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National Map
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Moldova |
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National Flag
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Moldova |
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Flag Description:
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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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
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Moldova |
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National Anthem
Of |
Moldova |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Moldova |
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Background:
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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:
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Eastern
Europe, northeast of Romania |
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Geographic coordinates:
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47 00 N,
29 00 E |
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total:
33,843 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
water: 472 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
larger than Maryland |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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moderate
winters, warm summers |
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Terrain:
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rolling
steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m |
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Natural resources:
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lignite,
phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 55.3%
permanent crops: 10.79%
other: 33.91% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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3,070 sq
km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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landslides (57 cases in 1998) |
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Environment - current issues:
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heavy use
of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides
such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater;
extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks
and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and
limestone |
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Population:
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4,455,421
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 20.2% (male 459,452/female 442,725)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 1,489,813/female
1,606,202)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 169,038/female
288,191) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
32.22 years
male: 30.14 years
female: 34.27 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.22%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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15.27
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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12.79
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.25
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
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 (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
40.42 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 43.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 65.18 years
male: 61.12 years
female: 69.43 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.81
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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5,500
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
300 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%,
Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989
est.)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the
Transnistrian region |
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Religions:
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Eastern
Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
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Languages:
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Moldovan
(official, virtually the same as the Romanian language),
Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.6%
female: 98.7% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: none
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic;
Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Chisinau
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Administrative divisions:
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32 raions
(raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities
(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea
teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea
teritoriala)
: 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
: autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
: territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului |
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Independence:
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27 August
1991 (from Soviet Union) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 27 August (1991) |
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Constitution:
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new
constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August
1994; replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979 |
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Legal system:
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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
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April
2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV
(since 15 April 2001), First Deputy Prime Minister
Vasile IOVV (since 29 January 2002)
cabinet: selected by president, subject to
approval of Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a
four-year term; election last held 4 April 2005 (next to
be held NA 2009); note - prime minister designated by
the president, upon consultation with Parliament; 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 reelected
president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75,
Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vasile TARLEV designated prime
minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 75 of 101
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties
and electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be
held NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM
46.1%, Democratic Moldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other
parties 16.4%; seats by party - PCRM 56, Democratic
Moldova Bloc 34, PPCD 11 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for
constitutional judicature) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Mihail MANOLI
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Heather M. HODGES
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 408-300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-30-44 |
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Flag description:
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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:
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Moldova
remains one of the poorest countries 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 December 1991. As part of
an ambitious reform effort after independence, 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, 6.3% in 2003, and 6.8% in 2004.
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. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$8.581
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6.8%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 22.4%
industry: 24.8%
services: 52.8% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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1.36
million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998) |
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Unemployment rate:
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8%
(roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed
abroad) (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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80% (2001
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.7% (1997) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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40.6
(1997) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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11.5%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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17.1% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $648.1 million
expenditures: $634.8 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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63.4% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower
seed, tobacco; beef, milk |
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Industries:
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food
processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment,
refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery,
sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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17% (2003
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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3.876
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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4.605
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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1 billion
kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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24,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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2.05
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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2.05
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Current account balance:
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$-148.4
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$1.03
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, textiles, machinery |
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Exports - partners:
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Russia
35.8%, Italy 13.9%, Romania 10%, Germany 7.3%, Ukraine
6.6%, Belarus 6%, US 4.6% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$1.83
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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mineral
products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
textiles (2000) |
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Imports - partners:
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Ukraine
24.6%, Russia 12.2%, Romania 9.3%, Germany 8.5%, Italy
7.4% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$390
million (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.4
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$100
million (2000) |
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Currency (code):
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Moldovan
leu (MDL) |
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Currency code:
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MDL |
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Exchange rates:
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lei per
US dollar - 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002),
12.865 (2001), 12.434 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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706,900
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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338,200
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor
service outside Chisinau; some effort to modernize is
under way
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 |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 7, FM
50, shortwave 3 (1998) |
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Radios:
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3.22
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (plus
30 repeaters) (1995) |
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Televisions:
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1.26
million (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.md |
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Internet hosts:
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11,984
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (1999)
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Internet users:
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150,000
(2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
1,138 km
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
12,719 km
paved: 10,977 km
unpaved: 1,742 km (2002) |
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Waterways:
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424 km
(2004) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 606
km (2004) |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,636 GRT/1,088 DWT
by type: cargo 2 (2005) |
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Airports:
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23 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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National
Army: Ground Forces, Air Force |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for compulsory military service; national service
obligation - 12 months (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 1,066,459 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 693,913 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
43,729 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$8.7
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.4%
(FY02) |
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Disputes - international:
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Moldova
and Ukraine have established joint customs posts to
monitor transit through Moldova's break-away
Transnistria Region which remains under OSCE supervision
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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IDPs:
1,000 (internal secessionist uprising in Transdniestrian
region in 1991) (2004) |
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Illicit drugs:
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limited
cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS
consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from
Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western
Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and
underground economic activity |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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