Moldova

§1. Moldova Introduction

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.

§2. Moldova Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Geographic coordinates:
  47 00 N, 29 00 E

Map references:
  Europe

Area:
  total: 33,843 km²
  land: 33,371 km²
  water: 472 km²

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:
  3,070 km² (1998 est.)

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
  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

§3. Moldova People

Population:
  4,466,706 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 455,673/female 438,934)
  15-64 years: 69.7% (male 1,498,078/female 1,613,489)
  65 years and over: 10.3% (male 170,456/female 290,076) (2006 est.)

Median age:
  total: 32.3 years
  male: 30.3 years
  female: 34.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
  0.28% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  15.7 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  12.64 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 38.38 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 41.44 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 35.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 65.65 years
  male: 61.61 years
  female: 69.88 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  1.85 children born/woman (2006 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: 99.6%
  female: 98.7% (2003 est.)

§4. Moldova Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
  conventional short form: Moldova
  local long form: Republica Moldova
  local short form: none
  former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan Soviet Socialist
    Republic

Government type:
  republic

Capital:
  Chisinau

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

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; 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:
  Braghis Faction [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Christian Democratic Popular Party or
  PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM
  [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Democratic Moldova Bloc (comprised of
  the AMN, Democratic Party, and PSL); Democratic Party [Dumitru DIACOV]; Our
  Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEANU]; Social Liberal Party or PSL
  [Oleg SEREBRIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Mihail MANOLI
  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 Heather M. HODGES
  embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [373] (22) 408-300
  FAX: [373] (22) 23-30-44

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

§5. Moldova Economy

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. Energy
  shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the
  Soviet Union in December 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort after
  independence, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed 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
  in 2000, and has remained at or above 6% every year since. 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $9.519 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $2.519 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  7.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $2,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 20.5%
  industry: 23.9%
  services: 55.6% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
  1.34 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998)

Unemployment rate:
  8%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad (2002
  est.)

Population below poverty line:
  80% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.2%
  highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  36.2 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  12% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  21% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.069 billion
  expenditures: $1.065 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005
    est.)

Public debt:
  72.9% of GDP (2005 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:
  17% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
  2.942 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:
  3.036 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
  300 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
  600 million kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
  37,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
  NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
  NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:
  0 m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  2.38 billion m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
  0 m³ (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
  2.05 billion m³ (2001 est.)

Current account balance:
  $-178 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $1.04 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners:
  Russia 35.8%, Italy 13.9%, Romania 10%, Germany 7.3%, Ukraine 6.6%, Belarus
  6%, US 4.6% (2004)

Imports:
  $2.23 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles
  (2000)

Imports - partners:
  Ukraine 24.6%, Russia 12.2%, Romania 9.3%, Germany 8.5%, Italy 7.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $520 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
  $1.926 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $100 million (2000)

Currency (code):
  Moldovan leu (MDL)

Exchange rates:
  lei per US dollar - 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003), 13.571
  (2002), 12.865 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Moldova Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  863,400 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  787,000 (2004)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau;
    some modernization is under way
  domestic: new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile cellular
    telephone service being introduced
  international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via
    landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:
  1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)

Internet country code:
  .md

Internet hosts:
  30,861 (2005)

Internet users:
  406,000 (2005)

§7. Moldova Transportation

Airports:
  15 (2005)

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 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 9
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 4
  under 914 m: 4 (2005)

Pipelines:
  gas 606 km (2004)

Railways:
  total: 1,138 km
  broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
  standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Roadways:
  total: 12,730 km
  paved: 10,973 km
  unpaved: 1,757 km (2003)

Waterways:
  424 km (on Dniester River) (2005)

Merchant marine:
  total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 11,425 GRT/12,185 DWT
  by type: cargo 6
  foreign-owned: 3 (Ukraine 3) (2005)

§8. Moldova Military

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

Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for compulsory military service; national service
  obligation - 12 months (2004)

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

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

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
  males: 43,729 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $8.7 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  0.4% (FY02)

§9. Moldova Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  Moldova and Ukraine have established joint customs posts to monitor transit
  through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region which remains under OSCE
  supervision

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  IDPs: 1,000 (internal secessionist uprising in Transnistrian region in
    1991) (2005)

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


<Factbook 2006>
