Moldova

Moldova: Travel tips, articles, photos, gallery, cities database, population, pics, flags, statistics, free maps online

Back to Countries, Click to read the whole article: Moldova

Introduction - Moldova:
Country	Moldova


Background	Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into 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. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.


Location - Moldova:
Location	Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Geographic coordinates	47 00 N, 29 00 E

Map references	Europe

Area	total: 33,843 sq km land: 33,371 sq km water: 472 sq km

Area comparative	slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries	total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km

Coastline	0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims	none (landlocked)

Climate	moderate winters, warm summers

Terrain	rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Elevation extremes	lowest point: Dniester River 2 m highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Natural resources	lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Land use	arable land: 54.52% permanent crops: 8.81% other: 36.67% (2005)

Irrigated land	3,000 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards	landslides (57 cases in 1998)

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

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

People - Moldova:
Population	4,320,490 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure	0-14 years: 16.5% (male 365,733/female 347,305) 15-64 years: 72.6% (male 1,520,094/female 1,616,014) 65 years and over: 10.9% (male 175,113/female 296,231) (2007 est.)

Median age	total: 34 years male: 32.1 years female: 36.1 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate	-0.11% (2007 est.)

Birth rate	10.88 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate	10.85 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate	-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio	at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.053 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.941 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.591 male(s)/female total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate	total: 13.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth	total population: 70.2 years male: 66.51 years female: 74.11 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate	1.25 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hiv aids adult prevalence rate	0.2% (2001 est.)

Hiv aids people living with hiv aids	5,500 (2001 est.)

Hiv aids deaths	less than 300 (2001 est.)

Nationality	noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan

Ethnic groups	Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census) note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region

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

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

Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99.7% female: 98.6% (2005 est.)

Government - Moldova:
Country name	conventional long form: Republic of Moldova conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova local short form: Moldova former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type	republic

Capital	name: Chisinau (Kishinev) 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

Administrative divisions	32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities (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

Independence	27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday	Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Constitution	new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994; replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979

Legal system	based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage	18 years of age; universal

Executive branch	chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Zinaida GRECIANII (since 10 October 2005) cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next to be held in 2009); note - 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 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 election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vasile TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 75 of 101

Legislative branch	unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic Moldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%; seats by party - PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc 34, PPCD 11

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

Political parties and leaders	Christian Democratic Peoples Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV]; National Liberal Party or NLP [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Party for Social Democracy or PSD [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders	NA

International organization participation	ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the us	chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204

Diplomatic representation from the us	chief of mission: Ambassador Michael D. KIRBY embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300 FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044

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:
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.

Gdp purchasing power parity	$9.07 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate	$2.574 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp real growth rate	4% (2006 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp	$2,000 (2006 est.)

Gdp composition by sector	agriculture: 21.5% industry: 22% services: 56.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force	1.339 million (2006 est.)

Labor force by occupation	agriculture: 40.7% industry: 12.1% services: 47.2% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate	7.3%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line	29.5% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 26.4% (2003)

Distribution of family income gini index	33.2 (2003)

Inflation rate consumer prices	14.1% (2006 est.)

Investment gross fixed	24.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget	revenues: $1.318 billion expenditures: $1.335 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

Public debt	84.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate	6.9% (2006 est.)

Electricity production	1.229 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity consumption	4.203 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity exports	130 million kWh (2004)

Electricity imports	2.9 billion kWh (2005)

Oil production	0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil consumption	14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil exports	NA bbl/day

Oil imports	NA bbl/day

Oil proved reserves	0 bbl

Natural gas production	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas consumption	2.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas exports	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas imports	2.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance	-$561 million (2006 est.)

Exports	$1.02 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports commodities	foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports partners	Russia 22.5%, Germany 12%, Italy 10.9%, Romania 10.5%, Ukraine 9.4%, Belarus 5.6% (2006)

Imports	$2.65 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Imports partners	Russia 21.9%, Ukraine 17.8%, Romania 9.6%, Germany 9.2%, Italy 6.4%, Poland 4.6% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	$680 million (2006 est.)

Debt external	$2.142 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid recipient	$6.376 billion (2003)

Currency code	Moldovan leu (MDL)

Exchange rates	lei per US dollar - 13.131 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002)

Communications - Moldova:
Fiscal year	calendar year

Telephones main lines in use	1.018 million (2006)

Telephones mobile cellular	1.358 million (2006)

Telephone system	general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait for service; 2 private operators of GSM mobile cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; license for 1 CDMA mobile telephone network currently being tendered international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik (2006)

Radio broadcast stations	AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)

Television broadcast stations	40 (2006)

Internet country code	.md

Internet hosts	58,886 (2006)

Internet users	727,700 (2006)

Transportation - Moldova:
Airports	12 (2006)

Airports with paved runways	total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports with unpaved runways	total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Pipelines	gas 606 km (2006)

Railways	total: 1,138 km broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways	total: 12,733 km paved: 10,976 km unpaved: 1,757 km (2004)

Waterways	424 km (on Dniester and Prut rivers) (2007)

Merchant marine	total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,831 GRT/15,003 DWT by type: cargo 7 foreign-owned: 3 (Ukraine 3) (2006)

Military - Moldova:
Military branches	National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (2006)

Military service age and obligation	18 years of age for compulsory military service; 12-month service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service	males age 18-49: 1,066,459 females age 18-49: 1,117,070 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service	males age 18-49: 693,913 females age 18-49: 911,568 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually	males age 18-49: 43,729 females age 18-49: 42,354 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures percent of gdp	0.4% (2005 est.)

Disputes international	Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldovas break-away Transnistria region, which remains under OSCE supervision