Moldova
Country Guide

Explore Moldova

Moldova with its capital Chisinau is located in Europe (Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania). It covers some 33,852 square kilometers (slightly larger than Maryland) with 3,474,120 citizens. Romanian, Russian and Turkish are the languages commonly used by the people in Moldova (consider regional differences). Interesting info is sharing borders with Romania and Ukraine.

Moldova is a small land-locked country in Eastern Europe, north of the Balkans, surrounded by Romania to the southwest, across the Prut river, and Ukraine to the northeast. The second biggest city in Moldova, Bălţi, merits a visit as well as the capital. Nice pedestrian zone around the central square. Check out the old part of the city. Ungheni is also one of the most beautiful cities in Moldova with a lot of nice places to see. Moldova is famous for its wines. With top rate wines at bargain prices, it is Moldova’s main tourism draw.

Popular Destinations in Moldova

Administrative regions of Moldova

• Anenii Noi
• Basarabeasca
• Briceni
• Cahul
• Cantemir
• Cimislia
• Criuleni
• Donduseni District
• Drochia
• Falesti
• Floresti
• Gagauzia
• Glodeni
• Hincesti
• Ialoveni District
• Leova
• Municipiul Balti
• Municipiul Bender
• Municipiul Chisinau
• Nisporeni
• Orhei
• Raionul Calarasi
• Raionul Causeni
• Raionul Dubasari
• Raionul Edinet
• Raionul Ocnita
• Raionul Soroca
• Raionul Stefan Voda
• Rezina
• Riscani
• Singerei
• Soldanesti
• Straseni
• Taraclia
• Telenesti
• Ungheni
• Unitatea Teritoriala din Stinga Nistrului

About the country

The landscape is rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea. The average density of population is about 103 per km². The climate in Moldova can be described as moderate winters, warm summers. Potential threats by nature are landslides.

To reach someone Moldova dial +373 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".md". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F). The sign for the locally used currency Leu is MDL.

Three equal vertical bands of Prussian blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of dark gold (brown) 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 aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow; based on the color scheme of the flag of Romania - with which Moldova shares a history and culture - but Moldova's blue band is lighter; the reverse of the flag displays a mirrored image of the coat of arms.

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 Nistru River supporting the breakaway region of Transnistria, composed of a Slavic majority population (mostly Ukrainians and Russians), but with a sizable ethnic Moldovan minority. Years of Communist Party rule post-independence ultimately ended with election-related violent protests and a rerun of parliamentary elections in 2009. Since then, a series of pro-European ruling coalitions have governed Moldova. As a result of the country's most recent legislative election in November 2014, the three pro-European parties that entered Parliament won a total of 55 of the body's 101 seats. Infighting among coalition members led to prolonged legislative gridlock and political instability, as well as the collapse of two governments, all ruled by pro-European coalitions centered around the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) and the Democratic Party (PDM). A political impasse ended in January 2016 when a new parliamentary majority led by PDM, joined by defectors from the Communists and PLDM, supported Pavel FILIP as prime minister. Moldova remains Europe's poorest economy; the country signed and ratified an Association Agreement with the EU in 2014, which fully entered into force in July 2016 after ratification by all EU member states.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 140)	33,851	sq km
Land (World Rank: 136)	32,891	sq km
Water (World Rank: 112)	960	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 125)	10.70	%
Comparative	slightly larger than Maryland
Landborder
1885
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 40)	2	m
Highest point (World Rank: 195)	430	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 13)	74.90	%
Arable (World Rank: 5)	55.10	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 35)	9.10	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 125)	10.70	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 74)	2,283	sq km
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues	- extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods - has contaminated soil and groundwater - heavy use of agricultural chemicals - including banned pesticides such as DDT
Agreement party	- 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
Hazzards	landslides
Location
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Climate
moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 131)	3,474,120
Deathrate (World Rank: 17)	1.26	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 168)	1.15	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 221)	-1.05	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 176)	-0.94	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 183)	1.57	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 74)	34.90
Female (World Rank: 63)	38.60
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 140)	325,501
0 14 female (World Rank: 141)	305,931
15 24 male (World Rank: 140)	221,582
15 24 female (World Rank: 141)	206,458
25 54 male (World Rank: 132)	760,511
25 54 female (World Rank: 129)	747,352
55 64 male (World Rank: 112)	214,565
55 64 female (World Rank: 108)	252,924
65 x male (World Rank: 110)	171,347
65 x female (World Rank: 101)	267,950
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 119)	1.20	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 150)	71	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 146)	75	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 154)	67	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 59)	2.54
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 22)	6.20
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 132)	76.40	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 113)	18.90	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 143)	88.40	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 116)	5,741,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 123)	4,611,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 107)	18,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 77)	85.70	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 106)	13.30	%
Source renew (World Rank: 130)	1.20	%
Crude oil
Imports (World Rank: 86)	20	bbl / day
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 107)	262	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 147)	15,570	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 115)	261	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 128)	15,560	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 93)	10,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 72)	3,480,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 9)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
4976000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 13)	8	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 145)	0	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 22)	10	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 78)	-2	% of GDP
National symbol
aurochs
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Moldovan
Noun
Moldovan(s)
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 Nistru River supporting the breakaway region of Transnistria, composed of a Slavic majority population (mostly Ukrainians and Russians), but with a sizable ethnic Moldovan minority. Years of Communist Party rule post-independence ultimately ended with election-related violent protests and a rerun of parliamentary elections in 2009. Since then, a series of pro-European ruling coalitions have governed Moldova. As a result of the country's most recent legislative election in November 2014, the three pro-European parties that entered Parliament won a total of 55 of the body's 101 seats. Infighting among coalition members led to prolonged legislative gridlock and political instability, as well as the collapse of two governments, all ruled by pro-European coalitions centered around the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) and the Democratic Party (PDM). A political impasse ended in January 2016 when a new parliamentary majority led by PDM, joined by defectors from the Communists and PLDM, supported Pavel FILIP as prime minister. Moldova remains Europe's poorest economy; the country signed and ratified an Association Agreement with the EU in 2014, which fully entered into force in July 2016 after ratification by all EU member states.
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of Prussian blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of dark gold (brown) 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 aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow; based on the color scheme of the flag of Romania - with which Moldova shares a history and culture - but Moldova's blue band is lighter; the reverse of the flag displays a mirrored image of the coat of arms

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 149)	18,960,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 54)	4.30	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 168)	5,300	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 67)	14.30	%
Source industry (World Rank: 145)	20.90	%
Source service (World Rank: 91)	64.80	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 135)	1,273,000
In poverty (World Rank: 105)	20.80	%
Products
Industries	- agricultural machinery - food processing - foundry equipment - freezers - hosiery - refrigerators - shoes - sugar processing - textiles - vegetable oil - washing machines
Agriculture	- beef - fruits - grain - grapes - milk - sugar beets - sunflower seeds - tobacco - vegetables - wine
Exports	- foodstuffs - machinery - textiles
Imports	- chemicals - equipment - fuel - machinery - mineral products - textiles

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 72)	1,171,290
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 56)	33.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 115)	108.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 104)	2,492,440
Population (World Rank: 71)	71.00	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 145)	5.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 179)	2.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 87)	1,171
Road
Total length (World Rank: 138)	9,352
Paved length (World Rank: 79)	8,835
Unpaved length (World Rank: 130)	517
Water
Total length (World Rank: 84)	558

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