Demographics of Moldova
Encyclopedia
This article is about the demographic
features of the population of Moldova
, including distribution, ethnicity, languages, religious affiliation and other statistical data.
. According to the 2004 Census in Transnistria
, 555,347 people lived in the breakaway Transnistria
, including the city of Bender
, and the other localities de facto controlled by Transnistrian authorities. Thus, the total population of the country in 2004 amounted to 3,938,679.
Note: 1The breakaway Transnistrian authorities count as rural the population of the towns of Crasnoe
, Maiac
, and Tiraspolul Nou
. Since their exact population isn't available, so does this table.
Note:
1 The breakaway Transnistrian authorities have counties as urban only the population of the town of Grigoriopol
, while that of the town of Maiac
was counted as rural.
2 The breakaway Transnistrian authorities have counties as urban only the population of the towns of Slobozia
and Dnestrovsc
, while those of the towns of Crasnoe
and Tiraspolul Nou
were counted as rural.
are the largest ethnic group in Moldova. According to the combined data of the census in the government controlled area and the census in Transnistria
in 2004 they account for 69.6% of the country's population. The proportion of Ukrainians
and Russians
decreased considerably in comparison to the last Soviet census in 1989: from 13.8% to 11.2% and from 13.0% to 9.4% respectively. This is mostly due to emigration. Ukrainians mostly live in the east (Transnitria) and the north, while Russians
mostly live in urban areas: 27% of all Russians
live in Chişinău
, 18% live in Tiraspol
, 11% in Bender
and 6% in Bălţi
. The Gagauz people
are the fourth-largest ethnic group (3.8% in 2004). Most of them live in the south of Moldova
in the autonomous region of Gagauzia
.
Declared country of birth for the current inhabitants of the part of Moldova under the central government control, according to the 2004 census:
Population by district, according to the 2004 census:
1There is an ongoing controversy
over whether Moldovans are a subset of Romanians, or a distinct ethnic group. At the 2004 Moldovan Census
, citizens could declare only one nationality. Consequently, one could not declare oneself both Moldovan and Romanian.
}
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|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|~200
|-
|align="left"| Cremenciug
|| 1,094 || 465
|align ="right"|353
|align ="right"|203
|align ="right"|7
|align ="right"|11
|align ="right"|2
|align ="right"|-
|align ="right"|-
|align ="right"|15
|align ="right"|22
|align ="right"|6
|align ="right"|10
|-
|align="left"| Roghi || 715 || ~700
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|~15
|-
|align="left"| Subotal other localities || 115,819 || 30,219
|align ="right"|51,540
|align ="right"|19,828
|align ="right"|1,189
|align ="right"|3,343
|align ="right"|139
|align ="right"|392
|align ="right"|202
|align ="right"|755
|align ="right"|308
|align ="right"|195
|align ="right"|7,709
|-
|align="left"| Total Tiraspol-controlled areas || 555,347 || 177,635
|align ="right"|168,678
|align ="right"|160,069
|align ="right"|4,096
|align ="right"|13,858
|align ="right"|507
|align ="right"|1,259
|align ="right"|1,791
|align ="right"|3,811
|align ="right"|2,071
|align ="right"|980
|align ="right"|20,592
|}
Notes:
is the official language of Moldova. In political contexts it is sometimes also called Moldovan
.
Moldova (proper) have Moldovan/Romanian
as native language, of which 2,029,847 (60.00%) declared it Moldovan
and 558,508 (16.51%) declared it Romanian. 380,796 people or 11.26% have Russian
as native language, 186,394 or 5.51% - Ukrainian
, 137,774 or 4.07% - Gagauz, 54,401 or 1.61% - Bulgarian
, 21,504 or 0.63% - another language, and 14,108 or 0.41% did not declare one.
In the Soviet census of 1989
members of most of the ethnic groups in Moldavian SSR
claimed the language of their ethnicity as their mother tongue: Moldovans
(95%), Ukrainians
(62%), Russians
(99%), Gagauz
(91%), Bulgarians
(79%), and Gipsies (82%). The exceptions were Jews
(26% citing Yiddish), Belarusians
(43%), Germans
(31%), and Poles
(10%).
In the Soviet census of 1989
, 62% of the total population claimed Moldovan as their native language. Only 4% of the entire population claimed Moldovan as a second language.
