Republic of Moldova

National name: Republica Moldova

President: Vladimir Voronin (2001)

Prime Minister: Vasile Tarlev (2001)

Land area: 12,885 sq mi (33,371 sq km); total area: 13,067 sq mi (33,843 sq km)

Population (2006 est.): 4,466,706 (growth rate: 0.3%); birth rate: 15.7/1000; infant mortality rate: 38.4/1000; life expectancy: 65.7; density per sq mi: 343

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Chisinau, 772,500 (metro. area), 709,900 (city proper)

Other large cities: Tiraspol, 209,800; Beltsy, 175,400; Bendery (Tighina), 144,900

Monetary unit: Leu

Languages: Moldovan (official; virtually the same as Romanian), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Ethnicity/race: Moldavian/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004)

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)

Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $9.519 billion; per capita $2,100. Real growth rate: 7.5%. Inflation: 12%. Unemployment: 8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002 est.). Arable land: 55%. Agriculture: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk. Labor force: 1.34 million; agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998). Industries: sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles. Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone. Exports: $1.04 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): foodstuffs, textiles, machinery. Imports: $2.23 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles (2000). Major trading partners: Russia, Italy, Romania, Germany, Ukraine, Belarus, U.S. (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 627,000 (1997); mobile cellular: 2,200 (1997). Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998). Radios: 3.22 million (1997). Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995). Televisions: 1.26 million (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999). Internet users: 15,000 (2000).

Transportation: Railways: total: 1,300 km (2002). Highways: total: 12,657 km; paved: 11,012 km; unpaved: 1,645 km (1999). Waterways: 424 km (1994). Ports and harbors: none. Airports: 36 (2002).

International disputes: difficulties with the Transnistria region complicate border crossing and customs with Ukraine, facilitating smuggling, arms transfers, and other illegal activities.

 

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