| Introduction - Moldova: |
| Location - Moldova: |
| People - Moldova: |
| Government - Moldova: |
| Economy - Moldova: |
Economy overview | Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe 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 almost all of its energy supplies. Moldovas dependence on Russian energy was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical station in Moldovas separatist Transnistria region cut off power to Moldova and Russias Gazprom cut off natural gas to Moldova in disputes over pricing. The economy achieved 6% or more GDP growth every year from 2000-05, though this was based largely on consumption fueled by remittances received from Moldovans working abroad. Russias decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006 and greatly exacerbated Moldovas economic troubles. Economic reforms have been slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing government controls; nevertheless, the governments primary goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldovas Transnistria region continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy. |
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Gdp purchasing power parity | $9.07 billion (2006 est.) |
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Gdp official exchange rate | $2.574 billion (2006 est.) |
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Gdp real growth rate | 4% (2006 est.) |
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Gdp per capita ppp | $2,000 (2006 est.) |
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Gdp composition by sector | agriculture: 21.5%
industry: 22%
services: 56.5% (2006 est.) |
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Labor force | 1.339 million (2006 est.) |
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Labor force by occupation | agriculture: 40.7%
industry: 12.1%
services: 47.2% (2005 est.) |
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Unemployment rate | 7.3%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad (2005 est.) |
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Population below poverty line | 29.5% (2005) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 26.4% (2003) |
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Distribution of family income gini index | 33.2 (2003) |
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Inflation rate consumer prices | 14.1% (2006 est.) |
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Investment gross fixed | 24.8% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Budget | revenues: $1.318 billion
expenditures: $1.335 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.) |
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Public debt | 84.5% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Agriculture products | vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk |
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Industries | sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles |
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Industrial production growth rate | 6.9% (2006 est.) |
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Electricity production | 1.229 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity consumption | 4.203 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity exports | 130 million kWh (2004) |
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Electricity imports | 2.9 billion kWh (2005) |
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Oil production | 0 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil consumption | 14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil exports | NA bbl/day |
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Oil imports | NA bbl/day |
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Oil proved reserves | 0 bbl |
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Natural gas production | 0 cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas consumption | 2.17 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas exports | 0 cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas imports | 2.17 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
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Current account balance | -$561 million (2006 est.) |
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Exports | $1.02 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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Exports commodities | foodstuffs, textiles, machinery |
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Exports partners | Russia 22.5%, Germany 12%, Italy 10.9%, Romania 10.5%, Ukraine 9.4%, Belarus 5.6% (2006) |
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Imports | $2.65 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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Imports commodities | mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles |
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Imports partners | Russia 21.9%, Ukraine 17.8%, Romania 9.6%, Germany 9.2%, Italy 6.4%, Poland 4.6% (2006) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $680 million (2006 est.) |
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Debt external | $2.142 billion (30 June 2006 est.) |
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Economic aid recipient | $6.376 billion (2003) |
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Currency code | Moldovan leu (MDL) |
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Exchange rates | lei per US dollar - 13.131 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002) |
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| Communications - Moldova: |
| Transportation - Moldova: |
| Military - Moldova: |
This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007
