Demographics of Moldova

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Moldova, including distribution, ethnicity, languages, religious affiliation and other statistical data.

Demographics of Moldova

Population in millions, 1950 – January 2009. (Note: Data after 1997 doesn't include regions under the control of Transnistria).
Population 3,559,500 (2012)
Density 120.0
Growth rate −0.0 (2012)
Birth rate 11.1 births/1,000 population
(2012)
Death rate 11.1 deaths/1,000 population
(2012)
Life expectancy 70.99 years (2012)
 • male 67.08 years
(2012)
 • female 74.86 years
(2012)
Fertility rate 1.28 children born/woman
(2012)
Infant mortality rate 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2012)
Male: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2010)
Female: 9.5 deaths/1,000 live births(2010)
Net migration rate +0.0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012)
Age structure
0–14 years 16.4%
(male 301,150/female 284,400)
15–64 years 73.6%
(male 1,277,900/female 1,341,650)
65 and over 10.0%
(male 133,060/female 222,270)
Sex ratio
Total 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
At birth 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 1.06 male(s)/female
15–64 years 0.94 male(s)/female
65 and over 0.59 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality Moldovan(s)
Major ethnic Moldovans 75.8%[1]
Minor ethnic Ukrainians 8.4%, Russians 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarians 1.9%
Language
Official Moldovan
Spoken Moldovan/Romanian, Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Overview of the demographic statistics

According to the 2004 Moldovan Census, 3,383,332 people lived in the areas controlled by the central government of Moldova. According to the 2004 Census in Transnistria, 555,347 people lived in the breakaway Transnistria, including the city of Bender, and the other localities de facto controlled by Transnistrian authorities. Thus, the total population of the country in 2004 amounted to 3,938,679.

Demographics of Moldova, data of FAO, 2005; number of inhabitants in thousands.
Median age
–total 34.3 years (2008 est.)
(up from 32.22 years in 2005)
–male 32.4 years
(up from 30.14 years in 2005)
–female 36.4 years
(up from 34.27 years in 2005)
Literacy rate
–total 96% (1989); 99.1% (2003); 99.1% (2005)
–male 99% (1989); 99.6% (2003); 99.7% (2005)
–female 94% (1989); 98.7% (2003); 98.6% (2005)
–definition age 15 and over can read and write
Unemployment rate
8% (official), 40% (real)
Source: The World Factbook, CIA;[2] UN[3],[4]

Urban–rural distribution of population

By district

no type name population urban rural
population % cities population % communes
1 municipality Chişinău 712,218 644,204 90.45% 7 68,014 9.55% 12
2 municipality Bălţi 127,561 122,669 96.16% 1 4,892 3.84% 2
3 auton.territ.unit Găgăuzia 155,646 58,190 37.39% 3 97,456 62.61% 23
4 district Anenii Noi 81,710 8,358 10.23% 1 73,352 89.77% 25
5 district Basarabeasca 28,978 11,192 38.62% 1 17,786 61.38% 6
6 district Briceni 78,027 14,230 18.24% 2 63,797 81.76% 26
7 district Cahul 119,231 35,488 29.76% 1 83,743 70.24% 36
8 district Cantemir 60,001 3,872 6.45% 1 56,129 93.55% 26
9 district Călăraşi 75,075 14,516 19.34% 1 60,559 80.66% 27
10 district Căuşeni 90,612 21,941 24.21% 2 68,671 75.79% 25 (out of 28)
11 district Cimişlia 60,925 12,858 21.10% 1 48,067 78.90% 22
12 district Criuleni 72,254 7,138 9.88% 1 65,116 90.12% 24
13 district Donduşeni 46,442 9,801 21.10% 1 36,641 78.90% 21
14 district Drochia 87,092 16,606 19.07% 1 70,486 80.93% 27
15 district Dubăsari 43,015 - - - 34,015 100% 11
16 district Edineţ 81,390 23,065 % 2 58,325 % 30
17 district Făleşti 90,320 14,931 % 1 75,389 % 32
18 district Floreşti 89,38917,086 % 3 17,086 % 37
19 district Glodeni 60,975 10,465 % 1 50,510 % 18
20 district Hînceşti 119,762 15,281 % 1 104,481 % 38
21 district Ialoveni 97,704 15,041 % 1 82,663 % 24
22 district Leova 51,056 14,411 % 2 36,645 % 23
23 district Nisporeni 64,924 12,105 % 1 52,819 % 22
24 district Ocniţa 56,510 19,270 % 3 37,240 % 18
25 district Orhei 116,271 25,641 % 1 90,630 % 37
26 district Rezina 48,105 10,196 % 1 37,909 % 24
27 district Rîşcani 69,454 13,351 % 2 56,103 % 26
28 district Sîngerei 87,153 15,760 % 2 71,393 % 24
29 district Soroca 94,986 28,362 % 1 66,624 % 34
30 district Străşeni 88,900 19,633 % 2 69,267 % 25
31 district Şoldăneşti 42,227 6,304 % 1 35,923 % 22
32 district Ştefan Vodă 70,594 7,768 % 1 62,826 % 22
33 district Taraclia 43,154 13,756 % 1 29,398 % 14
34 district Teleneşti 70,126 6,855 % 1 63,271 % 30
35 district Ungheni 110,545 35,311 % 2 75,234 % 31
Subtotal control by central government 3,383,332 1,305,655 38.59% 54 2,077,677 61.41% 844
36 territorial unit Transnistria 439,528 280,6401 63.85% 10 158,8881 36.15% 69
37 municipality Bender 100,169 97,027 96.86% 1 3,142 3.14% 1
10 parts of district Căuşeni 14,935 - - - 14,935 100% 3 (out of 28)
15 parts of district Dubăsari 715 - - - 715 100% parts of 1
Subtotal control by breakaway Tiraspol 555,347 377,667 68.01% 11 177,680 31.99% 73
Total 3,938,679 1,683,322 42.74% 65 2,255,357 57.26% 917

Note: 1The breakaway Transnistrian authorities count as rural the population of the towns of Crasnoe, Maiac, and Tiraspolul Nou. Since their exact population isn't available, so does this table.

