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	Romanian
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	89,389	17,086	%	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	280,640^1	63.85%	10	158,888^1	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	11,473^1	2	36,527^1	14
Slobozia District	86,742	23,477^2	4	63,265^2	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	83 306	48 480	34 826	40.9	23.8	17.1
1901	2 073	87 797	46 296	41 501	42.3	22.3	20.0
1902	2 113	96 641	55 423	41 218	45.7	26.2	19.5
1903	2 154	94 936	53 236	41 700	44.1	24.7	19.4
1904	2 194	99 265	55 436	43 829	45.3	25.3	20.0
1905	2 237	80 085	62 387	17 698	35.8	27.9	7.9
1906	2 267	95 090	55 638	39 452	41.9	24.5	17.4
1907	2 303	107 195	59 964	47 231	46.5	26.0	20.5
1908	2 345	96 088	54 772	41 316	41.0	23.4	17.6
1909	2 395	105 681	62 498	43 183	44.1	26.1	18.0
1910	2 441	101 544	77 356	24 188	41.6	31.7	9.9
1911	2 488	97 864	74 093	23 771	39.3	29.8	9.6
1912	2 540	102 654	77 431	25 223	40.4	30.5	9.9
1913	2 602	102 397	77 745	24 652	39.4	29.9	9.5
1914	2 625	100 871	79 202	21 669	38.4	30.2	8.3

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)	42 795	78 797	-36 002	21.1	38.9	-17.8
1946	2 254 (e)	64 462	64 371	91	28.6	28.5	0.1
1947	2 188 (e)	57 555	165 049	-107 494	26.3	75.5	-49.2
1948	2 126 (e)	73 123	35 846	37 277	34.4	16.9	17.5
1949	2 236 (e)	94 180	30 407	63 773	42.1	13.6	28.5
1950	2 341	91 137	26 363	64 774	38.9	11.3	27.7
1951	2 381	91 645	25 957	65 688	38.5	10.9	27.6
1952	2 432	80 918	30 968	49 950	33.3	12.7	20.5
1953	2 491	79 041	23 257	55 784	31.7	9.3	22.4
1954	2 557	83 607	24 077	59 530	32.7	9.4	23.3
1955	2 627	79 772	21 864	57 908	30.4	8.3	22.0
1956	2 701	81 372	20 109	61 263	30.1	7.4	22.7
1957	2 777	85 743	21 114	64 629	30.9	7.6	23.3
1958	2 853	87 502	18 741	68 761	30.7	6.6	24.1	3.54
1959	2 929	92 176	21 467	70 709	31.5	7.3	24.1	3.64
1960	3 003	87 910	19 290	68 620	29.3	6.4	22.9	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	45 583	42 957	2 626	12.5	11.8	0.7	1.73	1.36	2.09
1998	3 652	41 332	39 922	1 410	11.3	10.9	0.4	1.67	1.32	2.03
1999	3 647	38 501	41 315	-2 814	10.6	11.3	-0.8	1.61	1.26	1.97
2000	3 640	36 939	41 224	-4 285	10.2	11.3	-1.2	1.57	1.23	1.95
2001	3 631	36 448	40 075	-3 627	10.0	11.0	-1.0	1.48	1.21	1.92
2002	3 623	35 705	41 852	-6 147	9.9	11.6	-1.7	1.41	1.13	1.89
2003	3 613	36 471	43 079	-6 608	10.1	11.9	-1.8	1.47	1.18	1.88
2004	3 604	38 272	41 668	-3 396	10.6	11.6	-0.9	1.50	1.19	1.91
2005	3 595	37 695	44 689	-6 994	10.5	12.4	-1.9	1.219	0,94	1.301
2006	3 586	37 587	43 137	-5 550	10.5	12.0	-1.5	1.228	1.025	1.387
2007	3 577	37 973	43 050	-5 077	10.6	12.0	-1.4	1.256	0.973	1.543
2008	3 570	39 018	41 948	-2 930	10.9	11.7	-0.8	1.277	1.018	1.533
2009	3 566	40 809	42 122	-1 313	11.4	11.8	-0.4	1.326	1.048	1.582
2010	3 563	40 474	43 631	-3 157	11.4	12.3	-0.9	1.309	1.055	1.531
2011	3 560	39 182	39 249	-67	11.0	11.0	-0.0	1.266	1.009	1.482
2012	3 560	39 234	39 560	-326	11.0	11.1	-0.1	1.279	1.030	1.483
2013	3 559	37 859	38 060	-201	10.6	10.7	-0.1	1.238	0.975	1.449
2014	3 555	38 616	39 494	-878	10.9	11.1	-0.2	1.279	0.996	1.499

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	5 703	8 181	-2 478	8.7	12.5	-3.8
1998	647	5 423	7 769	-2 346	8.4	12.0	-3.6
1999	640	5 010	7 589	-2 579	7.8	11.9	-4.0
2000	656	5 010	7 770	-2 760	7.6	11.8	-4.2
2001	647	4 530	7 770	-3 240	7.0	12.0	-5.0
2002	638	4 660	8 100	-3 440	7.3	12.7	-5.4
2003	629	4 460	8 170	-3 710	7.1	13.0	-5.9
2004	558	4 840	8 031	-3 191	8.7	14.4	-5.7
2005	551	4 664	8 186	-3 522	8.5	14.8	-6.4
2006	544	4 840	8 320	-3 480	8.9	15.3	-6.4
2007	537	4 893	8 132	-3 239	9.1	15.1	-6.0
2008	531	5 290	7 967	-2 677	10.0	15.0	-5.0
2009	525	5 189	7 454	-2 265	9.9	14.2	-4.3
2010	520	5 189	7 709	-2 520	10.0	14.8	-4.8
2011	516	4 999	7 289	-2 290	9.7	14.1	-4.4
2012	511	5 173	7 280	-2 107	10.1	14.2	-4.1
2013	507	4 825	6 867	-2 042	9.5	13.5	-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 1959^1		census 1970^2		census 1979^3		census 1989^4		census 2004^5		census 2014^5
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Moldovans^8	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 Romanians	2,638,125 100%	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	Moldovans^1	Ukrainians	Russians	Gagauzians	Bulgarians	Romanians^1	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

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

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:

• Armenian Apostolic Church
• Molokans (a Russian Orthodox sect).

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

• Aging of Europe

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
9. http://www.dhsprogram.com/
10. Webpage of Dubăsari District of Transnistria

General:

• Moldovan Census results
• Official population data
• 2004 Transnistrian Census results (Russian)

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

External links

• Arianna Montanari, Rumanian national identity in the Republic of Moldova
• Disaster by Depopulation, a Red Cross report about impact of demographic changes on family structure and child care