Moldova

Moldova

Introduction

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 Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a “Transnistria” republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe, 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, following the opposition’s gain of a narrow majority in July parliamentary elections and the Communist Party’s (PCRM) subsequent inability to attract the three-fifths of parliamentary votes required to elect a president. Moldova’s four opposition parties formed a new coalition, the Alliance for European Integration (AIE), which acted as Moldova’s governing coalition until December 2010. Moldova experienced significant political uncertainty in 2009 and 2010, holding three general elections (in April 2009, July 2009, and November 2010) and four presidential ballots in parliament, all of which failed to secure a president. Following the November 2010 parliamentary elections, a reconstituted AIE-coalition of three parties formed a government, but remains two votes short of the three-fifths majority required to elect a president.

Geography

Location

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Geographic coordinates

47 00 N, 29 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 33,851 sq km
country comparison to the world: 140 land:32,891 sq km
water:960 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries

total: 1,390 km
border countries:Romania 450 km, Ukraine 940 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 (Nistru) 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

2,283 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

11.7 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 2.31cu km/yr (10%/58%/33%)
per capita:549cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

landslides

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 and Society

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

Languages

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

Religions

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

Population

4,314,377 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.5% (male 344,101/female 325,995)
15-64 years:74% (male 1,550,386/female 1,643,108)
65 years and over:10.4% (male 164,512/female 286,275) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 35.4 years
male:33.5 years
female:37.4 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.072% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Birth rate

11.16 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Death rate

10.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Net migration rate

-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Urbanization

urban population: 47% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

CHISINAU (capital) 650,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.059 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.58 male(s)/female
total population:0.91 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

32 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 109

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.43 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 131 male:13.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female:10.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.37 years
country comparison to the world: 136 male:67.68 years
female:75.28 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.29 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

Health expenditures

11.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 11

Physicians density

2.668 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 50

Hospital bed density

6.12 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 24

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 96% of population
rural: 85% of population
total: 90% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4% of population
rural: 15% of population
total: 10% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 85% of population
rural: 74% of population
total: 79% of population
unimproved:
urban: 15% of population
rural: 26% of population
total: 21% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 104

Education expenditures

9.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 7

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:12 years
female:12 years (2009)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 15.4%
country comparison to the world: 73 male:15.8%
female:14.9% (2009)

Government

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 in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)
note:pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyev)
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 – 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)

Independence

27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Constitution

adopted 29 July 1994

effective 27 August 1994

note – replaced 1979 Soviet Constitution

Legal system

civil law system with Germanic law influences

Constitutional Court review of legislative acts

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Acting President Marian LUPU (since 30 December 2010)
note:Vladimir VORONIN, president since 4 April 2001, resigned on 11 September 2009

during the first AEI government, Speaker of Parliament Mihai GHIMPU served as acting president

Marian LUPU, the Speaker of Parliament, is serving as acting president until new elections can be held
head of government:Prime Minister Vladimir FILAT (since 25 September 2009)

reelected/confirmed on 14 January 2011
note:Vladimir Filat resigned on 27 December 2010, but was reappointed on 31 December 2010
cabinet:Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term)

last successful election held on 4 April 2005, most recent (failed) election held on 10 December 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 (re)designated on 31 December 2010

the prime minister and cabinet received a vote of confidence 14 January 2011
election results:Vladimir VORONIN reelected president (2005)

parliamentary votes – Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1

Vladimir FILAT (re)designated prime minister

parliamentary votes of confidence – 59 of 101

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats

members elected on an at-large basis by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 28 November 2010 (next to be held in 2014, unless Parliament fails to elect a president)

note – this was the third parliamentary election in less than two years

the earlier parliaments (elected 5 April 2009 and 29 July 2009) were dissolved after they could not agree on a presidential candidate
election results:percent of vote by party – PCRM 39.3%, PLDM 29.4%, PD 12.7%, PL 10%, other 8.6%

seats by party – PCRM 42, PLDM 32, PD 15, PL 12

note – the PLDM, PD, and PL governing coalition, termed the Alliance for European Integration, has 59 seats

it remains 2 votes short of the 61 needed to elect a new president

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)

Political parties and leaders

represented in Parliament: 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]

Alliance for European Integration or AIE (coalition of the PD, PLDM, and PL)
not represented in Parliament: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]

For Nation and Country Party or PpNT [Sergiu MOCANU]

Humanist Party of Moldova or PUM [Valeriu PASAT]

Labor Party or PM [Gheorghe SIMA]

National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]

Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]

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

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Igor MUNTEANU
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 Asif J. CHAUDHRY
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

