Moldova is a small country in Eastern Europe. It shares borders with Romania and Ukraine and is landlocked within an old part of Europe called Bessarabia. The area of Moldova is slightly larger than that of Belgium, about 33,850 km2.
The capital of the country and at the same time its largest city is Chisinau (Kishinev). The official language of Moldova is Moldovan and the unofficial languages are Russian, Gagauz, and Ukrainian. The telephone code of Moldova is 373, i.e. °373 or 00373. The current currency in Moldova is the Moldovan Leu.
Table on the main geographical features of Moldova
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Area | 33,846 km² |
| Capital | Chișinău |
| Population | About 2.6 million inhabitants |
| Official language | Romanian |
| Highest point | Dealul Bălănești, 430 meters |
| Main rivers | Dniester, Prut |
| Bordering countries | Ukraine, Romania |
The best cities in Moldova
Main attractions in Moldova
Main tourist attractions and places of interest
- Chișinău: The capital, known for its green parks, museums, and Soviet architecture.
- Căpriana Monastery: One of the oldest monasteries in Moldova, dating back to the 15th century.
- Old Orhei (Orheiul Vechi): Archaeological site and cave monastery set in a spectacular landscape.
- Cricova: Famous underground wine cellar, with kilometers of galleries and wine tastings.
- Tiraspol: Capital of the Transnistria region, with a unique atmosphere and Soviet monuments.
- Saharna Monastery: Pilgrimage site surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, with a picturesque waterfall.
- Codru Nature Reserve: The oldest nature reserve in the country, ideal for hiking and wildlife observation.
Chișinău
Chișinău is both the largest city and the capital of the country. This city will surely be your first tourist destination in the country. Its highlights are the old architecture, parks, and museums. Visit the city center to enjoy the nightlife.
Cahul
Cahul is an interesting city located in the south of Moldova. If you like music festivals, this is an interesting place for you.
Bender
This city was formerly called Bendery and Tighina. It was part of the Transnistrian republic. If you are a fan of green spaces and relaxing parks, don’t forget to visit. You can also admire the ancient fortress used by the Russian army.
Comrat
The city has a national history and ethnography museum as well as large ancient vineyards not to be missed. It is a perfect place to discover the world of the Gagauz, a people of Turkish origin.
Where the cities are located on the map
Chișinău
On the map, Chișinău is located in the center of Moldova. Compared to Europe, the city is situated in the central part of Southeastern Europe. Geographical location: 47° 00′ 00″ north, 28° 55′ 00″ east
Cahul
Cahul is a city located 175 kilometers from the capital, in the south of Moldova and close to the border with Romania. Geographical location: 45° 54′ 27″ N, 28° 11′ 40″ E
Bender
On the map, the city of Bender is located west of Romania and on the bank of the Dniester River. Geographical location: 46 ° 50 29 ° 29’E
Comrat
Comrat is located on the map in the south of Moldova. It is 175km from the capital and close to the common border with Romania. Geographical Location: 45° 54′ 27″ N, 28° 11′ 40″ E
Economic map of Moldova
As stated above, Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe. However, it has recently succeeded in reducing poverty.
The Moldovan active population amounts to 1.27 million in recent years and they mainly live from the service sectors at 59.8%, agriculture at 27.5%, and industry at 12.7%.
For this, Moldova has adopted integration with Europe. The economy has thus been able to achieve a 4.6% GDP increase over the last 10 years. Here are some figures
Population 3.5 million
GDP, 11.9 billion USD
GDP per capita 3395 USD
Life expectancy at birth: 71.7 years
GDP growth: 3.6%
Climate map of Moldova
Since Moldova is a country with a small area, its climate is uniform throughout the country. Its climate is characterized by long, hot summers with maximum sunshine. Winter, on the other hand, is short and mild. These are indicators of a temperate continental climate.
Precipitation in Moldova ranges between 370 and 560 mm per year with some snowfall that melts quickly in winter. The country is sometimes subject to strong warm and humid winds coming from the Mediterranean. There are also temperate winds from the Arctic which are both dry and warm. In general, sunshine amounts to 2360 hours per year or about 100 days.
Winter temperatures are around -1.5°C but Mediterranean winds quickly melt the snow above 0°C. The coldest cities are in the North and in Chișinău, the capital.
