Moldova

Broadcast media

state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 TV and 2 radio stations; a total of nearly 40 terrestrial TV channels and some 50 radio stations are in operation; Russian and Romanian channels also are available (2007)

Internet country code

.md

Internet hosts

711,564 (2012) country comparison to the world: 51

Internet users

1.333 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 89

Telephone system

general assessment: poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way domestic: multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.18 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 71

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.715 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 118

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $2.687 billion expenditures: $2.909 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 14.44% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$837.3 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 -$806.6 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$5.167 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $4.956 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38 (2008) country comparison to the world: 71 33.2 (2003)

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. Previous Russian decisions to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, have hurt economic growth in the past. 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 dropped to -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 about 7% per year and inflation to more than 7%. 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 should 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, growing by 6.4% in 2011 and 3% in 2012, but remains vulnerable to political uncertainty, weak administrative capacity, vested bureaucratic interests, higher fuel prices and the concerns of foreign investors as well as the presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region.

Exchange rates

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - 12.2 (2012 est.) 11.738 (2011 est.) 12.369 (2010 est.) 11.11 (2009) 10.326 (2008)

Exports

$2.56 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $2.277 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners

Russia 20.5%, Romania 14.9%, Italy 13.9%, Turkey 10.8%, Germany 6.1%, Ukraine 4.8% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.589 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.56 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $12.19 billion (2011 est.) $11.46 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 16.2% industry: 20% services: 63.9% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,500 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 $3,400 (2011 est.) $3,200 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 6.4% (2011 est.) 7.1% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 26% (2010 est.)

Imports

$5.39 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $5.147 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Romania 17.9%, Ukraine 15.3%, Germany 10.5%, Russia 9.1%, Italy 6.5%, Belarus 5.5%, Turkey 4.8%, Poland 4.3% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

7.1% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 7.6% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Labor force

1.247 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 27.5% industry: 12.7% services: 59.8% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$22 million (2010)

Population below poverty line

21.9% (2010 est.)

Public debt

18.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 18.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 $1.966 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.498 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $3.049 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$75.25 million (30 September 2011) country comparison to the world: 85 $62.44 million (1 January 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$3.1 billion (30 September 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $2.649 billion (1 January 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.766 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $2.755 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.481 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 $1.475 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

35.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 6.7% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

7.38 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - consumption

3.416 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - from fossil fuels

88.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

11.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - imports

1.464 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Electricity - installed generating capacity

551,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity - production

3.386 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Natural gas - consumption

2.17 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Natural gas - imports

2.17 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Refined petroleum products - consumption

18,060 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Refined petroleum products - exports

110.4 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Refined petroleum products - imports

15,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Refined petroleum products - production

210 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

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

Climate

moderate winters, warm summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Dniester (Nistru) 2 m highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

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 (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

Location

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

landslides

Natural resources

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Terrain

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Total renewable water resources

11.7 cu km (1997)

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

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

Constitution

adopted 29 July 1994; effective 27 August 1994; note - replaced 1979 Soviet Constitution

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador William H. MOSER embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300 FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nicolae TIMOFTI (since 23 March 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir FILAT (since 25 September 2009); reelected/confirmed on 14 January 2011 cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 16 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2016); 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: Nicolae TIMOFTI elected president; parliamentary votes - 62 of 101 votes Vladimir FILAT (re)designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 59 of 101

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

Government type

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), 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

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

Legal system

civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts

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); 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 - in November of 2011, 3 legislators defected from the Communist Party (PCRM) and voted with the PLDM, PD, and PL governing coalition - termed the Alliance for European Integration (AEI) - to reach a 62-seat majority sufficient to elect a new president; the three former PCRM legislators are now aligned with the Party of Socialists, and in 2012 an additional 5 legislators defected from the PCRM

National anthem

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

National symbol(s)

aurochs (a type of wild cattle)

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 AEI (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]; Party of Socialists or PSRM [Igor DODON]; 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 a Transnistrian separatist region with a Slavic majority population of mostly Ukrainians and Russians. 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. Four Moldovan opposition parties formed a new coalition, the Alliance for European Integration (AEI), which has acted as Moldova's governing coalition since. Moldova experienced significant political uncertainty between 2009 and early 2012, holding three general elections and numerous presidential ballots in parliament, all of which failed to secure a president. Following November 2010 parliamentary elections, a reconstituted AEI-coalition consisting of three of the four original AEI parties formed a government, and in March 2012 were finally able to elect an independent as president.

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 branches

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

Military expenditures

0.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.5% (male 330,182/ female 309,994) 15-64 years: 71.9% (male 1,298,667/ female 1,331,657) 65 years and over: 10.6% (male 144,666/ female 241,677) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

12.5 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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

Death rate

12.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Education expenditures

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

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

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

Health expenditures

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

Hospital bed density

6.12 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 125 male: 15.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.51 years country comparison to the world: 150 male: 65.64 years female: 73.63 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.5% male: 99.1% female: 98.1% (2010 est.)

Major cities - population

CHISINAU (capital) 650,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

41 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 114

Median age

total: 35.2 years male: 33.3 years female: 37.2 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan

Net migration rate

-10.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Physicians density

2.668 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

3,656,843 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Population growth rate

-1.014% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 230

Religions

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

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.55 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

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

Urbanization

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

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

Airports

10 (2012) country comparison to the world: 157

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 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 121 country comparison to the world: 45 by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 88, carrier 1, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 63 (Bulgaria 1, Denmark 1, Egypt 5, Greece 1, Israel 2, Lebanon 1, Pakistan 1, Romania 2, Russia 5, Syria 5, Turkey 18, UK 3, Ukraine 14, Yemen 4) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1,906 km (2010)

Railways

total: 1,190 km country comparison to the world: 86 broad gauge: 1,176 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

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) (2011) country comparison to the world: 83