Moldova

Internet country code

.md

Internet hosts

11,984 (2003)

Internet users

150,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some effort to modernize 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

Telephones - main lines in use

706,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

338,200 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $648.1 million expenditures: $634.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Currency (code)

Moldovan leu (MDL)

Current account balance

$-148.4 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external

$1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.6 (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$100 million (2000)

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 from Russia. 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 of 2.1% in 2000, 6.1% in 2001, 7.2% in 2002, 6.3% in 2003, and 6.8% in 2004. 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.

Electricity - consumption

4.605 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

3.876 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates

lei per US dollar - 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002), 12.865 (2001), 12.434 (2000)

Exports

$1.03 billion f.o.b. (2004 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)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.581 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 22.4% industry: 24.8% services: 52.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.8% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)

Imports

$1.83 billion f.o.b. (2004 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)

Industrial production growth rate

17% (2003 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

17.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force

1.36 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998)

Natural gas - consumption

2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

80% (2001 est.)

Public debt

63.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$390 million (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate

8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Maryland

Climate

moderate winters, warm summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Dniester River 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

3,070 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 55.3% permanent crops: 10.79% other: 33.91% (2001)

Location

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

landslides (57 cases in 1998)

Natural resources

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Terrain

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Administrative divisions

32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala) : counties: 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

Capital

Chisinau

Constitution

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

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

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

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

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 Vasile IOVV (since 29 January 2002) 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 NA 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

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

Government type

republic

Independence

27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents

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 NA 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

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Modova Bloc [Serafim URECHEANU] includes: Democratic Party [Dumitru DIACOV], Our Moldova Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS, Serafim URECHEANU], Social Liberal Party [Oleg SEREBRIAN]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Popular Christian Democratic Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

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 branches

National Army: Ground Forces, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$8.7 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.4% (FY02)

Military service age and obligation

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.2% (male 459,452/female 442,725) 15-64 years: 69.5% (male 1,489,813/female 1,606,202) 65 years and over: 10.3% (male 169,038/female 288,191) (2005 est.)

Birth rate

15.27 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

12.79 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.) note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 300 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,500 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 40.42 deaths/1,000 live births male: 43.11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 37.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 65.18 years male: 61.12 years female: 69.43 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99.6% female: 98.7% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 32.22 years male: 30.14 years female: 34.27 years (2005 est.)

Nationality

noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan

Net migration rate

-0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population

4,455,421 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate

0.22% (2005 est.)

Religions

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

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 (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 1,000 (internal secessionist uprising in Transdniestrian region in 1991) (2004)

Airports

23 (2004 est.)

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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 12,719 km paved: 10,977 km unpaved: 1,742 km (2002)

Merchant marine

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,636 GRT/1,088 DWT by type: cargo 2 (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)

Waterways

424 km (2004)