Geography
Area: 33,843 sq. km. (13,000 sq. mi.); slightly larger than
Maryland.
Cities: Capital--Chisinau.
Terrain: Rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea.
Climate: Moderate winters, warm summers.
Time Zone: GMT+2
People
Nationality: Noun--Moldovan(s). Adjective--Moldovan.
Population (January 2006): 3.39 million, excluding the estimated
Transnistrian population of 580,000.
Population growth rate (2005): 0.5% (est.).
Ethnic groups (2004 census): Moldovan (83.7%), Ukrainian (6.6%),
Russian (1.7%), Gagauz (4.5%), Bulgarian (1.7%), Romanian (1.4%),
other (0.4%).
Main religions: Christian Orthodox (93.3%), Baptist (1%), Adventist,
Roman Catholic, Jewish.
Languages: Romanian (officially known as Moldovan), Russian,
Ukrainian, Gagauz.
Education: Literacy--96%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--12/1,000. Life expectancy--68.4
years.
Work force (1.3 million): Agriculture--41%; industry--12%;
other--47%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Constitution: Adopted July 28, 1994.
Independence: August 27, 1991 (from Soviet Union).
Branches: Executive--President (head of state), Prime
Minister (head of Government), Government (cabinet). Legislative--unicameral
Parliament. Judicial--Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: 32 counties (raions), 4 municipalities,
and one autonomous territorial unit.
Political parties: Communist Party, Christian Democratic People's
Party, Our Moldova Alliance, Democratic Party, Social Liberal Party,
Social-Democratic Party, and the Party for Social Democracy.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
GDP (2005): $2.9 billion ($2.6 billion in 2004; $2.0 billion in
2003).
GDP real growth rate (January-March 2006): 6.2% (7.1% in 2005; 7.4%
in 2004; 6.6% in 2003; 7.8% in 2002).
Per capita GDP (2005): $890 ($766 in 2004; $540 in 2003: $448 in
2002).
Natural resources: Lignite, phosphates, gypsum, arable land, and
limestone.
Agriculture: Products--vegetables, fruits, wine and spirits,
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, meat, milk, eggs, tobacco,
walnuts.
Industry: Types--processed foods and beverages, including
wine and refined sugar; processed fruit and vegetable products,
including vegetable oil; dairy and meat products; tobacco items;
metal processing and production of machinery; textiles and clothing,
shoes; furniture.
Trade (2005): Exports--$1.091 billion (of
which 50% go to countries outside the former Soviet Union):
foodstuffs, wine, textiles, clothing, footwear and machinery.
Major markets--Russia, Italy, Romania, Ukraine, Belarus,
Germany. Imports--$2.312 billion (of which 60% come from
countries outside the former Soviet Union): gas, oil, coal, steel,
machinery and equipment, chemical products, textiles, foodstuffs,
automobiles, and other consumer durables. Major suppliers--Ukraine,
Russia, Romania, Germany, Italy.
Currency: Moldovan Leu (plural Lei).
Exchange rate: Lei/US$ (2005): 12.60; 12.83 (end of year); (12.33
average in 2004); (13.94 average in 2003); (13.57 average in 2002).
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