Transnistrian-controlled areas

Population urban rural
population cities population communes
Tiraspol 158,069 158,069 1 – –
Camenca District 27,284 10,323 1 16,961 12
Rîbnița District 82,699 53,648 1 29,051 22
Dubăsari District 36,734 23,650 1 13,084 9
Grigoriopol District 48,000 11,4731 2 36,5271 14
Slobozia District 86,742 23,4772 4 63,2652 12
Subtotal Transnistria 439,528 280,640 10 158,888 69
Bender (w/o Proteagailovca) 97,027 97,027 1 – –
Proteagailovca 3,142 – – 3,142 1
Gîsca 4,841 – – 4,841 1
Chiţcani (incl. Mereneşti and Zahorna) ~9,000 – – ~9,000 1
Cremenciug 1,094 – – 1,094 1
Roghi 715 – – 715 parts of 1
Subotal other localities 115,819 97,027 1 18,792 4
Total Tiraspol-controlled areas 555,347 377,667 11 177,680 73

Note:
1 The breakaway Transnistrian authorities have counties as urban only the population of the town of Grigoriopol, while that of the town of Maiac was counted as rural.
2 The breakaway Transnistrian authorities have counties as urban only the population of the towns of Slobozia and Dnestrovsc, while those of the towns of Crasnoe and Tiraspolul Nou were counted as rural.

Vital Statistics

Bessarabia Governorate (1900-1914)[5]

Average population (x 1000) Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000)
1900 2 037 83 30648 48034 826 40.923.817.1
1901 2 073 87 79746 29641 501 42.322.320.0
1902 2 113 96 64155 42341 218 45.726.219.5
1903 2 154 94 93653 23641 700 44.124.719.4
1904 2 194 99 26555 43643 829 45.325.320.0
1905 2 237 80 08562 38717 698 35.827.97.9
1906 2 267 95 09055 63839 452 41.924.517.4
1907 2 303 107 19559 96447 231 46.526.020.5
1908 2 345 96 08854 77241 316 41.023.417.6
1909 2 395 105 68162 49843 183 44.126.118.0
1910 2 441 101 54477 35624 188 41.631.79.9
1911 2 488 97 86474 09323 771 39.329.89.6
1912 2 540 102 65477 43125 223 40.430.59.9
1913 2 602 102 39777 74524 652 39.429.99.5
1914 2 625 100 87179 20221 669 38.430.28.3

After WW II, total area[6][7]

Average population (x 1000) Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Total fertility rate Urban Fertility Rural Fertility
1945 2 028 (e) 42 79578 797-36 002 21.138.9-17.8
1946 2 254 (e) 64 46264 371 91 28.628.50.1
1947 2 188 (e) 57 555165 049-107 494 26.375.5-49.2
1948 2 126 (e) 73 12335 84637 277 34.416.917.5
1949 2 236 (e) 94 18030 40763 773 42.113.628.5
1950 2 341 91 13726 36364 774 38.911.327.7
1951 2 381 91 64525 95765 688 38.510.927.6
1952 2 432 80 91830 96849 950 33.312.720.5
1953 2 491 79 04123 25755 784 31.79.322.4
1954 2 557 83 60724 07759 530 32.79.423.3
1955 2 627 79 77221 86457 908 30.48.322.0
1956 2 701 81 37220 10961 263 30.17.422.7
1957 2 777 85 74321 11464 629 30.97.623.3
1958 2 853 87 50218 74168 761 30.76.624.1 3.54
1959 2 929 92 17621 46770 709 31.57.324.1 3.64
1960 3 003 87 91019 29068 620 29.36.422.9 3.41
1961 3 073 86 683 19 590 67 093 28.2 6.4 21.8 3.20
1962 3 141 80 494 21 365 59 129 25.6 6.8 18.8 3.00
1963 3 208 78 422 20 737 57 685 24.4 6.5 18.0 2.89
1964 3 273 73 583 19 944 53 639 22.5 6.1 16.4 2.71
1965 3 335 67 996 20 571 47 425 20.4 6.2 14.2 2.68
1966 3 395 71 406 21 474 49 326 21.0 6.3 14.5 2.73
1967 3 453 71 380 23 406 47 294 20.7 6.8 13.7 2.69
1968 3 506 69 997 24 268 45 532 20.0 6.9 13.0 2.65
1969 3 549 67 575 26 249 40 651 19.0 7.4 11.5 2.58
1970 3 594 69 778 26 577 43 201 19.4 7.4 12.0 2.56
1971 3 647 73 643 27 889 45 754 20.2 7.6 12.5 2.63
1972 3 700 76 198 28 001 48 197 20.6 7.6 13.0 2.63
1973 3 748 76 339 30 756 45 583 20.4 8.2 12.2 2.59
1974 3 794 77 474 32 216 45 258 20.4 8.5 11.9 2.55
1975 3 839 79 169 35 635 43 534 20.6 9.3 11.3 2.52
1976 3 877 79 863 34 812 45 051 20.6 9.0 11.6 2.46
1977 3 910 79 022 37 250 41 772 20.2 9.5 10.7 2.40
1978 3 936 78 994 38 410 40 584 20.1 9.8 10.3 2.38 1.70 3.00
1979 3 967 80 152 41 729 38 423 20.2 10.5 9.7 2.39 1.80 2.90
1980 4 010 79 580 40 472 39 108 19.8 10.1 9.8 2.41 1.80 2.90
1981 4 054 82 279 41 476 40 803 20.3 10.2 10.1 2.45 1.80 3.10
1982 4 097 83 258 41 046 42 212 20.3 10.0 10.3 2.43 1.79 3.19
1983 4 137 91 304 44 329 46 975 22.1 10.7 11.4 2.57 1.87 3.46
1984 4 175 89 637 45 537 44 100 21.5 10.9 10.6 2.67 1.95 3.65
1985 4 214 90 453 46 075 44 378 21.5 10.9 10.5 2.70 2.00 3.70
1986 4 255 94 726 40 437 54 289 22.3 9.5 12.8 2.78 2.00 3.80
1987 4 290 91 762 40 185 51 577 21.4 9.4 12.0 2.70 2.10 3.80
1988 4 321 88 568 40 912 47 656 20.5 9.5 11.0 2.63 2.00 3.60
1989 4 349 82 221 40 113 42 108 18.9 9.2 9.7 2.46 2.02 3.00
1990 4 364 77 085 42 427 34 658 17.7 9.7 7.9 2.39 1.91 3.07
1991 4 363 72 020 45 849 26 171 16.5 10.5 6.0 2.26 1.79 2.84
1992 4 353 69 654 44 522 25 132 16.0 10.2 5.8 2.21 1.68 2.86
1993 4 350 66 179 46 637 19 542 15.2 10.7 4.5 2.10 1.53 2.77
1994 4 350 62 085 52 153 9 932 14.3 12.0 2.3 1.95 1.44 2.54
1995 4 340 56 411 52 969 3 442 13.0 12.2 0.8 1.76 1.31 2.24
1996 4 325 51 865 49 748 2 117 12.0 11.5 0.5 1.60 1.19 2.05
1997 4 311 51 286 51 138 148 11.9 11.9 0.0 1.55
1998 4 299 46 755 47 691 – 936 10.9 11.1 -0.2 1.48
1999 4 287 43 511 48 904 -5 393 10.1 11.4 -1.3 1.43

