Country Profile: Moldova

Moldova, located in Eastern Europe northeast of Romania, is a landlocked country characterized by a landscape of rolling steppes and a moderate climate. With a population estimated at around 3.6 million in 2025, Moldova has a diverse ethnic composition, primarily Moldovan, Romanian, and Ukrainian. The economy is classified as upper-middle-income, heavily reliant on agriculture and remittances, while the governance is structured as a parliamentary republic, facing ongoing challenges related to corruption and regional stability.

Geography

Moldova is situated in Eastern Europe, bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The country covers an area of 33,851 square kilometers, which is slightly larger than Maryland, and features a terrain that slopes gradually towards the Black Sea. Its climate includes moderate winters and warm summers, contributing to its significant agricultural land use.

74.1% (2023 est.) of land is designated for agriculture.
The highest point is 430 m at Dealul Balanesti.
Major rivers include the Nistru (Dniester) and Dunărea (Danube).
Land is prone to landslides as a natural hazard.

People and Society

Moldova's population is projected to be about 3.6 million in 2025, with a median age of 40.4 years. The country has a significant urban population, with 43.4% living in urban areas. The ethnic breakdown shows that 75.1% are Moldovan, and the predominant religion is Orthodox Christianity, practiced by 90.1% of the population.

80.2% speak Moldovan/Romanian as their primary language.
The birth rate is estimated at 8.35 births/1,000 population (2025).
Life expectancy stands at 70.1 years (2024).
31.1% of the population lived below the poverty line in 2022.

Economy

Moldova's economy is primarily agricultural, making it dependent on remittances and facing challenges from declining workforce levels due to emigration. The country has seen a modest recovery in GDP following the impacts of COVID-19, with a projected real GDP growth of 0.1% in 2024.

Real GDP is estimated at $39.342 billion (2024).
Unemployment is low at 1.5% (2024).
Agricultural products include wheat, maize, and grapes.
Remittances accounted for 10.5% of GDP in 2024.

Government

Moldova is governed as a parliamentary republic with a president serving as the head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The country has a history of political fluctuations between pro-European and pro-Russian administrations, culminating with the current leadership of President Maia SANDU and Prime Minister Alexandru MUNTEANU following elections in 2020 and 2024.

The Parliament has 101 members, elected for four years.
Universal suffrage is granted at 18 years of age.
Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union on 27 August 1991.

Military and Security

The Armed Forces of Moldova consist of the National Army and internal security forces. Military expenditures are minimal, at 0.6% of GDP (2024), primarily due to constitutional neutrality and limited budget capacity. Moldova continues to face security challenges, particularly from the unrecognized separatist region of Transnistria, which is backed by Russian forces.

The military comprises approximately 6,500 personnel.
Mandatory military service exists for males aged 18-27.
Moldova is working on enhancing security cooperation with NATO.

Energy

Moldova’s energy sector is heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels, with electricity access at 100% as of 2022. The energy consumption per capita reached 35.686 million Btu/person in 2023.

Electricity generation relies 88% on fossil fuels.
The country imports most of its natural gas, consuming 2.223 billion cubic meters (2023).
Installed generating capacity is 779,000 kW as of 2023.

Environment

Moldova faces environmental challenges such as soil and water pollution due to agricultural practices, alongside extensive soil erosion. The country is a party to numerous international environmental agreements aimed at addressing climate change and pollution.

74.1% of land is agricultural.
Carbon dioxide emissions projected at 7.093 million metric tonnes (2023).
Municipal solid waste generated annually is approximately 3.981 million tons (2024).

Transportation

Moldova has a developing transportation infrastructure, including 10 airports and a network of railways measuring 1,171 km. The country is enhancing its civil aviation fleet with 75 merchant marine vessels as of 2023.

The number of civil airports is 10 (2025).
There are approximately 847,000 fixed line telephone subscriptions (2023).

Communications

Moldova's communication sector is relatively advanced, with a high percentage of internet and mobile subscribers. About 80% of the population are internet users, and the mobile cellular subscription rate is 120 per 100 inhabitants.

Total mobile cellular subscriptions are around 3.64 million (2024).
Fixed broadband subscriptions total 841,000 (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	3,578,930 (2025 est.)
Area	33,851 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$39.342 billion (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	1.5% (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita	35.686 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	8.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Life Expectancy	70.1 years (2024 est.)
CO2 Emissions	7.093 million metric tonnes (2023 est.)
Total Agricultural Land	74.1% (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures	0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)