2018 Edition

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 supporting the breakaway region of Transnistria, whose population is roughly equally composed of ethnic Ukrainians, Russians, and Moldovans. Years of Communist Party rule in Moldova 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 four 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 PDM member Pavel FILIP as prime minister. Igor DODON won Moldova's first direct presidential election in over 20 years in November 2016.

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

elevation extremes

2 m lowest point: Dniester (Nistru)

mean elevation

139 m

note

430 highest point: Dealul Balanesti

Environment Current Issues

heavy use of agricultural chemicals, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion and declining soil fertility 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

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 (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (2)

Romania 683 km, Ukraine 1202 km

total

1,885 km

Land Use

arable land: 55.1% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 9.1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 10.7% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

74.9% (2011 est.)

forest

11.9% (2011 est.)

other

13.2% (2011 est.)

Location

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Map References

Europe

Maritime Claims

note

none (landlocked)

Natural Hazards

landslides

Natural Resources

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land

Population Distribution

pockets of agglomeration exist throughout the country, the largest being in the center of the country around the capital of Chisinau, followed by Tiraspol and Balti

Terrain

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Age Structure

0-14 years

18.29% (male 324,002 /female 304,737)

15-24 years

11.84% (male 210,988 /female 196,063)

25-54 years

43.29% (male 752,758 /female 735,471)

55-64 years

13.5% (male 213,410 /female 250,755)

65 years and over

13.08% (male 176,252 /female 273,284) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

11.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

2.2% (2012)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

59.5% (2012)

Death Rate

12.6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.4 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

7.5 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

34.5 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

21.2 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 96.9% of population

rural: 81.4% of population

total: 88.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 3.1% of population

rural: 18.6% of population

total: 11.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

6.7% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic Groups

Moldovan 75.1%, Romanian 7%, Ukrainian 6.6%, Gagauz 4.6%, Russian 4.1%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 0.8% (2014 est.)

Health Expenditures

10.3% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

0.6% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

<500 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

15,000 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

5.8 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

13.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Moldovan/Romanian 80.2% (official) (56.7% identify their mother tongue as Moldovan, which is virtually the same as Romanian; 23.5% identify Romanian as their mother tongue), Russian 9.7%, Gagauz 4.2% (a Turkish language), Ukrainian 3.9%, Bulgarian 1.5%, Romani 0.3%, other 0.2% (2014 est.)

note

data represent mother tongue

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

75.4 years (2018 est.)

male

67.4 years (2018 est.)

total population

71.3 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

99.1% (2015 est.)

male

99.7% (2015 est.)

total population

99.4% (2015 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

510,000 CHISINAU (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

23 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

38.9 years (2018 est.)

male

35.3 years

total

37 years

Mother S Mean Age At First Birth

24 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Moldovan

noun

Moldovan(s)

Net Migration Rate

-9.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

18.9% (2016)

Physicians Density

3.2 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

3,437,720 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

-1.06% (2018 est.)

Religions

Orthodox 90.1%, other Christian 2.6%, other 0.1%, agnostic (2014 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 87.8% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 67.1% of population (2015 est.)

total: 76.4% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 12.2% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 32.9% of population (2015 est.)

total: 23.6% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

12 years (2015)

male

11 years (2015)

total

12 years (2015)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.07 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.85 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.62 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.57 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

11.7% (2016 est.)

male

10.9% (2016 est.)

total

11.2% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.07% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

42.6% of total population (2018)

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)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; municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau; autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia; 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,

name

Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)

note

pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov)28 51 E

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Moldova

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by voter petition (at least 200,000 eligible voters), by at least one-third of Parliament members, or by the government; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament within one year of initial proposal; revisions to constitutional articles on sovereignty, independence, and neutrality require majority vote by referendum; articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2010; note – in early 2016, the Moldovan Constitutional Court decision returned the country to direct presidential elections, reversing a 2000 constitutional amendment that allowed Parliament to select the president (2016)

history

previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994 (2016)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Moldova

conventional short form

Moldova

etymology

named for the Moldova River in neighboring eastern Romania

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 Dereck J. HOGAN (since 15 October 2018)

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 Cristina BALAN (since 22 June 2018)

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 Igor DODON (since 23 December 2016); note – in 2017-18, DODON was temporarily suspended several times by the Moldovan Constitutional Court for rejecting ministerial appointments and for refusing to sign legislation; Parliamentary Chairman, Andrian CANDU, has assumed some of the presidential functions

election results

Igor DODON elected president; percent of vote - Igor DODON (PSRM) 52.2%, Maia SANDU (PAS) 47.8%; Pavel FILIP (PDM) designated prime minister; Parliament vote - 57 of 101

elections/appointments

president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 13 November 2016 (next to be held in fall 2020); 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

head of government

Prime Minister Pavel FILIP (since 20 January 2016)

