01
Physical geography
Rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea.
Local timeChișinău ·
Europe / Eastern Europe · Card 033
Moldova
Moldova is a country in Eastern Europe. Its capital is Chișinău.
Find Moldova
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Chișinău
- Languages
- Romanian
- Currency
- Moldovan leu (MDL)
- Population
- 2.4 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 33,846 km²13,068.01 square miles
- Independence
- 1991from the Soviet Union
Moldova in context
Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Chișinău; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Romanian is the official language. Russian, Gagauz, Ukrainian and other languages are also used.
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Location
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania.
Flag
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
History & independence
Much of modern Moldova was part of Bessarabia, a region contested among neighboring powers. Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Conflict in 1992 left Transnistria outside the central government's effective control.
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Bessarabia unites with Romania
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Moldova declares independence
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Conflict results in a ceasefire in Transnistria
Economy
Main activities
Agriculture, wine and food processing, manufacturing and services contribute to the economy. Remittances are significant for households. Energy supplies, emigration and access to export markets are important economic issues.
Industry and production
sugar processing, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people2.42025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,437,590 | 2.438 |
| 1980 | 2,708,675 | 2.709 |
| 1990 | 2,977,912 | 2.978 |
| 2000 | 2,924,668 | 2.925 |
| 2010 | 2,862,354 | 2.862 |
| 2020 | 2,635,130 | 2.635 |
| 2025 | 2,360,527 | 2.361 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars9.52025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11,137,693,133 | 11.138 |
| 1991 | 9,355,662,201 | 9.356 |
| 1992 | 6,633,164,508 | 6.633 |
| 1993 | 6,553,566,539 | 6.554 |
| 1994 | 4,528,514,463 | 4.529 |
| 1995 | 4,465,115,304 | 4.465 |
| 1996 | 4,202,697,785 | 4.203 |
| 1997 | 4,271,918,931 | 4.272 |
| 1998 | 3,992,441,789 | 3.992 |
| 1999 | 3,857,966,190 | 3.858 |
| 2000 | 3,939,281,164 | 3.939 |
| 2001 | 4,179,577,331 | 4.180 |
| 2002 | 4,505,584,348 | 4.506 |
| 2003 | 4,802,952,913 | 4.803 |
| 2004 | 5,158,371,416 | 5.158 |
| 2005 | 5,545,249,280 | 5.545 |
| 2006 | 5,811,421,236 | 5.811 |
| 2007 | 5,985,763,886 | 5.986 |
| 2008 | 6,452,653,478 | 6.453 |
| 2009 | 6,065,494,253 | 6.065 |
| 2010 | 6,496,144,351 | 6.496 |
| 2011 | 6,874,100,823 | 6.874 |
| 2012 | 6,833,561,916 | 6.834 |
| 2013 | 7,451,580,072 | 7.452 |
| 2014 | 7,824,131,196 | 7.824 |
| 2015 | 7,797,667,197 | 7.798 |
| 2016 | 8,159,947,935 | 8.160 |
| 2017 | 8,500,675,704 | 8.501 |
| 2018 | 8,847,128,858 | 8.847 |
| 2019 | 9,161,406,662 | 9.161 |
| 2020 | 8,403,210,633 | 8.403 |
| 2021 | 9,573,777,856 | 9.574 |
| 2022 | 9,128,802,926 | 9.129 |
| 2023 | 9,237,254,992 | 9.237 |
| 2024 | 9,262,257,512 | 9.262 |
| 2025 | 9,486,079,719 | 9.486 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.785High human developmentRank 86 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
20100.739
20200.770
20230.785
71.2 yearsLife expectancy at birth
11.8 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Parliamentary republic. Parliament (Parlament) has one chamber (a unicameral legislature).
Knowledge check
Three questions about Moldova.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which city is identified as the capital of Moldova?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.