Moldova

Cultural Attributes

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Holidays

• Independence Day

  8/27

  Independence Day

Dates of Interest

• August 27th

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Historical Eras

Overview

Timeline of Key Events

1. 1812

   Treaty of Bucharest grants Russia control of eastern Moldova.

   Treaty of Bucharest grants Russia control of eastern Moldova or Bessarabia, the area between the River Prut and the west bank of the Dniester. The Ottoman Empire gains control of western Moldova.

2. 1878

   Ottomans recognize independence of Romanian state including western Moldova.

   Ottomans recognize independence of Romanian state including western Moldova.

3. 1918

   Following the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, Bessarabia declares independence.

   Following the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, Bessarabia declares independence. Its parliament calls for union with Romania.

4. 1920

   Treaty of Paris recognizes union of Bessarabia with Romania. The Bolsheviks do not.

   Treaty of Paris recognizes union of Bessarabia with Romania. The Bolsheviks do not.

5. 1939

   Romania carved up in pact between Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s USSR.

   Romania carved up in pact between Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s USSR. Bessarabia is one of the areas to go to the USSR.

6. 1991

   Moldova declares its independence.

   Moldova declares its independence. It joins the Commonwealth of Independent States, the successor to the Soviet Union.

7. 1994

   A new constitution proclaims Moldova’s neutrality.

   A new constitution proclaims Moldova’s neutrality.

Religion

Languages Spoken

• Russian

Population

Population

2,587,695

Population in Major Urban Areas

CHISINAU (capital) 677,000

Nationality Noun

Moldovan(s)

Ethnic Groups

Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2%

Education

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Moldova stands at approximately 71 years overall, with notable differences between sexes. Women in Moldova can expect to live to around 75 years, while men have a considerably shorter life expectancy of roughly 67 years. This gap of nearly eight years between male and female life expectancy is one of the more pronounced gender disparities in the region and reflects broader patterns seen across Eastern Europe. Moldova's life expectancy figures place it among the lower-ranked countries in Europe, trailing significantly behind Western European nations, where averages commonly exceed 80 years. The country has faced persistent public health challenges that have constrained longevity, including high rates of cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death. Liver disease, linked in part to high rates of alcohol consumption, and respiratory illnesses also contribute meaningfully to premature mortality, particularly among working-age men. Several socioeconomic factors further influence life expectancy in Moldova. The country is one of the poorest in Europe by per capita income, which limits household access to quality nutrition, preventive healthcare, and timely medical treatment. Rural populations, who make up a significant share of the country's residents, often face greater challenges in accessing healthcare infrastructure compared to those living in the capital, Chișinău. Moldova has experienced periods of modest improvement in life expectancy since the early 2000s, driven partly by healthcare reforms, increased access to medications for chronic disease management, and some improvement in living standards. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a noticeable setback, contributing to excess mortality and a temporary decline in average life expectancy, a pattern observed in many countries during 2020 and 2021. Large-scale emigration, a defining feature of modern Moldovan society, also complicates the demographic picture. Many younger, working-age Moldovans have left to seek employment abroad, leaving behind an older population whose healthcare needs are more intensive. Ongoing efforts to strengthen the national health system and address chronic disease risk factors remain central to the country's long-term public health agenda.

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Moldova stands at approximately 71 years overall, with notable differences between sexes. Women in Moldova can expect to live to around 75 years, while men have a considerably shorter life expectancy of roughly 67 years. This gap of nearly eight years between male and female life expectancy is one of the more pronounced gender disparities in the region and reflects broader patterns seen across Eastern Europe. Moldova's life expectancy figures place it among the lower-ranked countries in Europe, trailing significantly behind Western European nations, where averages commonly exceed 80 years. The country has faced persistent public health challenges that have constrained longevity, including high rates of cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death. Liver disease, linked in part to high rates of alcohol consumption, and respiratory illnesses also contribute meaningfully to premature mortality, particularly among working-age men. Several socioeconomic factors further influence life expectancy in Moldova. The country is one of the poorest in Europe by per capita income, which limits household access to quality nutrition, preventive healthcare, and timely medical treatment. Rural populations, who make up a significant share of the country's residents, often face greater challenges in accessing healthcare infrastructure compared to those living in the capital, Chișinău. Moldova has experienced periods of modest improvement in life expectancy since the early 2000s, driven partly by healthcare reforms, increased access to medications for chronic disease management, and some improvement in living standards. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a noticeable setback, contributing to excess mortality and a temporary decline in average life expectancy, a pattern observed in many countries during 2020 and 2021. Large-scale emigration, a defining feature of modern Moldovan society, also complicates the demographic picture. Many younger, working-age Moldovans have left to seek employment abroad, leaving behind an older population whose healthcare needs are more intensive. Ongoing efforts to strengthen the national health system and address chronic disease risk factors remain central to the country's long-term public health agenda.

Country Identity

Country Name

Moldova

Full Country Name

Republic of Moldova

Local - Long

Republica Moldova

Former Name

Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia

Government Structure

Government Type

republic

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

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 nominated by the prime minister, approved by Parliament elections: President elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 October 2024, with a runoff on 3 November 2024 (next to be held in 2028); prime minister designated by the president following consultation with Parliament; the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from Parliament within 15 days of designation, covering both the proposed work program and the full cabinet election results: Maia SANDU reelected president in the second round with approximately 55.4% of the vote, defeating Alexandr STOIANOGLO; Dorin RECEAN designated prime minister and confirmed by a parliamentary vote of confidence in February 2023

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; members elected by popular vote using a proportional representation system to serve four-year terms) Elections: Last held on 11 July 2021 (next to be held in 2025) Election results: Percent of vote by party - Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) 52.8%, Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BCS) 27.2%, Shor Party 5.7%, other parties 14.3%; seats by party - PAS 63, BCS 32, Shor Party 6 Note: Following a Constitutional Court ruling in 2019, Moldova shifted away from a mixed electoral system that had been briefly adopted in 2017 and returned to a proportional representation model. The 2021 elections resulted in a decisive majority for the pro-European PAS, led by then-party leader Maia Sandu, who had already assumed the presidency in late 2020. The Shor Party was subsequently banned by the Constitutional Court in 2023, and its six parliamentary seats were redistributed accordingly.

Judicial Branch

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Constitution

new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979

Independence

27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Capital City

Capital Name

Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian) pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov)

Capital - geographic coordinate

47 00 N, 28 51 E

Capital Time Difference

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

Military

Branches: National Army: Land Forces Command, Air Forces Command (includes air defense unit), Logistics Command

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code

Moldovan Leu (MDL)

GDP — official exchange rate

$2,416,000,000 (USD)

GDP Real Growth Rate

-6.4%

Gini Index

36.2