In 1979, Russian was claimed as a native language by a large proportion of Jews (66%) and Belarusians (62%), and by a significant proportion of Ukrainians (30%). Proportions of other ethnicities naming Russian as a native language ranged from 17% of Bulgarians to 3% of Moldovans (Russian was more spoken by urban Moldovans than by rural Moldovans). Russian was claimed as a second language by a sizeable proportion of all ethnicities: Moldovans (46%), Ukrainians (43%), Gagauz (68%), Jews (30%), Bulgarians (67%), Belarusians (34%), Germans (53%), Roma (36%), and Poles (24%).
Notes: 75,727 (2.24% of population) did not answer that question.
a Known as Creştini după Evanghelie.
b Traditionally Orthodox Lipovans.
History
In 1940-1941, and 1944–1991, the Soviet government strictly limited the activities of the Orthodox Church (and all religions) and at times sought to exploit it, with the ultimate goal of abolishing it and all religious activity altogether. Most Orthodox churches and monasteries in Moldova were demolished or converted to other uses, such as administrative buildings or warehouses, and clergy were sometimes punished for leading services. Still, many believers continued to practice their faith.
People in the independent Moldova have much greater religious freedom than they did in Soviet times. Legislation passed in 1992 guarantees religious freedom, but requires all religious groups to be officially recognized by the government.
Orthodox Christians
In 1991, Moldova had 853 Orthodox churches and eleven Orthodox monasteries (four for monks and seven for nuns). In 1992 construction or restoration of 221 churches was underway, but clergy remained in short supply. As of 2004, Chistian Orthodox constitute the vast majority of the population in all districts of Moldova.
In the interwar period
, the vast majority of ethnic Moldovans belonged to the Romanian Orthodox Church
(Bucharest Patriarchate), but today both Romanian and Russian Orthodox Church
(Moscow Patriarchate) have jurisdiction in Moldova, with the latter having more parishes. According to the local needs, liturgy
is performed in Romanian, Russian, and Turkic (Gagauz). After the revival of religious activity in the last 20 years, a minority of the clergy and the faithful wanted to return to the Bucharest Patriarchate (Metropolis of Bessarabia
). Because higher-level church authorities were unable to resolve the matter, Moldova now has two episcopates, one for each patriarchate. After the Soviet occupation in 1940, the Metropolis was downgraded to a Bishopric. In late 1992, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia issued a decree upgrading its eparchy
of Chişinău and Moldova to a Metropolis
.
Greek Catholics
Moldova also has a Greek Catholic minority, mainly among ethnic Ukrainians, although the Soviet government declared the Greek Catholic Churches illegal in 1946 and forcibly united them with the Russian Orthodox Church. However, the Greek Catholic Churches had survived underground until the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Roman Ctholics
Half of Moldova's Roman Catholics are in Chişinău, and 1/5 in Bălţi.
Old Believers
In addition, the Old Russian Orthodox Church (Old Believers
) had fourteen churches and one monastery in Moldova in 1991.
Half of Moldova's Old Believers are in Floreşti district, and 1/5 in Sîngerei district.
Judaism
Despite the Soviet government's suppression and harassment, Moldova's practicing Jews managed to retain their religious identity. About a dozen Jewish newspapers were started in the early 1990s, and religious leaders opened a synagogue
in Chişinău; there were six Jewish communities of worship throughout the country. In addition, Moldova's government created the Department of Jewish Studies at Chişinău State University
, mandated the opening of a Jewish high school in Chişinău, and introduced classes in Judaism
in high schools in several cities. The government also provides financial support to the Society for Jewish Culture.
Protestants
There are around 65,000 Protestants of all sects in Moldova today. There are more than 1,000 Baptists in the cities of Chişinău and Bălţi, in Cahul, Făleşti, Hînceşti, Sîngerei, Ştefan Vodă, and Ungheni districts, and in Găgăuzia. There are more than 1,000 Seventh-day Adventists in Cahul, Hînceşti and Sîngerei districts, and in Găgăuzia, there are more than 1,000 Penticostals in Chişinău and in Briceni district. There are more than 1,000 members of Brethren assemblies only in Chişinău. There are more than 1,000 Evangelical Synod-Presbyterians only in Chişinău.
