Moldova

<p>A large portion of present-day Moldovan territory became a province of the Russian Empire in 1812 and then unified with Romania in 1918 in the aftermath of World War I. This territory was then incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although Moldova has been independent from the Soviet Union since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru River in the breakaway region of Transnistria.</p> <p>Years of Communist Party rule in Moldova from 2001 to 2009 ultimately ended with election-related violent protests and a rerun of parliamentary elections in 2009. A series of pro-Europe ruling coalitions governed Moldova from 2010 to 2019, but pro-Russia candidate Igor DODON won the presidency in 2016, and his Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova won a plurality in the legislative election in 2019. Pro-EU reformist candidate Maia SANDU defeated DODON in his reelection bid in 2020, and SANDU's Party of Action and Solidarity won a parliamentary majority in an early legislative election in 2021. Prime Minister Natalia GAVRILITA and her cabinet took office in 2021. In early 2023, Moldova's parliament confirmed a new cabinet led by Prime Minister Dorin RECEAN, which retained the majority of the former ministers.</p> <p> </p>

Land

32,891 sq km

Total

33,851 sq km

Water

960 sq km

slightly larger than Maryland

moderate winters, warm summers

0 km (landlocked)

Europe

Highest point

Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Lowest point

Dniester (Nistru) 2 m

Mean elevation

139 m

47 00 N, 29 00 E

landlocked; has many types of sedimentary rocks and minerals, including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

2,150 sq km (2022)

Border countries

Romania 683 km; Ukraine 1202 km

number of neighbors

2

Total

1,885 km

Agricultural land

74.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9.4% (2023 est.)

arable land

56.82%

Forest

11.3% (2023 est.)

Other

13.8% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

8.08%

Yes

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

<p>Dunărea (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Nistru (Dniester) (shared with Ukraine [s/m]) - 1,411 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth</p>

Atlantic Ocean drainage

<em>(Black Sea)</em> Danube (795,656 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/JjmyUuULujnDeFPf7

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/58974

Europe

none (landlocked)

landslides

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land

pockets of agglomeration exist throughout the country, with the largest in the center of the country around the capital of Chisinau, followed by Tiraspol and Balti

Eastern Europe

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

UTC+02:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

14.8% (male 266,493/female 266,166)

15-64 years

70.2% (male 1,225,535/female 1,300,640)

65 years and over

15% (2024 est.) (male 206,221/female 334,473)

Beer

1.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

2.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

3.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

8.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

68.7% (2020 est.)

14.06 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

115 per 1,000

adult male

277 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

22.2 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

4.5 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

43 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

20.8 (2025 est.)

improved total

75.82%

Improved: rural

rural: 87.7% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 92% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 97.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 12.3% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 2.3% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

6.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

16% national budget (2024 est.)

7 % of GDP

Moldovan 75.1%, Romanian 7%, Ukrainian 6.6%, Gagauz 4.6%, Russian 4.1%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 0.8% (2014 est.)

0.61 (2025 est.)

7 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

12.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.48%

5.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Female

11.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

16 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

11 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

13.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Moldovan/Romanian 80.2% (official) (56.7% Moldovan; 23.5% Romanian), Russian 9.7%, Gagauz 4.2% (a Turkish language), Ukrainian 3.9%, Bulgarian 1.5%, Romani 0.3%, other 0.2% (2014)

Major-language sample(s)

<br>Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Moldovan/Romanian)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent mother tongue; as of March 2023, "Romanian" replaced "Moldovan" as the name of Moldova's official language

number of languages

1

Female

74.4 years

Male

66.1 years

Total population

70.1 years (2024 est.)

488,000 CHISINAU (capital) (2023)

19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

41.3 years

Male

38.6 years

Total

40.4 years (2025 est.)

25.2 years (2019 est.)

Adjective

Moldovan

Noun

Moldovan(s)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

18.9% (2016)

4.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

1,891,434

Male

1,687,496

Total

3,578,930 (2025 est.)

-0.57% (2025 est.)

Orthodox 90.1%, other Christian 2.6%, other 0.1%, agnostic &lt;0.1%, atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.9% (2014 est.)

Improved: rural

rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 89.7% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 10.3% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)

Female

15 years (2023 est.)

Male

15 years (2023 est.)

Total

15 years (2023 est.)

0-14 years

1 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.62 male(s)/female

At birth

1.07 male(s)/female

Total population

0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

6.4% (2025 est.)

Male

54.2% (2025 est.)

Total

28.7% (2025 est.)