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

note

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

Government Type

parliamentary 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 courts

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief judge, 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 the president upon the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistracy, an 11-member body of judicial officials; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy for 6-year terms; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term

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 (101 seats; 51 members directly elected in single-seat constituenceis by simple majority vote and 50 members directly elected in a single, nationwide constitutency by closed party-list proportional representation vote; all members serve 4-year terms

election results

percent of vote by party - PSRM 20.5%, PLDM 20.2%, PCRM 17.5%, PDM 15.8%, PL 9.7%, other 16.3%; seats by party - PSRM 25, PLDM 23, PCRM 21, PDM 19, PL 13; composition - men 83, women 18, percent of women 17.8%

elections

last held on 30 November 2014 (next scheduled for 24 February 1919)

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

represented in Parliament: Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party of Moldova or PDM [Vlad PLAHOTNIUC]; European People’s Party of Moldova or EPPM [Iurie LEANCA]; Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova or PLDM [Viorel CIBOTARU]; Liberal Party or PL [Dorin CHIRTOACA]; Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PSRM [Zinaida GRECEANII]; not represented in Parliament, participated in recent elections (2014-2016): Action and Solidarity Party or PAS [Maia SANDU]; Anti-Mafia Movement or MPA [Sergiu MOCANU]; Centrist Union of Moldova or UCM [Mihai PETRACHE]; Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Victor CIOBANU]; Conservative Party or PC [Natalia NIRCA]; Democracy at Home Party or PDA [Vasile COSTIUC]; Democratic Action Party or PAD [Mihai GODEA]; Dignity and Truth Platform or PPDA [Andrei NASTASE]; Ecologist Green Party or PVE [Anatolie PROHNITCHI]; Law and Justice Party or PLD [Nicolae ALEXEI]; "Motherland" Party or PP [Emilian CIOBU]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Home Moldova or PCNM [Grigore PETRENCO]; Our Party or PN [Renato USATII]; Party of National Unity [Anatol SALARU]; People’s Party of Moldova or PPRM [Alexandru OLEINIC]; Regions Party of Moldova or PRM [Alexandr KALININ]; Shor Party or PS [Ilan SHOR]; Socialist People’s Party of Moldova or PPSM [Victor STEPANIUC]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

2.947 billion (2017 est.)

note

National Public Budget

revenues

2.886 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-0.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

6.5% (31 December 2017)

9% (31 December 2016)

note

this is the basic rate on short-term operations

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

10.36% (31 December 2017 est.)

14.28% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$602 million (2017 est.)

-$268 million (2016 est.)

Debt External

$6.549 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.138 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

26.8 (2015 est.)

26.8 (2014 est.)

Economy Overview

Despite recent progress, Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. With a moderate climate and productive farmland, Moldova's economy relies heavily on its agriculture sector, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, wheat, and tobacco. Moldova also depends on annual remittances of about $1.2 billion - almost 15% of GDP - from the roughly one million Moldovans working in Europe, Israel, Russia, and elsewhere.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 more than $6 billion debt to Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom, largely the result of unreimbursed natural gas consumption in the breakaway region of Transnistria. Moldova and Romania inaugurated the Ungheni-Iasi natural gas interconnector project in August 2014. The 43-kilometer pipeline between Moldova and Romania, allows for both the import and export of natural gas. Several technical and regulatory delays kept gas from flowing into Moldova until March 2015. Romanian gas exports to Moldova are largely symbolic. In 2018, Moldova awarded a tender to Romanian Transgaz to construct a pipeline connecting Ungheni to Chisinau, bringing the gas to Moldovan population centers. Moldova also seeks to connect with the European power grid by 2022.The government's stated goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. Moldova experienced better than expected economic growth in 2017, largely driven by increased consumption, increased revenue from agricultural exports, and improved tax collection. During fall 2014, Moldova signed an Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU (AA/DCFTA), connecting Moldovan products to the world’s largest market. The EU AA/DCFTA has contributed to significant growth in Moldova’s exports to the EU. In 2017, the EU purchased over 65% of Moldova’s exports, a major change from 20 years previously when the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) received over 69% of Moldova’s exports. A $1 billion asset-stripping heist of Moldovan banks in late 2014 delivered a significant shock to the economy in 2015; the subsequent bank bailout increased inflationary pressures and contributed to the depreciation of the leu and a minor recession. Moldova’s growth has also been hampered by endemic corruption, which limits business growth and deters foreign investment, and Russian restrictions on imports of Moldova’s agricultural products. The government’s push to restore stability and implement meaningful reform led to the approval in 2016 of a $179 million three-year IMF program focused on improving the banking and fiscal environments, along with additional assistance programs from the EU, World Bank, and Romania. Moldova received two IMF tranches in 2017, totaling over $42.5 million.Over the longer term, Moldova's economy remains vulnerable to corruption, political uncertainty, weak administrative capacity, vested bureaucratic interests, energy import dependence, Russian political and economic pressure, heavy dependence on agricultural exports, and unresolved separatism in Moldova's Transnistria region.