(e)= estimate

Moldova under the central government control

Average population (x 1000) Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Total fertility rate (TFR) Urban TFR Rural TFR
1997 3 654 45 58342 9572 626 12.511.80.7 1.731.36 2.09
1998 3 652 41 33239 9221 410 11.310.90.4 1.671.322.03
1999 3 647 38 50141 315 -2 814 10.611.3 -0.8 1.611.261.97
2000 3 640 36 93941 224 -4 285 10.211.3 -1.2 1.571.231.95
2001 3 631 36 44840 075 -3 627 10.011.0 -1.0 1.481.211.92
2002 3 623 35 70541 852 -6 147 9.911.6 -1.7 1.411.131.89
2003 3 613 36 47143 079 -6 608 10.111.9 -1.8 1.471.181.88
2004 3 604 38 27241 668 -3 396 10.611.6 -0.9 1.501.191.91
2005 3 595 37 69544 689 -6 994 10.512.4 -1.9 1.491.14 1.93
2006 3 586 37 58743 137 -5 550 10.512.0 -1.5 1.491.151.92
2007 3 577 37 97343 050 -5 077 10.612.0 -1.4 1.491.191.87
2008 3 570 39 01841 948 -2 930 10.911.7 -0.8 1.491.251.86
2009 3 566 40 80942 122 -1 313 11.411.8 -0.4 1.561.311.93
2010 3 563 40 47443 631 -3 157 11.412.3 -0.9 1.531.341.90
2011 3 560 39 18239 249 -67 11.011.0 -0.0 1.451.011.8
2012 3 560 39 23439 560 -326 11.011.1 -0.1 1.461.031.48
2013 3 559 37 859 38 060 -201 10.6 10.7 -0.1 1.43 0.9751.449
2014 3 555 38 616 39 494 -878 10.9 11.1 -0.2 1.47 0.9961.499

Transnistrian-controlled areas[8]

Average population (x 1000) Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000)
1997 657 5 7038 181 -2 478 8.712.5-3.8
1998 647 5 4237 769-2 346 8.412.0-3.6
1999 640 5 0107 589-2 579 7.811.9-4.0
2000 656 5 0107 770-2 760 7.611.8-4.2
2001 647 4 5307 770-3 240 7.012.0-5.0
2002 638 4 6608 100-3 440 7.312.7-5.4
2003 629 4 4608 170-3 710 7.113.0-5.9
2004 558 4 8408 031-3 191 8.714.4-5.7
2005 551 4 6648 186-3 522 8.514.8-6.4
2006 544 4 8408 320-3 480 8.915.3-6.4
2007 537 4 8938 132-3 239 9.115.1-6.0
2008 531 5 2907 967-2 677 10.015.0-5.0
2009 525 5 1897 454-2 265 9.914.2-4.3
2010 520 5 1897 709-2 520 10.014.8-4.8
2011 516 4 9997 289-2 290 9.714.1-4.4
2012 511 5 1737 280-2 107 10.114.2-4.1
2013 507 4 8256 867-2 042 9.513.5-4.0

Fertility Rate (The Demographic Health Survey) [9]

Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate):

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Rural)
2005 12,0 1,7 12,5 1,5 11,7 1,8

Ethnic groups

Moldovans are the largest ethnic group in Moldova. According to the combined data of the census in the government controlled area and the census in Transnistria in 2004 they account for 69.6% of the country's population. The proportion of Ukrainians and Russians decreased considerably in comparison to the last Soviet census in 1989: from 13.8% to 11.2% and from 13.0% to 9.4% respectively. This is mostly due to emigration. Ukrainians mostly live in the east (Transnistria) and the north, while Russians mostly live in urban areas: 27% of all Russians live in Chişinău, 18% live in Tiraspol, 11% in Bender and 6% in Bălţi. The Gagauz people are the fourth-largest ethnic group (3.8% in 2004). Most of them live in the south of Moldova in the autonomous region of Gagauzia.

Total area

Ethnic map of Moldova (2004 data)
Population of Moldova according to ethnic group 1959–2004
Ethnic
group		 census 19591 census 19702 census 19793 census 19894 census 20045 census 20145
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Moldovans8 1,886,566 65.4 2,303,916 64.6 2,525,687 63.9 2,794,749 64.5 2,742,231 69.6 1,654,744 56.8
Romanians 1,663 0.1 1,581 0.0 1,657 0.0 2,477 0.1 73,529 1.9 675,881 23.2
Ukrainians 420,820 14.6 506,560 14.2 560,679 14.2 600,366 13.8 442,475 11.2 221,409 7.6
Russians 292,930 10.2 414,444 11.6 505,730 12.8 562,069 13.0 369,896 9.4 159,065 5.4
Gagauzians 95,856 3.3 124,902 3.5 138,000 3.5 153,548 3.5 151,596 3.8 113,327 3.9
Bulgarians 61,652 2.1 73,776 2.1 80,665 2.0 88,419 2.0 79,520 2.0 47,778 1.7
Romani 7,265 0.3 9,235 0.3 10,666 0.3 11,571 0.3 12,778 0.3
Jews 95,104 3.3 98,062 2.7 80,124 2.0 65,799 1.5 4,867 0.1
Poles 4,783 0.2 4,899 0.1 4,961 0.1 4,739 0.1 4,174 0.1
Others 17,838 0.6 31,498 0.9 41,587 1.1 51,623 1.2 57,613 1.5 41,077 1.4
Total 2,884,477 3,568,873 3,949,756 4,335,360 3,938,679 2,913,281
1 Source: . 2 Source: . 3 Source: . 4 Source: . 5 Source: 6 2004 combined censuses of the government controlled area and Transnistria 6 2014 census only in government controlled area. 8 There is an ongoing controversy, whether Romanians and Moldovans should be counted together.