Others
Other religious denominations in Moldova include:
(Romanians
) form majorities in 33 of the 37 first-tier territorial units (including over 90% in 15 districts, between 80% and 90% in 9 districts, between 70% and 80% in 7 administrative units, and between 50% and 60% in 2 units), and a 33.5% plurality in Transnistria
, where there are 32% Ukrainians and 27% Russians. Gagauzians represent a 82% majority in the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia
, with only 5% Moldovans (Romanians). Bulgarians
represent a 66% majority in the Taraclia district, with 14% Moldovans (Romanians). Finally, Russians
represent a 43% plurality in the municipality of Bender
, with 25% Moldovans (Romanians). Ukrainians
represent between 20% and 30% minorities in four units with Moldovan (Romanian) majority: Bălţi
, Briceni, Ocniţa, and Rîşcani, and one with Moldovan plurality (Transnistria). Elsewhere, the ethnic populations are under 20% district-wise (generally much less).
Although before 1991 Moldova
was the most densely populated of the former Soviet republics (129 inhabitants per square kilometer in 1990, compared with 13 inhabitants per square kilometer for the Soviet Union
as a whole), it had and has only few large cities.
The largest and most important of these is Chişinău
, the country's capital and its most important industrial center, with a population of 712,218 in 2004. The city's population is 72.11% Moldovan
(Romanian
), 13.92% Russian
, 8.28% Ukrainian
, and 5.69% others (Bulganians, Gagauzians, Jews, Poles, Gypsies, etc.). The proportion of Russophones living in Moldova decreased in the years immediately after 1989 because of the emigration to Russia, after an immigration from Russia had taken place during the Soviet period.
The second largest city in the country, Tiraspol
, had a population of 184,000 in 1990. Located in Transnistria
, with a population of 158,069 in 2004, it is the capital of the breakaway republic. In contrast to Chişinǎu, Tiraspol has only some 15% Moldovans (Romanians), with Russians comprising 41.7%, and Ukrainians 33%. Due to deportations by the breakaway authorities, and emigration during and after the 1992 War of Transnistria
, it has been reported that the Moldovan (Romanian) population has gone down by up to 10,000 since 1990.
Other important cities include Bălţi
, with a population of 162,000 in 1990, and 127,561 in 2004, and Bender
, with a population of 132,000 in 1990 and 100,169 in 2004. Other major cities include Rîbniţa
, population 53,648, Cahul
, population 35,488, Ungheni
, population 32,530, Soroca
, population 28,362, and Orhei
, population 25,641.
Traditionally a predominantly rural country, Moldova gradually began changing its character in the 20th century. As urban areas became the sites of new industrial and intellectual jobs and amenities such as hospitals, the population of cities and towns grew. The Soviets kept the population of Moldova under control with the famous Soviet policy of propiska
, which forbid a person to live in another locality than the one written in his/her identity documents without approval of Soviet authorities. The new residents Moldova's cities during the Soviet era were not only Moldovans, who had moved from the nearby rural areas, but also many Russians and Ukrainians who had been recruited to fill positions in industry and government, moving in from other parts of the Soviet Union
.
Many people have emigrated to Romania in 1940 (estinated at 200,000) and 1944 (estimated at more than 200,000), and others had lost their lives during the war (over 100,000 as Soviet soldiers in 1944-1945, and up to 50,000 as Romanian soldiers before 1944, including as Soviet POWs in 1944-1945), in Stalinist persecutions (over 8,000 executed, ca. 50,000 sent to Gulag
, over 200,000 deported), and during the 1946-1947 famine (216,000 deceised). During 1940s, thousands of young people were recruited to work in large-scale Soviet construction projects. Then, as a consequence of industrial growth after 1956, there was significant immigration to the Moldavian SSR
by representatives of other ethnic groups, especially Russians and Ukrainians.
At the time of the 1989 census, Moldova's total population was 4,335,400. The largest ethnic group, Moldovans, numbered 2,795,000, accounting for 64.5 % of the population. The other major ethnicities were Ukrainians, about 600,000 (14%); Russians, about 562,000 (13.0%); Gagauz, about 153,000 (4%); Bulgarians, about 88,000 (2%); and Jews, about 66,000 (2.0%). There were also smaller but appreciable numbers of Poles and Roma in the population. In Transnistria ethnic Moldovans accounted for 40% of the population in 1989, followed by Ukrainians (28%), and Russians (25%). In the early 1990s, there was significant emigration from the republic, primarily from urban areas and mainly by non-Moldovan minorities. Moldovans made up a sizable proportion of the urban population in 1989 (about half the population of Chişinǎu and other cities), as well as a large proportion of the rural population (over 85%), but only 23% of the ethnic Moldovans lived in the republic's ten largest cities, with the rest of the community being predominantly rural.