Exchange Rates

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar -

18.49 (2017 est.)

19.924 (2016 est.)

19.924 (2015 est.)

19.83 (2014 est.)

14.036 (2013 est.)

Exports

$1.858 billion (2017 est.)

$2.045 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports Partners

Romania 24.6%, Russia 13.7%, Italy 9.1%, Germany 6.2%, Ukraine 5.3%, UK 4.6%, Poland 4.6% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

42.5% (2017 est.)

government consumption

19% (2017 est.)

household consumption

85.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-70.7% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.4% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

17.7% (2017 est.)

industry

20.3% (2017 est.)

services

62% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$9.556 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$6,700 (2017 est.)

$6,400 (2016 est.)

$6,100 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$23.72 billion (2017 est.)

$22.69 billion (2016 est.)

$21.75 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

4.5% (2017 est.)

4.3% (2016 est.)

-0.4% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

13.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

15.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

14.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

22.1% (2014 est.)

lowest 10%

22.1% (2014 est.)

Imports

$4.427 billion (2017 est.)

$3.635 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

Romania 15.5%, Ukraine 11.4%, Russia 10.6%, China 10.4%, Germany 8.9%, Italy 6.9%, Turkey 6.1% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

3% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

6.6% (2017 est.)

6.4% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

1.295 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

32.3%

industry

12%

services

55.7% (2017 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$18.42 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$9.723 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$50.47 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

9.6% (2015 est.)

Public Debt

31.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

35.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$2.803 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.206 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$2.026 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.406 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$252.7 million (31 December 2017)

$206.1 million (31 December 2016)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$3.701 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.581 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$2.135 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.942 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$2.026 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.406 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

30.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

4.1% (2017 est.)

4.2% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

7.653 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

20 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

4.4 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

86% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

12% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

4 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

515,000 kW (2016 est.)

note

excludes Transnistria

Electricity Production

5.49 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

2.52 billion cu m (2017 est.)

note

excludes breakaway Transnistria

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

2.52 billion cu m (2017 est.)

note

excludes breakaway Transnistria

Natural Gas Production

11.33 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

NA cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

275 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

18,160 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

232 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2017 est.)

total

584,330 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; a total of nearly 70 terrestrial TV channels and some 50 radio stations are in operation; Russian and Romanian channels also are available (2017)

Internet Country Code

.md

Internet Users

percent of population

71% (July 2016 est.)

total

2,492,444 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

competition among mobile telephone providers has spurred subscriptions; little interest in expanding fixed-line service; mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 105 per 100 persons (2016)

general assessment

the mobile market has extended the reach of service to outside the cities and across most of the country (2016)

international

country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

33 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

1,143,852 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

105 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

3,662,968 (2017 est.)

Airports

7 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2 (2017)

over 3,047 m

1 (2017)

total

5 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

2 (2013)

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

ER (2016)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 5, container ship 2, general cargo 130, oil tanker 8, other 27 (2017)

total

172 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

489,630 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1,005,942 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

12 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

3 (2015)

Pipelines

1916 km gas (2014)

Railways

broad gauge

1,157 km 1.520-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

14 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

1,171 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

8,835 km (2012)

total

9,352 km (2012)

unpaved

517 km (2012)

Waterways

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

Military Branches

National Army: Land Forces Command, Air Forces Command (includes air defense unit); Carabinieri Troops: a component of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that also has official status as a service of the Armed Forces during wartime (2017)

Military Expenditures

0.37% of GDP (2017)

0.44% of GDP (2016)

0.35% of GDP (2015)

0.35% of GDP (2014)

0.33% of GDP (2013)

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; note - the ultimate abolition of military conscription has been announced (2018)

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

4,569 (2017)