Moldova

World Book Index

Introduction

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. Moldova has been independent from the Soviet Union since 1991.

Geography

Area
total : 33,851 sq km
land: 32,891 sq km
water: 960 sq km

Climate
moderate winters, warm summers

Natural resources
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land

People and Society

Population
total: 3,599,528 (2024 est.)

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

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

Population growth rate
-0.58% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
parliamentary republic

Capital
name: Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)

Executive branch
chief of state: President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020)
head of government: Prime Minister Dorin RECEAN (since 16 February 2023)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Vladislav KULMINSKI (since 5 September 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Nick PIETROWICZ (since 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$39.342 billion (2024 est.)
$39.301 billion (2023 est.)
$38.835 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$16,500 (2024 est.)
$16,000 (2023 est.)
$15,400 (2022 est.)

Exports
$5.717 billion (2024 est.)
$5.866 billion (2023 est.)
$5.981 billion (2022 est.)

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

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

Imports
$10.418 billion (2024 est.)
$9.84 billion (2023 est.)
$10.265 billion (2022 est.)

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

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

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.785, ranking it 86th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 28th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 6.594. (more information)