Moldova Population 2024 (Live)

3,356,819

Moldova has a total fertility rate of about 1.55 children born to each woman, which is below the replacement rate of 2.1. Moldova currently has a flat population growth rate of 0.0%. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Moldova has struggled with healthcare issues, and it now has one of the highest rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the world. Emigration is also a big problem in Moldova that is impacting growth, the economy and demographics. It is estimated that 600,000 to 1 million citizens (or 25% of the population) works abroad.

Moldova Population Growth

People have been steadily leaving Moldova the early 1990s when disputes with Russia began. The birth rate in Moldova is also less than the worldwide average with just 1.24 children being born to the average woman. The low birth rate has been attributed to a change in mindset where the people of Moldova don't want to bring children into the economic situation currently in the country. The combination of these factors has kept the population dwindling, however slowly, for the past few decades. As of 2019, the population was changing at the rate of -0.28% annually.

Moldova Population Projections

The trend in declining population is expected to continue in the years to come, with current projections stating that by the year 2050 the population will be changing at -0.87% annually. If this proves to be true, the number of people in Moldova will decline nearly one million in this period. These predictions say that the population of Moldova will be roughly 4,017,687 in 2020, 3,843,941 in 2030, 3,583,993 by 2040, and 3,293,157 by 2050.

Population Rank
Growth Rate
2024 World Percentage
Land Area
32,884.60
The current population of Moldova is 3,356,819 based on projections of the latest United Nations data. The UN estimates the July 1, 2024 population at 3,329,865.

Moldova Growth Rate

Moldova Population 2024 (Live)

Moldova Population Clock

Moldova Population (as of 3/11/2024)3,356,819
Next UN Estimate (July 1, 2024)3,329,865
Births per Day124
Deaths per Day109
Migrations per Day-258
Net Change per Day-243
Population Change Since Jan. 1-17,253

Components of Population Change

One birth every 11.62 minutes
One death every 13.22 minutes
One emigrant every 5.58 minutes
Net loss of one person every 5.93 minutes

Moldova Population Clock

City
2024 Population
Chisinau635,994
Tiraspol157,000
Balti125,000
Bender110,175
Ribnita55,455
Cahul34,492
Ungheni34,422
Soroca27,423
Orhei24,918
Dubasari23,254

Moldova Area and Population Density

The estimated population of Moldova is 3.55 million, compared to the 2004 census population of 3.38 million (excluding Transnistria) and 3.93 million including Transnistria. The country is a landlocked nation in eastern Europe bordered by Romania and Ukraine which covers 13,068 square miles (33,846 square kilometers) of area, making it the 138th largest country in the world. Most of the country is very hilly and it lies between the Dniester and Prut rivers. Moldova has a population density of 272 people per square mile (105 people per square kilometer), which ranks 79th in the world in terms of population density.

Largest Cities in Moldova

Roughly 38% of the population of Moldova live in or around a city, which indicates that there are not many large metropolitan areas in the country. The capital and largest city of Moldova is Chișinău, with an estimated population of 736,000 in the greater metro area, and 493,000 within its city limits. It is located along the Bic River in the middle of the country and has been occupied since at least the 15th century. It addition to being the government center, it is also home to much of the nations business and financial sector. The second-largest city is the ancient city of Tiraspol along the Dniester river, with a population of 149,000. In 1990, Tiraspol declared independence from Moldova and became the capital of Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, which is not recognized by Soviet leaders and continues to be a struggle for the city. The city of Bălți is the third-largest in Moldova with a population of 144,000, a number which has been continually decreasing due to emigration because of the poor economy.

