2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

9 counties (judetele, singular - judetul), 1 municipality* (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit** (unitate teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit*** (unitate teritoriala); Balti, Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Edinet, Gagauzia**, Lapusna, Orhei, Soroca, Stinga Nistrului***, Tighina, Ungheni

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.1% (male 477,063; female 459,992) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 1,465,248; female 1,584,402) 65 years and over: 10.2% (male 168,068; female 284,729) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk

Airports

36 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

total

8

under 914 m

2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

28 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m

12 (2002) Military Moldova

Area

land

33,371 sq km

total

33,843 sq km

water

472 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Maryland

Background

Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001. Geography Moldova

Birth rate

14.31 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$594 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$536 million

Capital

Chisinau

Climate

moderate winters, warm summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

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

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Moldova

conventional short form

Moldova

former

Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia

local long form

Republica Moldova

local short form

none

Currency

Moldovan leu (MDL)

Currency code

MDL

Death rate

12.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$1.3 billion (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Pamela Hyde SMITH

embassy

103 Alexei Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[373] (2) 23-37-72

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Mihail MANOLI

Disputes - international

difficulties with the Transnistria region complicate border crossing and customs with Ukraine, facilitating smuggling, arms transfers, and other illegal activities

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.6 (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$100 million (2000)

Economy - overview

Moldova remains a very poor country despite recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The government entered into agreements with the World Bank and the IMF to promote growth and reduce poverty. The economy returned to positive growth, of 2.1% in 2000, 6.1% in 2001, 7.2% in 2002, and 5.3% in 2003. Further reforms will come slowly because of strong political forces backing government controls. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors.

Electricity - consumption

3.216 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

60 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

3.394 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

90.6%

hydro

9.4%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Dealul Balanesti 430 m

lowest point

Dniester River 2 m

Environment - current issues

heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Ethnic groups

Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.)

note

internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region

Exchange rates

lei per US dollar - NA (2002), 12.87 (2001), 12.43 (2000), 10.52 (1999), 5.37 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

selected by prime minister, subject to approval of Parliament

chief of state

President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)

election results

Vladimir VORONIN elected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 71, Dumitru BRAGHIS 15, Valerian CHRISTEA 3; Vasile TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 75 of 101

elections

president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 4 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2005); note - presidential elections were scheduled for December 2000, but in July 2000, Parliament canceled direct, popular elections; Parliament's failure to chose a new president in December 2000 led to early parliamentary elections in February 2001; prime minister designated by the president, upon consultation with Parliament; note - within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 15 April 2001, cabinet received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001

head of government

Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April 2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Vasile IOVV (since NA 2002), Deputy Prime Minister Stefan ODAGIU (since NA 2002)

Exports

$590 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners

Russia 35%, Italy 11.7%, Germany 8.8%, Ukraine 8.5%, Romania 5.7%, US 5.2%, Belarus 4.5%, Spain 4.1% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-1204

[373] (2) 23-30-44

chancery

2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 667-1130

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Moldova

Flag description

same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold 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 ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow Economy Moldova

GDP

purchasing power parity - $11.51 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

28%

industry

23%

services

49% (2000)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.5% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

47 00 N, 29 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone People Moldova

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

11,012 km

total

12,657 km

unpaved

1,645 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 300 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,500 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.7% (1997)

lowest 10%

2.2%

Illicit drugs

limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$980 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

mineral products and fuel 32%, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles (2000)

Imports - partners

Russia 23.9%, Ukraine 13.4%, Germany 12.6%, Italy 8.3%, Romania 8.2% (2002)

Independence

27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Industrial production growth rate

9% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

38.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

44.81 deaths/1,000 live births

total

41.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.md

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (1999)

Internet users

15,000 (2000) Transportation Moldova

Irrigated land

3,070 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

1.7 million (1998)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998)

Land boundaries

border countries

Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km

total

1,389 km

Land use

arable land

54.08%

other

33.82% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

12.1%

Languages

Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs, as well as independent candidates, elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PCM 50.1%, Braghis Alliance 13.4%, PPCD 8.2%, other parties 28.3%; seats by party - PCM 71, Braghis Alliance 19, PPCD 11

elections

last held 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)

Life expectancy at birth

female

69.35 years (2003 est.)

male

60.63 years

total population

64.88 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.7% (2003 est.) Government Moldova

male

99.6%

total population

99.1%

Location

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

34.2 years (2002)

male

29.8 years

total

32 years

Military branches

Ground Forces (includes Air and Air Defense Forces), Republic Security Forces (includes paramilitary Internal Troops and Border Troops)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$6.4 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.4% (FY02) Transnational Issues Moldova

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,180,874 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

936,629 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

44,084 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Nationality

adjective

Moldovan

noun

Moldovan(s)

Natural gas - consumption

2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural hazards

landslides (57 cases in 1998)

Natural resources

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Net migration rate

-0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 606 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Braghis Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Popular Christian Democratic Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Social Democratic Union (composed of Braghis Alliance and the Democratic Party of Moldova) [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

4,439,502 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

80% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

0.13% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

none

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios

3.22 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

1,300 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)

total

1,300 km

Religions

Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile cellular telephone service being introduced

general assessment

inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some effort to modernize is under way

international

service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik

Telephones - main lines in use

627,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,200 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

1.26 million (1997)

Terrain

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Total fertility rate

1.74 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002 est.)

Waterways

424 km (1994)