Moldova under the central government control

Ethnic composition of the main part of Moldova, according to the 2004 census, was:

ethnic group total population urban rural
population % population % population %
Moldovans 2,564,849 1 75.8% 826,103 63.27% 1,738,747 83.69%
Ukrainians 282,406 8.35% 145,890 11.17% 136,516 6.57%
Russians 201,218 5.95% 166,395 12.74% 34,823 1.68%
Gagauzians 147,500 4.36% 53,613 4.11% 93,887 4.52%
Romanians 73,276 2.2% 44,342 3.4% 28,934 1.39%
Bulgarians 65,662 1.94% 29,447 2.26% 36,215 1.74%
Gypsies 12,271 0.36% 8,139 0.62% 4,132 0.20%
Jews 3,608 0.11% 3,509 0.27% 99 0.01%
Poles 2,383 0.07% 2,019 0.15% 364 0.02%
others and undeclared 30,157 0.89% 26,197 2.01% 3,960 0.19%
Total 3,383,332 100% 1,305,655 100% 2,077,677 100%

Declared country of birth for the current inhabitants of the part of Moldova under the central government control, according to the 2004 census:

ethnic group total population urban rural
total Moldova former USSR other countries non-declared total Moldova former USSR other countries non-declared total Moldova former USSR other countries non-declared
Moldovans and Romanians2,638,125
100% 		2,604,051
98.71% 		30,360
1.15% 		3,345
0.13% 		369
0.01% 		870,445
100% 		848,554
% 		19,501
% 		2,081
% 		309
% 		1,767,680
100% 		1,755,497
% 		10,859
% 		1,264
% 		60
%
Ukrainians 282,406
100% 		227,750
80.65% 		54,036
19.13% 		598
0.21% 		22
0.01% 		145,890
100% 		103,039
% 		42,318
% 		514
% 		19
% 		136,516
100%
% 		11,718
% 		84
% 		3
%
Russians 201,218
100% 		129,664
64.44% 		70,380
34.98% 		1,096
0.54% 		78
0.04% 		166,395
100% 		106,580
% 		58,739
% 		1,011
% 		65
% 		34,823
100% 		23,084
% 		11,641
% 		85
% 		13
%
Gagauzians 147,500
100% 		144,268
97.81% 		3,101
2.10% 		120
0.08% 		11
0.01% 		53,613
100% 		51,586
% 		1,941
% 		76
% 		10
% 		93,887
100% 		92,682
% 		1,160
% 		44
% 		1
%
Bulgarians 65,662
100% 		59,489
90.60% 		5,968
9.09% 		199
0.30% 		6
0.01% 		29,447
100% 		25,215
% 		4,071
% 		156
% 		5
% 		36,215
100% 		34,274
% 		1,897
% 		43
% 		1
%
others 34,401
100% 		22,702
65.99% 		10,797
31.39% 		894
2.60% 		8
0.02% 		26,058
100% 		16,973
% 		8,358
% 		722
% 		5
% 		8,343
100% 		5,729
% 		2,439
% 		172
% 		3
%
non-declared 14,020
100% 		13,894
99.10% 		12
0.09% 		28
0.20% 		86
0.61% 		13,807
100% 		13,668
% 		9
% 		27
% 		83
% 		213
100% 		206
% 		3
% 		1
% 		3
%
Total 3,383,332
100% 		3,201,818
94.64% 		174,654
5.16% 		6,280
0.19% 		580
0.02% 		1,305,655
100% 		1,165,635
89.28% 		134,937
10.33% 		4,587
0.35% 		496
0.04% 		2,077,677
100% 		2,036,183
98.00% 		39,717
1.91% 		1,693
0.08% 		84
0.004%

Population by district, according to the 2004 census:

