CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Moldova


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!| Background:
 * Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 472 sq km land: 33,371 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 10.79% other: 33.91% (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Environment - international agreements: signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants !| Geography - note:
 * Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
 * 47 00 N, 29 00 E
 * Europe
 * total: 33,843 sq km
 * slightly larger than Maryland
 * total: 1,389 km
 * 0 km (landlocked)
 * none (landlocked)
 * moderate winters, warm summers
 * rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
 * lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
 * lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
 * arable land: 55.3%
 * 3,070 sq km (1998 est.)
 * landslides (57 cases in 1998)
 * heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
 * party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
 * landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
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!| Population: !| Age structure: 15-64 years: 69.1% (male 1,478,220; female 1,595,695) 65 years and over: 10.3% (male 169,026; female 287,384) (2004 est.) !| Median age: male: 29.9 years female: 34.3 years (2004 est.) !| Population growth rate: !| Birth rate: !| Death rate: !| Net migration rate: !| Sex ratio: under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.) !| Infant mortality rate: female: 37.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 43.96 deaths/1,000 live births !| Life expectancy at birth: male: 60.88 years female: 69.39 years (2004 est.) !| Total fertility rate: !| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: !| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: !| HIV/AIDS - deaths: !| Nationality: adjective: Moldovan !| Ethnic groups: note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region !| Religions: !| Languages: !| Literacy: total population: 99.1% male: 99.6% female: 98.7% (2003 est.)
 * 4,446,455 (July 2004 est.)
 * 0-14 years: 20.6% (male 466,485; female 449,645)
 * total: 32.1 years
 * 0.18% (2004 est.)
 * 14.81 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 12.76 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * -0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
 * total: 41 deaths/1,000 live births
 * total population: 65.03 years
 * 1.78 children born/woman (2004 est.)
 * 0.2% (2001 est.)
 * 5,500 (2001 est.)
 * less than 300 (2001 est.)
 * noun: Moldovan(s)
 * Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.)
 * Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
 * Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
 * definition: age 15 and over can read and write
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic local short form: none !| Government type: !| Capital: !| Administrative divisions: : counties: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni : municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau : territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului : autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia !| Independence: !| National holiday: !| Constitution: !| Legal system: !| Suffrage: !| Executive branch: elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 4 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2005); note - presidential elections were scheduled for December 2000, but in July 2000, Parliament canceled direct, popular elections; Parliament's failure to choose a new president in December 2000 led to early parliamentary elections in February 2001; prime minister designated by the president, upon consultation with Parliament; note - within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 15 April 2001, cabinet received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001 election results: Vladimir VORONIN elected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 71, Dumitru BRAGHIS 15, Valerian CRISTEA 3; Vasile TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 75 of 101 cabinet: selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April 2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Vasile IOVV (since 29 January 2002) !| Legislative branch: elections: last held 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 50.1%, Braghis Alliance (now Our Moldova Alliance) 13.4%, PPCD 8.2%, other parties 28.3%; seats by party - PCRM 71, Braghis Alliance (now Our Moldova Alliance) 19, PPCD 11 !| Judicial branch: !| Political parties and leaders: !| Political pressure groups and leaders: !| International organization participation: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130 chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 !| Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [373] (22) 408-300 FAX: [373] (22) 23-30-44 !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
 * republic
 * Chisinau
 * 32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
 * 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
 * Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
 * new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979
 * based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents
 * 18 years of age; universal
 * chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)
 * unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
 * Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)
 * Democratic Modova Bloc [Serafim URECHEANU] includes: Democratic Party [Dumitru DIACOV], Our Moldova Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS, Serafim URECHEANU], Social Liberal Party [Oleg SEREBRIAN]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Popular Christian Democratic Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]
 * NA
 * ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
 * chief of mission: Ambassador Mihail MANOLI
 * chief of mission: Ambassador Heather M. HODGES
 * same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
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!| Economy - overview: !| GDP: !| GDP - real growth rate: !| GDP - per capita: !| GDP - composition by sector: industry: 27% services: 52% (2003) !| Investment (gross fixed): !| Population below poverty line: !| Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%: 30.7% (1997) !| Distribution of family income - Gini index: !| Inflation rate (consumer prices): !| Labor force: !| Labor force - by occupation: !| Unemployment rate: !| Budget: expenditures: $443.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.) !| Public debt: !| Agriculture - products: !| Industries: !| Industrial production growth rate: !| Electricity - production: !| Electricity - consumption: !| Electricity - exports: !| Electricity - imports: !| Oil - production: !| Oil - consumption: !| Oil - exports: !| Oil - imports: !| Natural gas - production: !| Natural gas - consumption: !| Natural gas - exports: !| Natural gas - imports: !| Current account balance: !| Exports: !| Exports - commodities: !| Exports - partners: !| Imports: !| Imports - commodities: !| Imports - partners: !| Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: !| Debt - external: !| Economic aid - recipient: !| Currency: !| Currency code: !| Exchange rates: !| Fiscal year:
 * Moldova remains the poorest country in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almost all of its energy supplies from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The government entered into agreements with the World Bank and the IMF to promote growth and reduce poverty. The economy returned to positive growth, of 2.1% in 2000, 6.1% in 2001, 7.2% in 2002, and 6.3% in 2003. Further reforms will come slowly because of strong political forces backing government controls. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors.
