Moldova – country information

Country name	Moldova
Official name	Republic of Moldova
Capital	Chisinau
continent	Europe
Area	33,851 km2
Population	3 559 500 (2013)
Foundation of a state	27. 8. 1991
The highest mountains	Balaneš 430 m
Longest rivers	Dniester 1420 km (in the country 400 km), Prut 915 km (in the country 700 km)
State system	a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Chisinau (capital) 730,000, Tiraspol 185,000, Belcy 160,000
Official language	Moldovan (Romanian)
Ethnicity/National Composition	Moldovans (Romanians) 66%, Ukrainians 13.5%, Russians 12%, others 8.5%
Religious affiliation	mostly Orthodox
Currency	1 Moldovan leu = 100 bani
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$3,378 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	65.65 let (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture and fishing 32%, mining and industry 29%, construction 3%, services 36%

Moldova – neighboring states

State	Capital	Area	Populace
Romania	Bucharest	238,391 km2	20 121 641
Ukraine	Kiev	603 700 km	45 426 200

Country overview

The former Soviet Republic of Moldova (Moldavia) is a small country located near the coast of the Black Sea. It borders Romania to the west and is otherwise surrounded by the Ukrainian Republic.

According to Abbreviationfinder, Moldova is a state in the southeast of Europe. Common borders with Ukraine in the north, east, south and in the west – with Romania.

The capital is Chisinau. The official language is Moldovan. Currency – Moldovan leu. Religion – Orthodoxy.

The climate is temperate continental. The temperature in winter is -4*С, in summer +25*С.

On the green hilly expanses between Ukraine and Romania, there is a small, but very beautiful and picturesque country of Moldova. The capital Chisinau is a small green and cozy city.

Resorts and attractions of Moldova

Even if you don’t have any information about Moldova, remembering its Soviet past (Buket Moldavii wine and White Stork cognac), you can guess that this country is mainly engaged in winemaking. There are 170 wineries in the republic.

Orhei is a city located 46 km from Chisinau on the banks of the Reut River. 39 thousand people live in the city. Agriculture and industrial sectors are widely developed. Thanks to the picturesque relief places of the Reut River, the tourism business is flourishing.

Bendery Fortress (Cetatea Bender (Tighina)) is an architectural monument of the 16th century. It is located on the right bank of the Dniester River in the city of Bendery. It was built according to the project of the famous Turkish architect Mimar Koji Sinan (1489-1588) on the model of Western European bastion-type fortresses.

Interesting Facts

Moldova is a country with a relatively underdeveloped tourism industry. The main tourist attractions include Europe’s largest wine cellars – Cricova and Small Milesti and visits to medieval monasteries.

The most visited places in Moldova by tourists are the capital Chisinau, the Bendery fortress, Orhei, the Vadul-lui-Voda resort (on the banks of the Dniester).

Country data

Location: Eastern Europe

Time zone: CET + 1

Total area: 33,851 km²

Land area: 32,891 km²

Water area: 960 km²

Length of the state border: 1,390 km

Bordering countries:
Ukraine: 940 km
Romania: 450 km

Coastline: 0 km

Capital: Chișinău (Chisinau)

Regions: 37
Anenii Noi, Balti, Basarabeasca, Bender, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Chisinau, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Gagauzia, Glodeni, Hincesti, I Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria), Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni

Electric current: 220 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 373 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Population

Population: approx. 3.6 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: -1% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 106

Life expectancy: 66 (male), 74 (female)

Official language: Moldavian (Romanian)

Religions:

• 93% Orthodox
• 7% other

Climate

During the summer it is pleasantly warm, with temperatures around 25 ° C.

In winter it can get very cold (often below 0 ° C). There is quite a lot of snowfall.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Moldovan Leu (MDL)

Classification: 1 Leu = 100 Bani

ATMs: There are individual ATMs in the larger cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted in larger hotels and shops.

Regulations: There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. The export is limited to the amount declared upon import.

The local currency can be imported and exported up to an amount of 2,500 MDL.

You should not take your eyes off credit cards when using them. Copies of cards are repeatedly made for misuse.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 250 g tobacco
• 2 liters of alcoholic beverages

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

The republic of Transnistria should be avoided when traveling. The government has no control whatsoever in the breakaway area. Entry and the numerous controls are very cumbersome on excursions.

Behavioral advice

It is forbidden to photograph military installations and important industrial and transport facilities.

Economy

Agriculture is the country’s main industry.

There are many other branches of industry, but these are not very economical by international standards.

As a result, Moldova has not yet been able to establish itself on the world market.

Industries: building materials, food production, light industry, mechanical engineering, metal processing, textiles

Natural resources: gypsum, agricultural land, phosphorus

Land use:

• Land: 53%
• Grain cultivation: 14%
• Pasture area: 13%
• Forests: 13%
• other: 7%

Plants

Many decades ago, almost the entire land area was still forested.

Since the soil is very fertile and therefore very suitable for agriculture, huge areas have been cleared for their use.

Animals

Most of the wild animals have also been eradicated by the deconstruction of nature.

There are no longer any large wild animals. Only a few smaller animal species live in the lowlands and remaining forest areas.