Unlike Moldovans, Russians tend to be urban dwellers in Moldova; more than 72% of them lived in the ten largest cities in 1989. Many of them came to the Moldova after it was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. Some of them came to alleviate the postwar shortage of qualified labor in the Moldavian SSR, which was created by the rapid industrialization, but also by the loss of human life during the war, deportations, and famine. Ethnic Russians settled mainly in Chişinǎu, Bălţi, Bender, and in the cities of the eastern bank of the Dniester
, such as Tiraspol, Rîbniţa, and Dubăsari. Only about 25% of Moldova's Russians lived in Transnistria in 1990, as many as in Chişinǎu alone.
In 1990, Moldova's divorce rate of 3.0 divorces per 1,000 population had risen from the 1987 rate of 2.7 divorces per 1,000 population. The usual stresses of marriage were exacerbated by a society in which women were expected to perform most of the housework in addition to their work outside the home. Compounding this were crowded housing conditions (with their resulting lack of privacy) and the growing economic crisis.
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
features of the population of Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
, including distribution, ethnicity, languages, religious affiliation and other statistical data.
Overview of the demographic statistics
According to the 2004 Moldovan Census, 3,383,332 people lived in the areas controlled by the central government of MoldovaMoldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
. According to the 2004 Census in Transnistria
2004 Census in Transnistria
The 2004 Census in Transnistria was organized in Transnistria at roughly the same time that Moldova held its own census, which Transnistria refused to participate in out of principle and deference to its September 2, 1990 Declaration of Independence....
, 555,347 people lived in the breakaway Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
, including the city of Bender
Bender, Moldova
Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992...
, and the other localities de facto controlled by Transnistrian authorities. Thus, the total population of the country in 2004 amounted to 3,938,679.
| Median age | |
|---|---|
| –total | 34.3 years (2008 est.) (up from 32.22 years in 2005) |
| –male | 32.4 years (up from 30.14 years in 2005) |
| –female | 36.4 years (up from 34.27 years in 2005) |
| Literacy rate | |
| –total | 96% (1989); 99.1% (2003); 99.1% (2005) |
| –male | 99% (1989); 99.6% (2003); 99.7% (2005) |
| –female | 94% (1989); 98.7% (2003); 98.6% (2005) |
| –definition | age 15 and over can read and write |
| Unemployment rate | |
| 8% (official), 40% (real) | |
| Source: The World Factbook, CIA; UN, | |
By district
| no | type | name | population | urban | rural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| population | % | cities | population | % | communes | ||||
| 1 | municipality | Chişinău Chisinau Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc... |
712,218 | 644,204 | 90.45% | 7 | 68,014 | 9.55% | 12 |
| 2 | municipality | Bălţi Balti Balti can refer to:* Balti language, a language spoken in Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir* Balti people, Muslims of Ladakhi/Tibetan origin from Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir... |
127,561 | 122,669 | 96.16% | 1 | 4,892 | 3.84% | 2 |
| 3 | auton.territ.unit | Găgăuzia Gagauzia Gagauzia , formally known as the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Găgăuzia , is an autonomous region of... |
155,646 | 58,190 | 37.39% | 3 | 97,456 | 62.61% | 23 |
| 4 | district | Anenii Noi | 81,710 | 8,358 | 10.23% | 1 | 73,352 | 89.77% | 25 |
| 5 | district | Basarabeasca | 28,978 | 11,192 | 38.62% | 1 | 17,786 | 61.38% | 6 |
| 6 | district | Briceni | 78,027 | 14,230 | 18.24% | 2 | 63,797 | 81.76% | 26 |
| 7 | district | Cahul | 119,231 | 35,488 | 29.76% | 1 | 83,743 | 70.24% | 36 |