Summer temperatures are 15 to 17°C in the North and 16 to 17° in the South. Sometimes, certain cities are subject to severe thunderstorms during the months of June and July. In the capital, summer temperatures can reach 39°C due to more than 9 hours of sunshine per day, especially from June onwards.
Temperatures in spring and autumn are pleasant, ranging from 12° to 22°C. At the beginning of these seasons, temperatures are quite warm and then drop sharply, which can lead to snow formations, especially in March.
Demographic and Administrative Map of Moldova
Demography of Moldova
The population of the Republic of Moldova currently stands at 2,640,438 inhabitants according to the latest United Nations estimates. For an area of 33,847 km2, the density is 78.01 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Population growth has declined this year by 1.73%, either due to the coronavirus and the increase in the mortality rate which was 12.70% last year. The fertility rate is high at 1.80 children per woman and the Human Development Index is 0.711, ranking 141st in the world.
The Moldovan ethnic groups are: Romanians, Ukrainians, Gagauz, Russians, Bulgarians, Roma, Jews, Poles, Others, representing respectively 75.10%; 7%; 6.60%; 4.60%; 4.10%; 1.90%; 0.30%; 0.05%; 0.05%; 0.50% of the Moldovan population.
Regarding the sex ratio, the total population represents 95 men to 100 women. By age group, the male/female ratio is:
Children under 14 years: 106 per 100
Youth aged 15 to 24 years: 108 per 100
Adults aged 25 to 54 years: 102 per 100
Adults aged 55 to 64 years: 85 per 100
65 years and over: 64 per 100
Administration of Moldova
The country of Moldova is subdivided into 32 districts, 5 municipalities, and 2 regions with special status
Districts: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarași, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincești, Ialoveni, Leiova, Nisporeni, Rișcani, Singerei, Soroca, Straseni, Soldanești, Stefan Voda, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni;
Municipalities: Chisinau, Balti, Tighina, Tiraspol, Comrat
Regions with special status: autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia, territorial administrative units: Transnistria. These two are not controlled by the government
Postal codes in Moldova: MD-2003 Durlesti, MD-2011 Codru, MD-2046 Vadul Lui Voda, MD-2055 Vatra, MD-2071 Bumbrava, MD-2081 Bubuieci, MD-2081 Humulesti, MD-2081 Bic, MD-2082 Colonita, MD-2083 Condrita, MD-2084 Cricova, MD-2085 Ceroborta, MD-2085 Cruzesti, MD-2086 Dobrogea, MD-2088 Ghidighici, MD-2089 Fauresti, MD-2089 Goian, MD-2089 Ciorescu, MD-2091 Singera, MD-2091 Revaca, MD-2092 Buneti, MD-2092 Cheltuitori, MD-2092 Tohatin, MD-2093 Gratiesti, MD-2093 Hulboaca, MD-3004 Soroca 4, MD-3005 Soroca 5, MD-3006 Soroca 6, MD-3011 Badiceni, MD-3012 Baxani, MD-3013 Balintii Noi, MD-3013 Balinti, MD-3014 Bulbocii Noi, MD-3014 Bulboci, MD-3015 Cainarii Vechi, MD-3015 Floriceni, MD-3016 Cosauti, MD-3017 Curesnita, MD-3018 Malcauti, MD-3018 Darcautii Noi, MD-3018 Darcauti, MD-3019 Dubna, MD-3020 Dumbraveni, MD-3021 Egoreni, MD-3022 Grigorauca, MD-3023 Holosnita, MD-3024 Hristici, MD-3025 Iarova, MD-3026 Iorjnita, MD-2000 Chisinau, MD-2046 Vadul Lui Voda
Demolinguistic Data of Moldova
First of all, the mother tongue in Moldova is that of the majority of the population, also called indigenous, who represent 78% of the inhabitants. Other languages are used in other regions or communities and amount to 22%.
Languages are also understood in neighboring areas because they have linguistic similarities. Some languages are still used but others less so. However, generally, the Moldovan people are Russian-speaking.
To summarize, the languages mainly spoken currently in Moldova are: Romanian or Moldovan, Russian, and Ukrainian Gagauz, which represent respectively: 75.2%; 16%; 3.8%; 3.1% of the population of the republic. According to the latest data communicated by the United Nations, the languages spoken are Romanian at 77%, Russian at 11%, Ukrainian at 6%, Gagauz at 4%, Bulgarian at 2%, undefined 1%.