1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

43.4% of total population (2023)

measles

84%

32 districts (<em>raioane</em>, singular - <em>raion</em>), 3 municipalities (<em>municipii</em>, singular - <em>municipiul</em>), 1 autonomous territorial unit (<em>unitatea teritoriala autonoma</em>), and 1 territorial unit (<em>unitatea teritoriala</em>) <br><br><strong>districts:</strong> 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 <br><br><strong>municipalities:</strong> Balti, Bender, Chisinau <br><br><strong>autonomous territorial unit:</strong> Gagauzia <br><br><strong>territorial unit:</strong> Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Etymology

origin unclear but may derive from the Old Moldovan word <em>kishineu </em>("spring" or "artesian well") 

Geographic coordinates

47 00 N, 28 51 E

Name

Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov)

Time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Moldova

Dual citizenship recognized

no

Residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/md.svg

Amendment process

proposed by voter petition (at least 200,000 eligible voters), by at least one third of Parliament members, or by the government; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament within one year of initial proposal; revisions to constitutional articles on sovereignty, independence, and neutrality require majority vote by referendum; articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended

History

previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994

alternative spellings

MD, Moldova, Republic of, Republic of Moldova, Republica Moldova

Conventional long form

Republic of Moldova

Conventional short form

Moldova

Etymology

named for the Moldova River in neighboring eastern Romania; the river's name probably comes from the Indoeuropean root word <em>mel</em>, meaning "dark" or "black"

FIFA code

MDA

Former

Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic

Local long form

Republica Moldova

local long form (ron)

Republica Moldova

Local short form

Moldova

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Nick PIETROWICZ (since 2025)

Email address and website

<br>ChisinauACS@state.gov<br><br>https://md.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009

FAX

[373] (22) 233-044

Mailing address

7080 Chisinau Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-7080

Telephone

[373] (22) 408-300

Chancery

2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Vladislav KULMINSKI (since 5 September 2025)

Email address and website

<br>washington@mfa.gov.md<br><br>https://sua.mfa.gov.md/en

FAX

[1] (202) 667-2624

Telephone

[1] (202) 667-1130

Cabinet

Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament

Chief of state

President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020)

Election results

<em><br>2024: </em>In the second round of presidential elections, incumbent Maia SANDU (PAS) wins 55.4% of the vote, Alexandr STOIANOGLO (PSRM) 44.6; turnout is 54.3%<em><br><br>2020:</em> Maia SANDU elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Maia SANDU (PAS) 57.7%, Igor DODON (PSRM) 42.3%

Election/appointment process

president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister designated by the president in consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence for his/her proposed work program from the Parliament

Expected date of next election

2028

Head of government

Prime Minister Alexandru MUNTEANU (since 1 November 2025)

Most recent election date

3 November 2024

<strong>description:</strong> three equal vertical bands of Prussian blue (left side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; the Moldavan coat of arms in the center is a dark gold Roman eagle outlined in black, with a red beak and talons; the eagle carries a yellow cross in its beak, a green olive branch in its right talons, and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on the eagle's breast is a red-and-blue shield divided horizontally, with a stylized aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent in black and outlined yellow; the reverse of the flag displays a mirror image of the coat of arms<br><br><strong>history:</strong> replaced the communist flag in 1990; the coat of arms is based on traditional designs

note

<strong>note 1: </strong>colors are based on the Romanian flag, but Moldova's blue band is lighter<strong><br><br>note 2:</strong> one of three national flags that differ on each side -- the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia

The flag of Moldova is composed of three equal vertical bands of blue, yellow and red, with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/md.svg

parliamentary republic

27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEU (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, 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

note

<strong>note</strong>: Moldova is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief judge, 3 deputy-chief judges, 45 judges, and 7 assistant judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 6 judges)

Judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court of Justice judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistracy, an 11-member body of judicial officials; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy for 6-year terms; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the Constitutional Court is autonomous; it interprets the Constitution and reviews the constitutionality of parliamentary laws and decisions, decrees of the president, and acts of the government

Subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts

civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

September 2029

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Parliament (Parlament)

Most recent election date

9/28/2025

Number of seats

101 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) (55); Electoral Bloc “Patriotic of Socialists, Communists, Heart and Future of Moldova” (26); Alternative Bloc (8); Our Party (6); Democracy at Home Party (6)

Percentage of women in chamber

37.6%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

blue, yellow, red

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Struve Geodetic Arc

Total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

aurochs (type of wild cattle)

Common Action Party - Civil Congress or PAC-CC<br>Democracy at Home Party or PPDA<br>Future of Moldova Party or PVM<br>National Alternative Movement or MAN<br>Our Party or PN<br>Party of Action and Solidarity or PAS<br>Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM<br>Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova or PDCM<br>Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova or PSRM<br><br>

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, grapes, apples, sugar beets, barley, milk, rapeseed, potatoes (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$6.037 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$5.197 billion (2023 est.)

code

MDL

name

Moldovan leu (MDL) [L]

$-3,012,700,136

Current account balance 2022

-$2.482 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$1.893 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$2.917 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$10.49 billion

Debt - external 2023

$2.637 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

upper middle-income Eastern European economy; sustained growth reversed by COVID-19; significant remittances; Russian energy and regional dependence; agricultural exporter; declining workforce due to emigration and low fertility

Currency

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

17.322 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

17.68 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

18.897 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

18.164 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

17.792 (2024 est.)

