Factbook dossier
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.
Location
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Area
total : 33,851 sq km land: 32,891 sq km water: 960 sq km
Natural resources
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land
Natural hazards
landslides
Population
total: 3,578,930 (2025 est.) male: 1,687,496 female: 1,891,434
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) 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.)
Environmental issues
soil and water pollution from heavy use of agricultural chemicals; extensive soil erosion and declining soil fertility from farming methods
Government type
parliamentary republic
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)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Alexandru MUNTEANU (since 1 November 2025) 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 election results: 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% expected date of next election: 2028
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 2029
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$39.342 billion (2024 est.) $39.301 billion (2023 est.) $38.835 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$16,500 (2024 est.) $16,000 (2023 est.) $15,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.7% (2024 est.) 13.4% (2023 est.) 28.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
Romania 31%, Ukraine 13%, Italy 6%, Germany 6%, Czechia 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
Romania 16%, Ukraine 13%, China 11%, Turkey 8%, Germany 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova (Forțele Armate ale Republicii Moldova): National Army (comprised of Land Forces, Air Force) Ministry of Internal Affairs: General Inspectorate of Police (GPI), Border Police Department, Carabinieri Troops Department (2025) note: the Carabinieri is a quasi-militarized gendarmerie responsible for protecting public buildings, maintaining public order, and other national security functions; the GPI is the primary law enforcement body, responsible for internal security, public order, traffic, and criminal investigations
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.)