 * purchasing power parity - $7.792 billion (2003 est.)
 * 6.3% (2003 est.)
 * purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.)
 * agriculture: 21%
 * 17.2% of GDP (2003)
 * 80% (2001 est.)
 * lowest 10%: 2.2%
 * 40.6 (1997)
 * 11.6% (2003 est.)
 * 1.383 million (2003)
 * agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998)
 * 8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002 est.)
 * revenues: $474.8 million
 * 88.4% of GDP (2003)
 * vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk
 * food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles
 * 17% (2003 est.)
 * 3.394 billion kWh (2001)
 * 3.216 billion kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 60 million kWh (2001)
 * 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * 24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * NA (2001)
 * NA (2001)
 * 0 cu m (2001 est.)
 * 2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * 0 cu m (2001 est.)
 * 2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * $-135 million (2003)
 * $790 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
 * foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
 * Russia 39%, Romania 11.4%, Italy 10.4%, Germany 7.1%, Ukraine 7.1%, Belarus 5.2%, US 4.3% (2003)
 * $1.34 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
 * mineral products and fuel 32%, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles (2000)
 * Ukraine 22%, Russia 13%, Germany 9.7%, Italy 8.3%, Romania 7% (2003)
 * $302.3 million (2003)
 * $1.515 billion (2003)
 * $100 million (2000)
 * Moldovan leu (MDL)
 * MDL
 * lei per US dollar - 13.9449 (2003), 13.5705 (2002), 12.8651 (2001), 12.4342 (2000), 10.5158 (1999)
 * calendar year
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!| Telephones - main lines in use: !| Telephones - mobile cellular: !| Telephone system: domestic: new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile cellular telephone service being introduced international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik !| Radio broadcast stations: !| Radios: !| Television broadcast stations: !| Televisions: !| Internet country code: !| Internet hosts: !| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): !| Internet users:
 * 706,900 (2002)
 * 338,200 (2002)
 * general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some effort to modernize is under way
 * AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)
 * 3.22 million (1997)
 * 1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)
 * 1.26 million (1997)
 * .md
 * 11,984 (2003)
 * 2 (1999)
 * 150,000 (2002)
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!| Railways: broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2003) !| Highways: paved: 11,012 km unpaved: 1,645 km (1999) !| Waterways: !| Pipelines: !| Ports and harbors: !| Merchant marine: foreign-owned: 2 Russia 1 registered in other countries: 4 by type: cargo 1 !| Airports: !| Airports - with paved runways: over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.) !| Airports - with unpaved runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 11 (2003 est.)
 * total: 1,138 km
 * total: 12,657 km
 * 424 km (2004)
 * gas 606 km (2004)
 * none
 * total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,636 GRT/1,088 DWT
 * 24 (2003 est.)
 * total: 6
 * total: 18
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!| Military branches: !| Military manpower - military age and obligation: !| Military manpower - availability: !| Military manpower - fit for military service: !| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: !| Military expenditures - dollar figure: !| Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
 * National Army: Ground Forces, Air Force
 * 18 years of age for compulsory military service; national service obligation - 12 months (2004)
 * males age 15-49: 1,186,818 (2004 est.)
 * males age 15-49: 942,071 (2004 est.)
 * males: 44,466 (2004 est.)
 * $9.5 million (FY03)
 * 0.4% (FY02)
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