| 8 | district | Cantemir | 60,001 | 3,872 | 6.45% | 1 | 56,129 | 93.55% | 26 |
| 9 | district | Călăraşi | 75,075 | 14,516 | 19.34% | 1 | 60,559 | 80.66% | 27 |
| 10 | district | Căuşeni | 90,612 | 21,941 | 24.21% | 2 | 68,671 | 75.79% | 25 (out of 28) |
| 11 | district | Cimişlia | 60,925 | 12,858 | 21.10% | 1 | 48,067 | 78.90% | 22 |
| 12 | district | Criuleni | 72,254 | 7,138 | 9.88% | 1 | 65,116 | 90.12% | 24 |
| 13 | district | Donduşeni | 46,442 | 9,801 | 21.10% | 1 | 36,641 | 78.90% | 21 |
| 14 | district | Drochia | 87,092 | 16,606 | 19.07% | 1 | 70,486 | 80.93% | 27 |
| 15 | district | Dubăsari Dubasari district Dubăsari district is a district in the east of Moldova, with the administrative center at Cocieri. As of January 1, 2011, its population was 35,200.This does not include the 715 people that live in the village of Roghi, which is controlled by the breakaway Tiraspol authorities.-History:The... |
43,015 | - | - | - | 34,015 | 100% | 11 |
| 16 | district | Edineţ | 81,390 | 23,065 | % | 2 | 58,325 | % | 30 |
| 17 | district | Făleşti | 90,320 | 14,931 | % | 1 | 75,389 | % | 32 |
| 18 | district | Floreşti | 89,389 | 17,086 | % | 3 | 17,086 | % | 37 |
| 19 | district | Glodeni | 60,975 | 10,465 | % | 1 | 50,510 | % | 18 |
| 20 | district | Hînceşti | 119,762 | 15,281 | % | 1 | 104,481 | % | 38 |
| 21 | district | Ialoveni | 97,704 | 15,041 | % | 1 | 82,663 | % | 24 |
| 22 | district | Leova | 51,056 | 14,411 | % | 2 | 36,645 | % | 23 |
| 23 | district | Nisporeni | 64,924 | 12,105 | % | 1 | 52,819 | % | 22 |
| 24 | district | Ocniţa | 56,510 | 19,270 | % | 3 | 37,240 | % | 18 |
| 25 | district | Orhei | 116,271 | 25,641 | % | 1 | 90,630 | % | 37 |
| 26 | district | Rezina | 48,105 | 10,196 | % | 1 | 37,909 | % | 24 |
| 27 | district | Rîşcani | 69,454 | 13,351 | % | 2 | 56,103 | % | 26 |
| 28 | district | Sîngerei | 87,153 | 15,760 | % | 2 | 71,393 | % | 24 |
| 29 | district | Soroca | 94,986 | 28,362 | % | 1 | 66,624 | % | 34 |
| 30 | district | Străşeni | 88,900 | 19,633 | % | 2 | 69,267 | % | 25 |
| 31 | district | Şoldăneşti | 42,227 | 6,304 | % | 1 | 35,923 | % | 22 |
| 32 | district | Ştefan Vodă | 70,594 | 7,768 | % | 1 | 62,826 | % | 22 |
| 33 | district | Taraclia | 43,154 | 13,756 | % | 1 | 29,398 | % | 14 |
| 34 | district | Teleneşti | 70,126 | 6,855 | % | 1 | 63,271 | % | 30 |
| 35 | district | Ungheni | 110,545 | 35,311 | % | 2 | 75,234 | % | 31 |
| Subtotal control by central government | 3,383,332 | 1,305,655 | 38.59% | 54 | 2,077,677 | 61.41% | 844 | ||
| 36 | territorial unit | Transnistria Transnistria Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine... |
439,528 | 280,6401 | 63.85% | 10 | 158,8881 | 36.15% | 69 |
| 37 | municipality | Bender Bender, Moldova Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992... |
100,169 | 97,027 | 96.86% | 1 | 3,142 | 3.14% | 1 |
| 10 | parts of district | Căuşeni | 14,935 | - | - | - | 14,935 | 100% | 3 (out of 28) |
| 15 | parts of district | Dubăsari Dubasari district Dubăsari district is a district in the east of Moldova, with the administrative center at Cocieri. As of January 1, 2011, its population was 35,200.This does not include the 715 people that live in the village of Roghi, which is controlled by the breakaway Tiraspol authorities.-History:The... |
715 | - | - | - | 715 | 100% | parts of 1 |
| Subtotal control by breakaway Tiraspol | 555,347 | 377,667 | 68.01% | 11 | 177,680 | 31.99% | 73 | ||
| Total | 3,938,679 | 1,683,322 | 42.74% | 65 | 2,255,357 | 57.26% | 917 | ||
Note: 1The breakaway Transnistrian authorities count as rural the population of the towns of Crasnoe
Crasnoe
Crasnoe is a town in the Slobozia sub-district of Transnistria, Moldova. It is currently under the administration of the breakaway government of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic....
, Maiac
Maiac
Maiac is an urban settlement , or city in the Grigoriopol sub-district, Transnistria, Moldova, 13 km east of Grigoriopol, on the Ukrainian border.-Transmitter:...