Population Moldovans1 Ukrainians Russians Gagauzians Bulgarians Romanians1 Jews Poles Gypsies others
Chişinău 712,218 481,626
67.62%
 58,945
8.28%
 99,149
13.92%
 6,446
0.91%
 8,868
1.25%
 31,984
4.49%
 2,649
0.37%
 834
0.12%
 507
0.07%
 21,210
2.98%
Bălţi 127,561 66,877
52.43%
 30,288
23.74%
 24,526
19.23%
 243
0.19%
 297
0.23%
 2,258
1.77%
 411
0.32%
 862
0.68%
 272
0.21%
 1,527
1.20%
Gagauzia 155,646 7,481
4.81%
 4,919
3.16%
 5,941
3.82%
 127,835
82.13%
 8,013
5.15%
 38
0.02%
 17
0.01%
 28
0.02%
 486
0.31%
 888
0.57%
Anenii Noi 81,710 68,761
84.15%
 6,526
7.99%
 4,135
5.06%
 235
0.29%
 481
0.59%
 857
1.05%
 17
0.02%
 28
0.03%
 228
0.28%
 442
0.54%
Basarabeasca 28,978 20,218
69.77%
 1,948
6.72%
 2,568
8.86%
 2,220
7.66%
 1,544
5.33%
 70
0.24%
 13
0.04%
 5
0.02%
 216
0.75%
 176
0.61%
Briceni 78,027 55,123
70.65%
 19,939
25.55%
 2,061
2.64%
 59
0.08%
 45
0.06%
 314
0.40%
 84
0.11%
 10
0.01%
 187
0.24%
 205
0.26%
Cahul 119,231 91,001
76.32%
 7,842
6.58%
 7,702
6.46%
 3,665
3.07%
 5,816
4.88%
 2,095
1.76%
 40
0.03%
 29
0.02%
 238
0.20%
 803
0.67%
Cantemir 60,001 52,986
88.31%
 969
1.61%
 710
1.18%
 519
0.86%
 3,736
6.23%
 910
1.52%
 –
0%
 11
0.02%
 43
0.07%
 117
0.19%
Călăraşi 75,075 69,190
92.16%
 2,799
3.73%
 947
1.26%
 54
0.07%
 47
0.06%
 1,490
1.98%
 21
0.03%
 11
0.01%
 378
0.50%
 138
0.18%
Căuşeni 90,612 79,432
87.66%
 2,469
2.72%
 3,839
4.24%
 653
0.72%
 1,108
1.22%
 2,844
3.14%
 8
0.01%
 9
0.01%
 30
0.03%
 220
0.24%
Cimişlia 60,925 52,972
86.95%
 3,376
5.54%
 2,371
3.89%
 278
0.46%
 1,341
2.20%
 331
0.54%
 7
0.01%
 10
0.02%
 95
0.16%
 144
0.24%
Criuleni 72,254 67,046
92.79%
 2,692
3.73%
 1,008
1.40%
 49
0.07%
 72
0.10%
 1,170
1.62%
 6
0.01%
 6
0.01%
 36
0.05%
 169
0.23%
Donduşeni 46,442 37,302
80.32%
 5,893
12.69%
 2,714
5.84%
 31
0.07%
 36
0.08%
 247
0.53%
 12
0.03%
 15
0.03%
 68
0.15%
 124
0.27%
Drochia 87,092 74,369
85.39%
 9,849
11.31%
 1,641
1.88%
 44
0.05%
 33
0.04%
 675
0.78%
 14
0.02%
 10
0.01%
 272
0.31%
 185
0.21%
Dubăsari 34,015 32,652
95.99%
 521
1.53%
 611
1.80%
 45
0.13%
 16
0.05%
 102
0.30%
 9
0.03%
 2
0.01%
 –
0%
 57
0.17%
Edineţ 81,390 58,749
72.18%
 16,084
19.76%
 5,084
6.25%
 143
0.18%
 91
0.11%
 446
0.55%
 23
0.03%
 26
0.03%
 499
0.61%
 245
0.30%
Făleşti 90,320 75,863
83.99%
 10,711
11.86%
 3,064
3.39%
 39
0.04%
 32
0.04%
 306
0.34%
 6
0.01%
 20
0.02%
 57
0.06%
 222
0.25%
Floreşti 89,389 75,797
84.79%
 8,023
8.98%
 4,633
5.18%
 45
0.05%
 51
0.06%
 433
0.48%
 19
0.02%
 29
0.03%
 120
0.13%
 239
0.27%
Glodeni 60,975 46,317
75.96%
 11,918
19.55%
 1,693
2.78%
 32
0.05%
 44
0.07%
 329
0.54%
 8
0.01%
 174
0.29%
 303
0.50%
 157
0.26%
Hînceşti 119,762 108,189
90.34%
 6,218
5.19%
 1,463
1.22%
 99
0.08%
 212
0.18%
 3,046
2.54%
 19
0.02%
 16
0.01%
 305
0.25%
 195
0.16%
Ialoveni 97,704 91,379
93.53%
 1,117
1.14%
 1,112
1.14%
 95
0.10%
 935
0.96%
 2,608
2.67%
 5
0.01%
 12
0.01%
 197
0.20%
 244
0.25%
Leova 51,056 43,673
85.54%
 1,245
2.44%
 1,167
2.29%
 432
0.85%
 3,804
7.45%
 471
0.92%
 8
0.02%
 9
0.02%
 105
0.21%
 142
0.28%
Nisporeni 64,924 60,774
93.61%
 223
0.34%
 339
0.52%
 17
0.03%
 28
0.04%
 2,329
3.59%
 1
<0.01%
 4
0.01%
 1,147
1.77%
 62
0.10%
Ocniţa 56,510 32,491
57.50%
 17,351
30.70%
 2,764
4.89%
 79
0.14%
 60
0.11%
 104
0.18%
 14
0.02%
 43
0.08%
 3,417
6.05%
 187
0.33%
Orhei 116,271 100,469
86.41%
 4,520
3.89%
 2,216
1.91%
 113
0.10%
 90
0.08%
 8,253
7.10%
 46
0.04%
 23
0.02%
 221
0.19%
 320
0.28%
Rezina 48,105 44,721
92.97%
 1,691
3.52%
 1,093
2.27%
 34
0.07%
 40
0.08%
 375
0.78%
 30
0.06%
 5
0.01%
 13
0.03%
 103
0.21%
Rîşcani 69,454 50,391
72.55%
 15,632
22.51%
 1,726
2.49%
 60
0.09%
 61
0.09%
 777
1.12%
 8
0.01%
 42
0.06%
 602
0.87%
 155
0.22%
Sîngerei 87,153 74,139
85.07%
 8,456
9.70%
 3,029
3.48%
 47
0.05%
 43
0.05%
 1,162
1.33%
 10
0.01%
 48
0.06%
 56
0.06%
 163
0.19%
Soroca 94,986 84,728
89.20%
 4,752
5%
 2,601
2.74%
 53
0.06%
 48
0.05%
 931
0.98%
 65
0.07%
 17
0.02%
 1,564
1.65%
 227
0.24%
Străşeni 88,900 83,368
93.78%
 985
1.11%
 1,576
1.77%
 70
0.08%
 109
0.12%
 2,542
2.86%
 13
0.01%
 14
0.02%
 24
0.03%
 199
0.22%
Şoldăneşti 42,227 40,354
95.56%
 1,055
2.50%
 376
0.89%
 9
0.02%
 14
0.03%
 299
0.71%
 2
<0.01%
 -
0%
 74
0.18%
 44
0.10%
Ştefan Vodă 70,594 65,318
92.53%
 2,182
3.09%
 1,918
2.72%
 64
0.09%
 145
0.21%
 562
0.80%
 1
<0.01%
 4
0.01%
 219
0.31%
 181
0.26%
Taraclia 43,154 5,980
13.86%
 2,646
6.13%
 2,139
4.96%
 3,587
8.31%
 28,293
65.56%
 29
0.07%
 2
<0.01%
 9
0.02%
 218
0.51%
 251
0.58%
Teleneşti 70,126 67,309
95.98%
 879
1.25%
 537
0.77%
 16
0.02%
 16
0.02%
 1,262
1.80%
 4
0.01%
 1
<0.01%
 6
0.01%
 96
0.14%
Ungheni 110,545 97,805
88.48%
 7,743
7%
 2,766
2.50%
 90
0.08%
 93
0.08%
 1,627
1.47%
 16
0.01%
 17
0.02%
 68
0.06%
 320
0.29%
Subtotal controlled by central government 3,383,332 2,564,850
75.80%
 282,406
8.35%
 201,218
5.95%
 147,500
4.36%
 65,662
1.94%
 73,276
2.16%
 3,608
0.11%
 2,383
0.07%
 12,271
0.36%
 30,157
0.89%

1There is an ongoing controversy over whether Moldovans are a subset of Romanians, or a distinct ethnic group. At the 2004 Moldovan Census, citizens could declare only one nationality. Consequently, one could not declare oneself both Moldovan and Romanian.

Transnistrian-controlled areas

Population Mold. Russians Ukrainians Gagauzes Bulg. Gyps. Jews Poles Belor. Germ. Armen. others,
non-decl.
Tiraspol 158,069  23,790

