2015 Edition

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 separatist region of Transnistria, composed of a Slavic majority population (mostly Ukrainians and Russians), but with a sizable ethnic Moldovan minority. Europe's poorest economy, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a communist, Vladimir VORONIN, as its president in 2001. VORONIN served as Moldova's president until he resigned in September 2009. Four Moldovan opposition parties then formed a new coalition, the Alliance for European Integration (AEI), iterations of which acted as Moldova's governing coalitions over the next several years. In May 2013, two of the original AEI parties and a splinter group from a third re-formed a ruling coalition called the Pro-European Coalition. The Moldovan Government in summer 2014 signed and ratified an Association Agreement with the EU, advancing the Coalition's policy priority of EU integration. Following 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, enough for a majority coalition. After negotiations among the three broke down, however, two of the parties — the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) and the Democratic Party (PD) — agreed to form the Alliance for a European Moldova (AEM) and a minority government with their combined 42 seats. In February 2015, the PLDM and the PD secured Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova support to win parliamentary approval with 60 votes for their minority government.

Area

land

32,891 sq km

total

33,851 sq km

water

960 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Maryland

Climate

moderate winters, warm summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Dealul Balanesti 430 m

lowest point

Dniester (Nistru) 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, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

290 cu m/yr (2010)

total

1.07 cu km/yr (14%/83%/4%)

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

Irrigated land

2,283 sq km (2011)

Land boundaries

border countries (2)

Romania 683 km, Ukraine 1,202 km

total

1,885 km

Land use

arable land 55.1%; permanent crops 9.1%; permanent pasture 10.7%

agricultural land

74.9%

forest

11.9%

other

13.2% (2011 est.)

Location

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

landslides

Natural resources

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land

Terrain

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Total renewable water resources

11.65 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

17.86% (male 326,681/female 306,763)

15-24 years

13.49% (male 247,183/female 231,389)

25-54 years

43.73% (male 777,648/female 773,401)

55-64 years

13.24% (male 214,846/female 254,818)

65 years and over

11.68% (male 159,145/female 254,973) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

12 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

16% (2009 est.)

total number

72,364

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.2% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

67.8% (2005)

Death rate

12.59 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.4%

potential support ratio

7.5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

34.6%

youth dependency ratio

21.2%

Drinking water source

urban: 96.9% of population

rural: 81.4% of population

total: 88.4% of population

urban: 3.1% of population

rural: 18.6% of population

total: 11.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

8.3% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

Moldovan 75.8%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.9%, Gagauz 4.4%, Romanian 2.2%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1%, unspecified 0.4%

note

internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region (2004 est.)

Health expenditures

11.8% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.63% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

800 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

17,600 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

6.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

10.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

14.44 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Moldovan 58.8% (official; virtually the same as the Romanian language), Romanian 16.4%, Russian 16%, Ukrainian 3.8%, Gagauz 3.1% (a Turkish language), Bulgarian 1.1%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.4%

note

percentages represent lanugage usually spoken (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.54 years (2015 est.)

male

66.55 years

total population

70.42 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.1% (2015 est.)

male

99.7%

total population

99.4%

Major urban areas - population

CHISINAU (capital) 725,000 (2015)

Median age

female

38 years (2015 est.)

male

34.2 years

total

36 years

Nationality

adjective

Moldovan

noun

Moldovan(s)

Net migration rate

-9.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

15.7% (2014)

Physicians density

2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

3,546,847 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

-1.03% (2015 est.)

Religions

Orthodox 93.3%, Baptist 1%, other Christian 1.2%, other 0.9%, atheist 0.4%, none 1%, unspecified 2.2% (2004 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 87.8% of population

rural: 67.1% of population

total: 76.4% of population

urban: 12.2% of population

rural: 32.9% of population

total: 23.6% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2013)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.07 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.84 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.62 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.56 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

13.4% (2012 est.)

male

12.8%

total

13.1%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.73% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

45% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

32 raions (raioane, singular - raion), 3 municipalities (municipii, singular - municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)

autonomous territorial unit

Gagauzia

municipalities

Balti, Bender, Chisinau

raions

Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni

territorial unit

Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

47 00 N, 28 51 E

name

Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)

note

pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov)

time difference

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

Constitution

previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994; amended 2003 (2011)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Moldova

conventional short form

Moldova

former

Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Republica Moldova

local short form

Moldova

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador James D. PETTIT (since 29 January 2015)

embassy

103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009

FAX

[373] (22) 23-3044

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[373] (22) 40-8300

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Igor MUNTEANU (since 7 September 2010)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-1204

telephone

[1] (202) 667-1130

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament

chief of state

President Nicolae TIMOFTI (since 23 March 2012)

election results

Nicolae TIMOFTI (independent) elected president; Parliament vote - 62 of 101; Iurie LEANCA (Pro-European Coalition) designated prime minister; Parliament confidence vote - 58 of 101

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by Parliament by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2016); prime minister designated by the president upon 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; the prime minister and Cabinet received a vote of confidence on 30 May 2013

head of government

Prime Minister Chiril GABURICI (since 18 February 2015)

Flag description

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 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 does not display any coat of arms

note

one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia

Government type

republic

Independence

27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of a chief judges, 3 deputy-chief judges, 45 judges, and 7 assistant judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 6 judges); note - the Constitutional Court is autonomous to the other branches of government; the Court interprets the Constitution and reviews the constitutionality of parliamentary laws and decisions, decrees of the president, and acts of the government

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court of Justice judges appointed by Parliament upon the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the Moldovan president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term; other judges appointed for 6-year terms

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts

Legal system

civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament or Parlament (101 seats; members directly elected in a single, nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PSRM 21.3%, PLDM 19.5%, PCRM 18%, PD 15.8%, PL 9.4%, other 16%; seats by party - PSRM 25, PLDM 23, PCRM 21, PD 19, PL 13

elections

last held on 30 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA

name

"Limba noastra" (Our Language)

note

adopted 1994

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

National symbol(s)

aurochs (a type of wild cattle); national colors: blue, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]

Democratic Party or PD [Marian LUPU]

Liberal Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladimir FILAT]

Liberal Party or PL [Mihai GHIMPU]

Party of Socialists or PSRM [Igor DODON]

Anti-Fascist Movement or Antifa [Grigore PETRENCO]

Anti-Mafia Movement [Sergiu MOCANU]

Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]

Conservative Party or PC [Natalia NIRCA]

Ecological Party of Moldova "Green Alliance" or PEMAVE [Vladimir BRAGA]

European Action Movement or MAE [Veaceslav UNTILA]

Humanist Party of Moldova or PUM [Valeriu PASAT]

Labor Party or PM [Gheorghe SIMA]

Liberal Reformers Party or PLR [Ion HADARCA]

National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]

Our Party [Renato USATII]

Patriots of Moldova Party or PPM [Mihail GARBUZ]

Popular Republican Party or PPR [Nicolae ANDRONIC]

Republican Party of Moldova or PRM [Andrei STRATAN]

Roma Social Political Movement of the Republic of Moldova or MRRM [Ion BUCUR]

Social Democratic Party or PSD [Victor SELIN]

Social Political Movement "Equality" or MR [Valeriy KLIMENCO]

United Moldova Party or PMUEM [Vladimir TURCAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$3.15 billion

note

National Public Budget (2014 est.)

revenues

$2.922 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3.5% (31 December 2013)

4.5% (31 December 2012)

note

this is the basic rate on short-term operations

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12% (31 December 2014 est.)

12.29% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$435 million (2014 est.)

-$398.6 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$6.778 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.501 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33 (2010)

33.2 (2003)

Economy - overview

Despite recent progress, Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. With a moderate climate and good farmland, Moldova's economy relies heavily on its agriculture sector, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova also depends on annual remittances of about $1.6 billion from the roughly one million Moldovans working in Europe, Russia, and other former Soviet Bloc countries. With few natural energy resources, Moldova imports almost all of its energy supplies from Russia and Ukraine. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy is underscored by a growing $5 billion debt to Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom, largely the result of unreimbursed natural gas consumption in the separatist Transnistria region. In August 2013, work began on a new pipeline between Moldova and Romania that may eventually break Russia's monopoly on Moldova's gas supplies. The government's goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. Moldova experienced better than expected economic growth in 2014 due to increased agriculture production, to economic policies adopted by the Moldovan government since 2009, and to the receipt of EU trade preferences. Moldova signed an Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU during fall 2014, connecting Moldovan products to the world’s largest market. Still, growth has been hampered by high prices for Russian natural gas, a Russian import ban on Moldovan wine, increased foreign scrutiny of Moldovan agricultural products, and by Moldova’s large external debt. Over the longer term, Moldova's economy remains vulnerable to political uncertainty, weak administrative capacity, vested bureaucratic interests, corruption, higher fuel prices, Russian pressure, and the illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region.