Moldova Population Density Map

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Year
Population
Growth Rate
Density (/km²)
Population Rank
Density Rank
20243,329,8651.38%101135113
20233,435,9311.81%105134110
20203,084,847-0.79%94137116
20193,109,491-1.03%95137115
20183,141,837-1.22%96137113
20173,180,506-1.38%97136113
20153,277,388-2.28%100136109
20103,678,186-1.67%11213097
20054,001,382-1.21%12212588
20004,251,573-0.96%12911978
19954,461,231-0.08%13611370
19904,480,1990.82%13610868
19854,300,6950.94%13110766
19804,103,2400.95%12510465
19753,913,5861.07%11910365
19703,711,1401.31%11310166
19653,476,7962.1%1069964
19603,133,2672.91%959762
19552,714,7142.75%839965

Moldova Population by Year (Historical)

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Year
Population
Growth Rate
Density (/km²)
Population Rank
Density Rank
20243,329,8651.38%101135113
20253,254,9661.08%99136114
20303,174,727-0.5%97137122
20353,133,020-0.26%95138124
20403,081,524-0.33%94140129
20453,034,910-0.3%92141135
20502,997,532-0.25%91141139
20552,959,604-0.25%90143141
20602,911,390-0.33%89143141
20652,850,584-0.42%87143141
20702,782,056-0.49%85143142
20752,715,046-0.49%83142147
20802,655,950-0.44%81142147
20852,604,820-0.39%79142149
20902,557,949-0.36%78142149
20952,509,758-0.38%76141149

Moldova Population by Year (Projections)

Moldova Population Pyramid 2024

Moldova Median Age

37.7

Total

36.2

Male

39.5

Female

Moldova Population by Age

There are people over age 18 in Moldova.

Census Years

Year
Date
20242024
201425 May 2014
200412 October 2004
198912 January 1989

Moldova Population Pyramid

Moldova Demographics

The 2004 Moldovan census found the population is comprised of:

  • Moldovans (75.8%)
  • Ukrainians (8.3%)
  • Russians (6%)
  • Gagauz (4.3%)
  • Romanians (2.1%)
  • Bulgarians (0.3%)
  • Romani (0.07%)
  • Other (0.9%)

The 2004 census in Transnistria (areas controlled by breakaway authorities like Transnistria and Bender/Tighina) found Moldovans make up 32% of the region's population, followed by Ukrainians (29%) and Russians (30%).

There is a controversy about whether Romanians and Moldovans are the same ethnic group, and allegations that ethnic numbers were rigged. 19% of respondents who said they were Moldovans said Romanian was their native language.

The percentage of Russians and Ukrainians has decreased since the last Soviet census in 1989, mostly due to emigration. Most Russians live in urban areas like Chisinau and Tiraspol. The Gagauz are the fourth-largest ethnic group and live mostly south of Moldova in the autonomous region of Gagauzia.

Moldova Religion, Economy and Politics

Officially the country of Moldova has no state religion, yet the population is very predominantly Orthodox Christian with over 90% of the population practicing the faith. Within the Orthodox church, there are two main branches, which often experience conflict: the Russian Metropolis of Chişinău and Moldova and the Romanian Metropolis of Bessarabia. Aside from Christian Orthodox, small numbers of people living in Moldova also practice Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam. Roughly 7% of the population claim to have no religious affiliation.

Moldova is the poorest country in Europe and their economy is not very strong. Agriculture is the most prominent industry, accounting for 40% of the national GDP, due to their proximity to the Black Sea and the extremely fertile soil that results. Primary exports include wheat, corn, barley, tobacco, sugar, beets, and soybeans. Moldova's inability to flourish financially has largely been linked to their dependence on the Soviet Union for energy and raw materials, but their situation has been improving somewhat in the years since their independence.

Moldova Population History

Russia gained control over the land that is now eastern Moldova in the early 1800s, the Ottoman Empire controlled the western half of the country. The Ottoman half of the country gained independence from Romania in 1878, but the Soviets maintained their hold over the rest. The whole area was combined and under Soviet rule by 1940, becoming the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.

They finally declared independence in 1991, which led to fighting and hundreds of deaths. They were granted autonomy in 1997, but Russian was made the official language. Disputes with Russia continued into the 21st century. Moldova was finally admitted to the European Nation as a sovereign nation in 2014.

Moldova Population Rank 2024
Area (km²)
33,846
2024 Growth Rate
Capital
GDP (IMF '23)
$16
GDP (UN '22)
$14.51 Bn

Moldova - General Info

Sources