15.05%

  65,928

41.71%

  52,278

33.07%

  1,988

1.26%

  2,450

1.55%

  116

0.07%

  573

0.36%

  324

0.20%

  1,712

1.08%

  701

0.44%

  360

0.23%

  7,849
4.97%
Camenca District 27,284 13,048

47.82%

 1,880

6.89%

 11,610

42.55%

 43

0.16%

 59

0.22%

 9

0.03%

 10

0.04%

 447

1.64%

 85

0.31%

 26

0.10%

 16

0.06%

 51

0.19%

Rîbnița District 82,699 24,729

29.90%

 14,237

17.22%

 37,554

45.41%

 149

0.18%

 309

0.37%

 51

0.06%

 177

0.21%

 528

0.64%

 412

0.50%

 150

0.18%

 81

0.10%

 4,322

5.23%

Dubăsari District 36,734 18,080

49.22%

 7,125

19.40%

 10,594

28.84%

 92

0.25%

 134

0.36%

 46

0.13%

 46

0.13%

 53

0.14%

 185

0.50%

 63

0.17%

 126

0.34%

 190

0.52%

Grigoriopol District 48,000 31,118

64.83%

 7,332

15.28%

 8,333

17.36%

 123

0.26%

 240

0.50%

 13

0.03%

 26

0.05%

 100

0.21%

 187

0.39%

 327

0.68%

 62

0.13%

 139

0.29%

Slobozia District 86,742 36,651

42.25%

 20,636

23.79%

 19,872

22.91%

 512

0.59%

 7,323

8.44%

 133

0.15%

 35

0.04%

 137

0.16%

 475

0.55%

 496

0.57%

 140

0.16

 332

0.38%

Subtotal Transnistria 439,528 147,416

33.54%

 117,138

26.65%

 140,241

31.91%

 2,907

0.66%

 10,515

2.39%

 368

 0.08%

 867

 0.20%

 1,589

 0.36%

 3,056

0.70%

 1,763

 0.40%

 785

 0.18%

 12,883

2.93%

Bender (w/o Protegailovca) 97,027 24,374

25.12%

 41,949

43.23%

 17,348

17.88%

 1,066

1.10%

 3,001

3.09%

 132

0.14%

 383

0.39%

 190

0.21%

 713

0.73%

 258

0.27%

 173

0.18%

 7,440

7.67%

Proteagailovca 3,142 756–761

24.12%

 1,482

47.17%

 658

20.94%

 25

0.80%

 163

5.19%

 0–5

0.06%

 2

0.06%

 0–12

0.19%

 19

0.60%

 6

0.19%

 0–16

0.25%

 0–31

0.48%

Gîsca 4,841 819–824

16.98%

 2,956

61.06%

 719

14.85%

 91

1.88%

 168

3.47%

 0–5

0.04%

 7

0.14%

 0–12

0.12%

 8

0.17%

 22

0.45%

 0–16

0.17%

 13–44

0.60%

Chiţcani (incl. Mereneşti and Zahorna) ~9,000 ~3,100

~35%

 ~4,800

~53%

 ~900

~10%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 ~200

~2%

Cremenciug 1,094 465

42.50%

 353

32.27%

 203

18.56%

 7

0.64%

 11

1.01%

 2

0.18%

 -

-

 -

-

 15

1.37%

 22

2.01%

 6

0.55%

 10

0.91%

Roghi 715[10] ~700

~95%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 N/A

90%

 ~15

~5%

Subotal other localities 115,819 30,219

26.09%

 51,540

44.50%

 19,828

17.12%

 1,189

1.03%

 3,343

2.89%

 139

0.12%

 392

0.34%

 202

0.17%

 755

0.65%

 308

0.27%

 195

0.17%

 7,709

6.66%

Total Tiraspol-controlled areas 555,347 177,635

31.99%

 168,678

30.37%

 160,069

28.82%

 4,096

0.74%

 13,858

2.50%

 507

0.09%

 1,259

0.23%

 1,791

0.32%

 3,811

0.69%

 2,071

0.37%

 980

0.18%

 20,592

3.71%

Notes:

  • The exact numbers in the above table are taken from the data published by the Transnistrian breakaway authorities after the 2004 Census in Transnistria, except the population of Roghi, which was taken from website of the Dubăsari District of Transnistria.
  • The number of inhabitants of Slobozia District + that of the commune Chiţcani was given by Transnisrian authorities as 95,742. Other sources indicate ~9,000 for Chiţcani. In this table it is assumed there are 9,000 inhabitantts in Chiţcani, and 86,742 in Slobozia District. Should the exact data of the census for Chiţcani be available, the entries in the lines of Slobozia District and of Chiţcani should be corrected accordingly.
  • Transnistrian authorities have published the ethnic composition for the combined population of the Dubăsari District and the village of Roghi in Molovata Nouă commune. Other sources indicate that the latter is almost entirely Moldovan. In this table it is assumed that of the 715 inhabitants of this village, 700 are Moldovan and 15 are others. Should the exact ethnicity data of the census for Roghi be available, the entries for ethnicities in the lines of Dubăsari District and of Roghi should be corrected accordingly.
  • Percentages are calculated from the absolute numbers

Languages

Main article: Languages of Moldova

Romanian is the official language of Moldova. However, many speakers use the term Moldovan to describe the language they speak, despite the fact that its literary standard is virtually identical to Romanian.

Native language

Currently, 2,588,355 people or 76.51% of the inhabitants of right bank Moldova (proper) have Moldovan/Romanian as native language, of which 2,029,847 (60.00%) declared it Moldovan and 558,508 (16.51%) declared it Romanian. 380,796 people or 11.26% have Russian as native language, 186,394 or 5.51% – Ukrainian, 137,774 or 4.07% – Gagauz, 54,401 or 1.61% – Bulgarian, 21,504 or 0.63% – another language, and 14,108 or 0.41% did not declare one.

First language in daily use

According to the 2004 census, 2,543,354 people or 75.17% of the inhabitants of Moldova (proper) have Moldovan/Romanian as first language, of which 1,988,540 (58.77%) declared it Moldovan and 554,814 (16.40%) declared it Romanian. 540,990 people or 15.99% have Russian as first language, 130,114 or 3.85% – Ukrainian, 104,890 or 3.10% – Gagauz, 38,565 or 1.14% – Bulgarian, 11,318 or 0.34% – another language, and 14,101 or 0.41% did not declare one.