Exchange rates

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar -

13.97 (2014 est.)

12.587 (2013 est.)

12.11 (2012 est.)

11.738 (2011 est.)

12.369 (2010 est.)

Exports

$2.63 billion (2014 est.)

$2.466 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners

Romania 18.9%, Russia 18.4%, Italy 10.6%, Germany 6%, Belarus 5.9%, Ukraine 4.7%, UK 4.7%, Turkey 4.5% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

45.7%

government consumption

20.2%

household consumption

93.3%

imports of goods and services

-82.5%

investment in fixed capital

22.8%

investment in inventories

0.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

15.7%

industry

20%

services

64.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,000 (2014 est.)

$4,800 (2013 est.)

$4,400 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.6% (2014 est.)

9.4% (2013 est.)

-0.7% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.944 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$17.72 billion (2014 est.)

$16.94 billion (2013 est.)

$15.48 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

19.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

19.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

16.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26% (2010 est.)

lowest 10%

3.3%

Imports

$5.57 billion (2014 est.)

$5.449 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles

Imports - partners

Romania 15.2%, Russia 13.5%, Ukraine 10.3%, China 9.1%, Germany 8.1%, Italy 6.7%, Turkey 5.7% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.1% (2014 est.)

4.6% (2013 est.)

Labor force

1.23 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

26.4%

industry

13.2%

services

60.4% (2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$65.28 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$51.46 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$20.71 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

21.9% (2010 est.)

Public debt

18.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

18.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.821 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.685 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.797 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$108.2 million (31 December 2012)

$88.42 million (31 December 2011)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$3.448 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$3.262 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.243 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.381 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.102 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.077 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

37.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

4% (2014 est.)

5.2% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

9.415 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

7,330 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

4.211 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96.4% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

3.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.297 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

439,900 kW

note

excludes Transnistria (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

5.456 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

3.47 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

3.47 billion cu m

note

excludes Transnistria (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

21,330 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

552 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

15,280 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

321 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 TV and 2 radio stations; a total of nearly 40 terrestrial TV channels and some 50 radio stations are in operation; Russian and Romanian channels also are available (2007)

Internet country code

.md

Internet users

percent of population

44.8% (2014 est.)

total

1.6 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)

Telephone system

domestic

multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 100 per 100 persons

general assessment

poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way

international

country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1.22 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

104 (2014 est.)

total

3.7 million

Television broadcast stations

40 (2006)

Airports

7 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

over 3,047 m

1

total

5

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

total

2

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 7, cargo 88, carrier 1, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned

63 (Bulgaria 1, Denmark 1, Egypt 5, Greece 1, Israel 2, Lebanon 1, Pakistan 1, Romania 2, Russia 5, Syria 5, Turkey 18, UK 3, Ukraine 14, Yemen 4) (2010)

total

121

Pipelines

gas 1,906 km (2013)

Railways

broad gauge

1,157 km 1.520-m gauge

standard gauge

14 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

1,171 km

Roadways

paved

8,835 km

total

9,352 km

unpaved

517 km (2012)

Waterways

558 km (in public use on Danube, Dniester and Prut rivers) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,156,958 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,143,440

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

969,903 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

875,224

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

26,614 (2010 est.)

male

28,213

Military branches

National Army: Land Forces Command, Air Forces Command (includes air defense unit) (2014)

Military expenditures

0.3% of GDP (2014)

0.3% of GDP (2012)

0.3% of GDP (2011)

0.3% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; male registration required at age 16; 1-year service obligation (2012)

Disputes - international

Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under the auspices of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-mandated peacekeeping mission comprised of Moldovan, Transnistrian, Russian, and Ukrainian troops

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

6,779 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015)

stateless persons

2,036 (2014)