$5.72 billion

Exports 2022

$5.981 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$5.866 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$5.717 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

insulated wire, garments, refined petroleum, seed oils, wheat (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Romania 31%, Ukraine 13%, Italy 6%, Germany 6%, Czechia 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$458.37 million

Exports of goods and services

31.4% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

17.9% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

86.8% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-57.3% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

20% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

1.1% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

7.1% (2024 est.)

Industry

16.8% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

62.3% (2024 est.)

$18.2 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$7,576

25.7 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

25.9 (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$18.29 billion

$6,880

21 % of GDP

Highest 10%

22.5% (2022 est.)

Lowest 10%

4.5% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$10.42 billion

Imports 2022

$10.265 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$9.84 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$10.418 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Romania 16%, Ukraine 13%, China 11%, Turkey 8%, Germany 7% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3.3% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

4.68%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

28.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

13.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

4.7% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

1.358 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

1.38 million persons

agriculture

50.5%

industry

12.55%

services

36.94%

31.1% (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

34 % of GDP

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2023

34.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

$44.72 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$38.835 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$39.301 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$39.342 billion (2024 est.)

0.1%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

-4.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

0.1% (2024 est.)

$18,615

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$15,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$16,000 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$16,500 (2024 est.)

$1.92 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

14% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

12% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

10.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

$5.48 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$4.474 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$5.453 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$5.484 billion (2024 est.)

29 % of GDP

19 % of GDP

18.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

1.51%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

0.9% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

1.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

1.5% (2024 est.)

Female

3.3% (2024 est.)

Male

3.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

3.3% (2024 est.)

Consumption

90,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

86,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

5.674 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

2,412 kWh

Exports

94 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

1.264 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

779,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

550.069 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

88% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

4.73%

Hydroelectricity

6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

6.5%

Solar

1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

1,297 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

35.686 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

10,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

21.4%

per 100 inhabitants

27 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

27 (2023 est.)

Total

841,000 (2023 est.)

state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; total of nearly 70 terrestrial TV channels and about 50 radio stations; Russian and Romanian channels are available (2019)

.md

Percent of population

80% (2023 est.)

MD-####

+373

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

847,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

131 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

120 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

3.64 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

827,604 passengers

registered carrier departures

6,644 departures

10 (2025)

ER

Right

1 (2025)

By type

bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 44, oil tanker 7, other 22

Total

75 (2023)

Broad gauge

1,157 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge

Standard gauge

14 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Total

1,171 km (2014)

MD

the National Army is responsible for defense against external aggression, suppressing illegal military violence along the state border or inside the country, and supporting other internal security forces in maintaining public order if necessary; its primary focuses are Transnistrian separatist forces and their Russian backers; the 1992 war between Moldovan forces and the Transnistrian separatists backed by Russian troops ended with a cease-fire; the separatists maintain several armed paramilitary combat units, plus other security forces and reserves; Russia maintains approximately 1,500 troops in the breakaway region, including some Transnistrian locals who serve as Russian troops; some of those troops are under the authority of a peacekeeping force known as a Joint Control Commission that also includes Moldovan and separatist personnel, while the remainder of the Russian contingent guard a depot of Soviet-era ammunition and train separatist forces<br><br>Moldova is constitutionally neutral but has maintained a relationship with NATO since 1992 and since 2022 has enhanced bilateral security cooperation with some NATO members; it has contributed small numbers of troops to NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) since 2014, and a civilian NATO liaison office was established in Moldova in 2017 at the request of the Moldovan Government to promote practical cooperation and facilitate support; in 2024, Moldova signed a security and defense partnership agreement with the EU; it maintains close security relations with Romania, a member of the EU and NATO (2025)

Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova (Forțele Armate ale Republicii Moldova): National Army (comprised of Land Forces, Air Force)<br><br>Ministry of Internal Affairs: General Inspectorate of Police (GPI), Border Police Department, Carabinieri Troops Department (2025)

active duty personnel

6,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the Carabinieri is a quasi-militarized gendarmerie responsible for protecting public buildings, maintaining public order, and other national security functions; the GPI is the primary law enforcement body, responsible for internal security, public order, traffic, and criminal investigations

percent of total labor force

0.41 %

approximately 6,500 Moldovan Armed Forces (2025)

the military's inventory is limited and almost entirely comprised of Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, it has received small amounts of donated equipment from some Western European nations and the US (2025)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$110,725,502

Military Expenditures 2020

0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

1.60 %

percent of GDP

0.60 % of GDP

18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month service obligation; conscientious objectors can perform non-military service in public institutions for a longer period (up to 24 months) (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> as of 2024, women made up about 23% of the military's full-time personnel

IDPs

6 (2024 est.)

Refugees

136,845 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

3,164 (2024 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke

219,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

3.786 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

3.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

7.093 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

soil and water pollution from heavy use of agricultural chemicals; extensive soil erosion and declining soil fertility from farming methods

Party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol

12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

12 % of total land area

2 % of total

12.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

52 % of internal resources

Agricultural

55 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

583 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

160 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

3.981 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

36.9% (2022 est.)