Ethnic group \ First language Moldovan Romanian Russian Ukrainian Gagauzian Bulgarian other language did non declare Total
Moldovans 1,949,318 475,126 128,372 9,170 799 1,113 951 - 2,564,849
Romanians 1,597 69,936 1,537 81 5 4 116 - 73,276
Russians 8,852 2,805 187,526 1,224 329 344 138 – 201,218
Ukrainians 17,491 4,158 141,206 118,699 427 294 131 – 282,406
Gagauzians 2,756 609 40,445 413 102,395 821 61 – 147,500
Bulgarians 4,652 1,046 23,259 188 673 35,808 36 – 65,662
other ethnic groups 3,828 1,133 18,610 339 262 181 9,856 192 34,401
did non declare 46 1 35 – – – 29 13,909 14,020
Total by language of first use 1,988,540
58.77% 		 554,814
16.4% 		 540,990
15.99% 		 130,114
3.85% 		 104,890
3.10% 		 38,565
1.14% 		 11,318
0.34% 		 14,101
0.41% 		 3,383,332
100% 

Usage of own language by the ethnic groups of Moldova

ethnic group own language Moldovan and Romanian Russian
Moldovans 94.52% – 5%
Romanians 97.62% – 2.1%
Russians 93.20% 5.79% –
Ukrainians 42.03% 7.66% 50.00%
Gagauzians 69.42% 2.28% 27.42%
Bulgarians 54.53% 8.68% 35.42%
others up to 28.65% 14.42% 54.10%

Urban areas

ethnic group own language Moldovan and Romanian Russian
Moldovans 86.71% – 13.07%
Romanians 96.88% – 2.85%
Russians 95.85% 3.82% –
Ukrainians 13.06% 6.56% 80.19%
Gagauzians 40.10% 2.19% 57.23%
Bulgarians 36.81% 7.93% 54.45%
others up to 28.11% 8.35% 62.05%

Rural areas

ethnic group own language Moldovan and Romanian Russian
Moldovans 98.24% – 1.17%
Romanians 98.76% – 0.94%
Russians 80.52% 15.25% –
Ukrainians 72.99% 8.85% 17.74%
Gagauzians 86.16% 2.33% 10.40%
Bulgarians 68.95% 9.29% 19.95%
others up to 30.34% 33.39% 29.25%

Soviet era data

Ethnic map of Moldova (1989 data)

In the Soviet census of 1989 members of most of the ethnic groups in Moldavian SSR claimed the language of their ethnicity as their mother tongue: Moldovans (95%), Ukrainians (62%), Russians (99%), Gagauz (91%), Bulgarians (79%), and Gipsies (82%). The exceptions were Jews (26% citing Yiddish), Belarusians (43%), Germans (31%), and Poles (10%).

In the Soviet census of 1989, 62% of the total population claimed Moldovan as their native language. Only 4% of the entire population claimed Moldovan as a second language.

In 1979, Russian was claimed as a native language by a large proportion of Jews (66%) and Belarusians (62%), and by a significant proportion of Ukrainians (30%). Proportions of other ethnicities naming Russian as a native language ranged from 17% of Bulgarians to 3% of Moldovans (Russian was more spoken by urban Moldovans than by rural Moldovans). Russian was claimed as a second language by a sizeable proportion of all ethnicities: Moldovans (46%), Ukrainians (43%), Gagauz (68%), Jews (30%), Bulgarians (67%), Belarusians (34%), Germans (53%), Roma (36%), and Poles (24%).

Religion

Main article: Religion in Moldova

According to the 2004 census, the population of Moldova has the following religious composition:

Religion Adherents % of total
Eastern Orthodox Christians 3,158,015 93.3%

Newer Protestant faiths

Baptists
Seventh-day Adventists
Pentecostal
Christians of Evangelical Faith a


32,754    
13,503    
9,179    
5,075    

1.79%
0.97%    
0.40%    
0.27%    
0.15%    

Traditional Protestant

Confessional Evangelicals
Reformed
Evangelical Synod-Presbyterians


1,429    
1,190    
3,596    

0.19%
0.04%    
0.04%    
0.11%    

Old-Rite Christians b 5,094 0.15%
Roman Catholics 4,645 0.14%
Other religions 29,813 0.88%
Non-religious 33,207 0.98%
Atheists 12,724 0.38%

Notes: 75,727 (2.24% of population) did not answer that question.
a Known as Creştini după Evanghelie, Pentecostal group.
b Traditionally Orthodox Lipovans.

History

In 1940–1941, and 1944–1991, the Soviet government strictly limited the activities of the Orthodox Church (and all religions) and at times sought to exploit it, with the ultimate goal of abolishing it and all religious activity altogether. Most Orthodox churches and monasteries in Moldova were demolished or converted to other uses, such as administrative buildings or warehouses, and clergy were sometimes punished for leading services. Still, many believers continued to practice their faith.

People in the independent Moldova have much greater religious freedom than they did in Soviet times. Legislation passed in 1992 guarantees religious freedom, but requires all religious groups to be officially recognized by the government.

Orthodox Christians

In 1991, Moldova had 853 Orthodox churches and eleven Orthodox monasteries (four for monks and seven for nuns). In 1992 construction or restoration of 221 churches was underway, but clergy remained in short supply. As of 2004, Christian Orthodox constitute the vast majority of the population in all districts of Moldova.

In the interwar period, the vast majority of ethnic Moldovans belonged to the Romanian Orthodox Church (Bucharest Patriarchate), but today both Romanian and Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) have jurisdiction in Moldova, with the latter having more parishes. According to the local needs, liturgy is performed in Romanian, Russian, and Turkic (Gagauz). After the revival of religious activity in the last 20 years, a minority of the clergy and the faithful wanted to return to the Bucharest Patriarchate (Metropolis of Bessarabia). Because higher-level church authorities were unable to resolve the matter, Moldova now has two episcopates, one for each patriarchate. After the Soviet occupation in 1940, the Metropolis was downgraded to a Bishopric. In late 1992, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia issued a decree upgrading its eparchy of Chişinău and Moldova to a Metropolis.

Greek Catholics

Moldova also has a Greek Catholic minority, mainly among ethnic Ukrainians, although the Soviet government declared the Greek Catholic Churches illegal in 1946 and forcibly united them with the Russian Orthodox Church. However, the Greek Catholic Churches had survived underground until the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Roman Ctholics

Half of Moldova's Roman Catholics are in Chişinău, and 1/5 in Bălţi.

Old Believers

In addition, the Old Russian Orthodox Church (Old Believers) had fourteen churches and one monastery in Moldova in 1991.

Half of Moldova's Old Believers are in Floreşti district, and 1/5 in Sîngerei district.

Judaism

Despite the Soviet government's suppression and harassment, Moldova's practicing Jews managed to retain their religious identity. About a dozen Jewish newspapers were started in the early 1990s, and religious leaders opened a synagogue in Chişinău; there were six Jewish communities of worship throughout the country. In addition, Moldova's government created the Department of Jewish Studies at Chişinău State University, mandated the opening of a Jewish high school in Chişinău, and introduced classes in Judaism in high schools in several cities. The government also provides financial support to the Society for Jewish Culture.

Protestants

There are around 65,000 Protestants of all sects in Moldova today. There are more than 1,000 Baptists in the cities of Chişinău and Bălţi, in Cahul, Făleşti, Hînceşti, Sîngerei, Ştefan Vodă, and Ungheni districts, and in Găgăuzia. There are more than 1,000 Seventh-day Adventists in Cahul, Hînceşti and Sîngerei districts, and in Găgăuzia, there are more than 1,000 Penticostals in Chişinău and in Briceni district. There are more than 1,000 members of Brethren assemblies only in Chişinău. There are more than 1,000 Evangelical Synod-Presbyterians only in Chişinău.

