 44, oil tanker 7, other 22