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

National symbol(s)

aurochs (a type of wild cattle)

National anthem

name: “Limba noastra” (Our Language)
lyrics/music:Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA
note:adopted 1994

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. Moldova’s dependence on Russian energy was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical station in Moldova’s separatist Transnistria region cut off power to Moldova and Russia’s Gazprom cut off natural gas in disputes over pricing. In January 2009, gas supplies were cut during a dispute between Russia and Ukraine. Russia’s decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, have hurt growth. The onset of the global financial crisis and poor economic conditions in Moldova’s main foreign markets caused GDP to fall 6% in 2009. Unemployment almost doubled and inflation disappeared – at -0.1%, a record low. Moldova’s IMF agreement expired in May 2009. In fall 2009, the IMF allocated $186 million to Moldova to cover its immediate budgetary needs, and the government signed a new agreement with the IMF in January 2010 for a program worth $574 million. In 2010, an upturn in the world economy boosted GDP growth to 6.5% and inflation to 7.3%. Economic reforms have been slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing government controls. Nevertheless, the government’s primary goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The granting of EU trade preferences and increased exports to Russia will encourage higher growth rates, but the agreements are unlikely to serve as a panacea, given the extent to which export success depends on higher quality standards and other factors. The economy has made a modest recovery, but remains vulnerable to political uncertainty, weak administrative capacity, vested bureaucratic interests, higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors as well as the presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova’s Transnistria region.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.99 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149 $10.28 billion (2009 est.)
$10.93 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.81 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38 -6% (2009 est.)
7.8% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$2,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176 $2,400 (2009 est.)
$2,500 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 16.3%
industry:20%
services:63.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.235 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 40.6%
industry:16%
services:43.3% (2005)

Unemployment rate

7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80 6.4% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

26.3% (2009)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%:29.8% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

38 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 75 33.2 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

Budget

revenues: $2.227 billion
expenditures:$2.371 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

38.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Public debt

21.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107 24.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184 -0.1% (2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16.36% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22 20.54% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.293 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133 $1.074 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.049 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134 $2.657 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.199 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129 $2.033 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$573.9 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 109 $573.9 million (2004)

Agriculture – products

vegetables, fruits, grapes, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco

beef, milk

wine

Industries

sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery

foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines

hosiery, shoes, textiles

Industrial production growth rate

7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

Electricity – production

3.412 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Electricity – consumption

4.463 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

2.958 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Oil – consumption

20,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Oil – exports

741 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Oil – imports

14,730 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas – production

60,000 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas – consumption

3.176 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas – imports

2.33 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Current account balance

-$482.3 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110 -$469.2 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$1.59 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139 $1.327 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports – partners

Russia 23.8%, Italy 13%, Romania 10.9%, Turkey 6.6%, Germany 6.3%, Ukraine 5.5%, Belarus 5% (2010)

Imports

$3.81 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128 $3.276 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

Ukraine 16.3%, Romania 15.4%, Russia 11%, Germany 8.6%, Italy 5.6%, Kazakhstan 5%, Belarus 4.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.718 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125 $1.48 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$5.056 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109 $3.697 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$2.649 billion (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87 $1.813 billion (2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$62.44 million (1 January 2010)
country comparison to the world: 83

Exchange rates

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar -
12.37 (2010)
11.11 (2009)
10.326 (2008)
12.177 (2007)
13.131 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

11 (2010)
country comparison to the world:155

Airports – with paved runways

total: 5
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:2 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
under 914 m:3 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1,906 km (2010)

Railways

total: 1,190 km
country comparison to the world: 85 broad gauge:1,176 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge:14 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 9,343 km
country comparison to the world: 137 paved:8,810 km
unpaved:533 km (2008)

Waterways

558 km (in public use on Danube, Dniester and Prut rivers) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 83

Merchant marine

total: 107
country comparison to the world: 48 by type:bulk carrier 7, cargo 89, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 6
foreign-owned:63 (Belgium 2, Egypt 5, Greece 4, Israel 4, Lebanon 1, Romania 2, Russia 5, Syria 3, Turkey 18, UK 6, Ukraine 12, Yemen 1) (2010)

Military

Military branches

National Army: Land Forces Command (includes special forces), Air Forces Command (includes air defense unit), Logistics Command (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service

17 years of age for voluntary service

male registration required at age 16

12-month service obligation (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,143,440
females age 16-49:1,156,958 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 875,224
females age 16-49:969,903 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 28,213
female:26,614 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Transnational Issues

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 OSCE supervision

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