Others

Other religious denominations in Moldova include:

Analysis

Moldova's territory is generally ethnically homogeneous. Moldovans form majorities in 33 of the 37 first-tier territorial units (including over 90% in 15 districts, between 80% and 90% in 9 districts, between 70% and 80% in 7 administrative units, and between 50% and 60% in two units), and a 33.5% plurality in Transnistria, where there are 32% Ukrainians and 27% Russians. Gagauzians represent an 82% majority in the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia, with only 5% Moldovans. Bulgarians represent a 66% majority in the Taraclia district, with 14% Moldovans. Finally, Russians represent a 43% plurality in the municipality of Bender, with 25% Moldovans. Ukrainians represent between 20% and 30% minorities in four units with Moldovan majority: Bălţi, Briceni, Ocniţa, and Rîşcani, and one with Moldovan plurality (Transnistria). Elsewhere, the ethnic populations are under 20% district-wise (generally much less). The Romanians are concentrated in the municipality of Chişinău, home to 44% of the Romanians in Moldova, although they represent only 4.5% of the population of the municipality.

Although before 1991 Moldova was the most densely populated of the former Soviet socialist republics (129 inhabitants per square kilometer in 1990, compared with 13 inhabitants per square kilometer for the Soviet Union as a whole), it had and has only few large cities.

The largest and most important of these is Chişinău, the country's capital and its most important industrial center, with a population of 712,218 in 2004. The city's population is 67.62% Moldovan, 13.92% Russian, 8.28% Ukrainian, 4.5% Romanians and 5.69% others (Bulganians, Gagauzians, Jews, Poles, Gypsies, etc.). The proportion of Russophones living in Moldova decreased in the years immediately after 1989 because of the emigration to Russia, after an immigration from Russia had taken place during the Soviet period.

The second largest city in the country, Tiraspol, had a population of 184,000 in 1990. Located in Transnistria, with a population of 158,069 in 2004, it is the capital of the breakaway republic. In contrast to Chişinǎu, Tiraspol has only some 15% Moldovans, with Russians comprising 41.7%, and Ukrainians 33%. Due to deportations by the breakaway authorities, and emigration during and after the 1992 War of Transnistria, it has been reported that the Moldovan and Romanian populations have gone down by up to 10,000 since 1990.

Other important cities include Bălţi, with a population of 162,000 in 1990, and 127,561 in 2004, and Bender, with a population of 132,000 in 1990 and 100,169 in 2004. Other major cities include Rîbniţa, population 53,648, Cahul, population 35,488, Ungheni, population 32,530, Soroca, population 28,362, and Orhei, population 25,641.

Traditionally a predominantly rural country, Moldova gradually began changing its character in the 20th century. As urban areas became the sites of new industrial and intellectual jobs and amenities such as hospitals, the population of cities and towns grew. The Soviets kept the population of Moldova under control with the famous Soviet policy of propiska, which forbade a person to live in another locality than the one written in his or her identity documents without approval of Soviet authorities. The new residents of Moldova's cities during the Soviet era were not only Moldovans, who had moved from the nearby rural areas, but also many Russians and Ukrainians who had been recruited to fill positions in industry and government, moving in from other parts of the Soviet Union.

Many people emigrated to Romania in 1940 (estimated at 200,000) and 1944 (estimated at more than 200,000), and others had lost their lives during the war (over 100,000 as Soviet soldiers in 1944–1945, and up to 50,000 as Romanian soldiers before 1944, including as Soviet POWs in 1944–1945), in Stalinist persecutions (over 8,000 executed, ca. 50,000 sent to Gulag, over 200,000 deported), and during the 1946–1947 famine (216,000 deceased). During the 1940s, thousands of young people were recruited to work in large-scale Soviet construction projects. Then, as a consequence of industrial growth after 1956, there was significant immigration to the Moldavian SSR by representatives of other ethnic groups, especially Russians and Ukrainians.

At the time of the 1989 census, Moldova's total population was 4,335,400. The largest ethnic group, Moldovans, numbered 2,795,000, accounting for 64.5% of the population. The other major ethnicities were Ukrainians, about 600,000 (14%); Russians, about 562,000 (13.0%); Gagauz, about 153,000 (4%); Bulgarians, about 88,000 (2%); and Jews, about 66,000 (2.0%). There were also smaller but appreciable numbers of Poles and Roma in the population. In Transnistria ethnic Moldovans accounted for 40% of the population in 1989, followed by Ukrainians (28%), and Russians (25%). In the early 1990s, there was significant emigration from the republic, primarily from urban areas and mainly by non-Moldovan minorities. Moldovans made up a sizable proportion of the urban population in 1989 (about half the population of Chişinǎu and other cities), as well as a large proportion of the rural population (over 85%), but only 23% of the ethnic Moldovans lived in the republic's ten largest cities, with the rest of the community being predominantly rural.

Unlike Moldovans, Russians tend to be urban dwellers in Moldova; more than 72% of them lived in the ten largest cities in 1989. Many of them came to the Moldova after it was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. Some of them came to alleviate the postwar shortage of qualified labor in the Moldavian SSR, which was created by the rapid industrialization, but also by the loss of human life during the war, deportations, and famine. Ethnic Russians settled mainly in Chişinǎu, Bălţi, Bender, and in the cities of the eastern bank of the Dniester, such as Tiraspol, Rîbniţa, and Dubăsari. Only about 25% of Moldova's Russians lived in Transnistria in 1990, as many as in Chişinǎu alone.

In 1990, Moldova's divorce rate of 3.0 divorces per 1,000 population had risen from the 1987 rate of 2.7 divorces per 1,000 population. The usual stresses of marriage were exacerbated by a society in which women were expected to perform most of the housework in addition to their work outside the home. Compounding this were crowded housing conditions (with their resulting lack of privacy) and the growing economic crisis.

See also

References

Inline:

  1. ↑ 2004 Moldovan census
  2. ↑ (English) The World Factbook, CIA (2008)
  3. ↑ (English) UN (2001/2002)
  4. ↑ (English) UN (2000)
  5. ↑ Statistical Yearbooks of the Russian Empire
  6. ↑ http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm#2001 United nations. Demographic Yearbooks
  7. ↑ Statistica Moldovei
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ http://www.dhsprogram.com/
  10. ↑ Webpage of Dubăsari District of Transnistria

General:

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the CIA World Factbook.

External links

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