, and Tiraspolul Nou
Tiraspolul Nou
Tiraspolul Nou is a town in Transnistria, Moldova. It is currently under the administration of the breakaway government of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic....
. Since their exact population isn't available, so does this table.
Transnistrian-controlled areas
| Population | urban | rural | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| population | cities | population | communes | |||||||||||
| Tiraspol Tiraspol Tiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is the capital and administrative centre of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . The city is located on the eastern bank of the Dniester River... |
158,069 | 158,069 | 1 | - | - | |||||||||
| Camenca sub-district | 27,284 | 10,323 | 1 | 16,961 | 12 | |||||||||
| Rîbniţa sub-district | 82,699 | 53,648 | 1 | 29,051 | 22 | |||||||||
| Dubăsari sub-district | 36,734 | 23,650 | 1 | 13,084 | 9 | |||||||||
| Grigoriopol sub-district | 48,000 | 11,4731 | 2 | 36,5271 | 14 | |||||||||
| Slobozia sub-district | 86,742 | 23,4772 | 4 | 63,2652 | 12 | |||||||||
| Subtotal Transnistria Transnistria Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine... |
439,528 | 280,640 | 10 | 158,888 | 69 | |||||||||
| Bender Bender, Moldova Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992... (w/o Proteagailovca) |
97,027 | 97,027 | 1 | - | - | |||||||||
| Proteagailovca Proteagailovca Proteagailovca is a commune in the municipality of Tighina , Moldova. It is composed of a single village, Proteagailovca, and had a population of 3,142 at the 2004 Census. The locality, although situated on the right bank of the river Dniester, is under the control of the breakaway Transnistrian... |
3,142 | - | - | 3,142 | 1 | |||||||||
| Gîsca Gîsca Gîsca is a commune near in Căuşeni district, Moldova, composed of a single village with the same name, population 4,841 at the 2004 Census... |
4,841 | - | - | 4,841 | 1 | |||||||||
| Chiţcani Chitcani Chiţcani may refer to several places in Moldova:*Chiţcani, a commune in Căuşeni district*Chiţcanii Vechi, a commune in Teleneşti district, and its village of Chiţcanii Noiand to several places in Romania:... (incl. Mereneşti and Zahorna) |
~9,000 | - | - | ~9,000 | 1 | |||||||||
| Cremenciug Cremenciug Cremenciug may refer to several places in Moldova:*Cremenciug, a commune in Căuşeni district*Cremenciug, a commune in Soroca districtCremenciug may refer to several places in Ukraine:*Kremenchuk - an industrial city in Poltava oblast... |
1,094 | - | - | 1,094 | 1 | |||||||||
| Roghi | 715 | - | - | 715 | parts of 1 | |||||||||
| Subotal other localities | 115,819 | 97,027 | 1 | 18,792 | 4 | |||||||||
| Total Tiraspol-controlled areas | 555,347 | 377,667 | 11 | 177,680 | 73 | |||||||||
Note:
1 The breakaway Transnistrian authorities have counties as urban only the population of the town of Grigoriopol
Grigoriopol
Grigoriopol is a city in Transnistria, Moldova. It is the seat of the Grigoriopol sub-district of Transnistria. The city is located on the left bank of the river Dniester at , in central Transnistria....
, while that of the town of Maiac
Maiac
Maiac is an urban settlement , or city in the Grigoriopol sub-district, Transnistria, Moldova, 13 km east of Grigoriopol, on the Ukrainian border.-Transmitter:...
was counted as rural.
2 The breakaway Transnistrian authorities have counties as urban only the population of the towns of Slobozia
Slobozia, Moldova
Slobozia is a city in the Republic of Moldova which is the seat of the Slobozia sub-district of Transnistria.Slobozia is located at , in the southern part of Transnistria, south of Tiraspol. It had a population of 18,748 at the census in 1989, and ca. 12,300 at the census in 2004...
and Dnestrovsc
Dnestrovsc
Dnestrovsc is a town in southern Transnistria, Moldova, near the border with Ukraine. It is located at the shores of the Cuciurgan Reservoir and is home to the Kuchurgan power station, also known as Moldavskaya GRES....
, while those of the towns of Crasnoe
Crasnoe
Crasnoe is a town in the Slobozia sub-district of Transnistria, Moldova. It is currently under the administration of the breakaway government of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic....
and Tiraspolul Nou
Tiraspolul Nou
Tiraspolul Nou is a town in Transnistria, Moldova. It is currently under the administration of the breakaway government of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic....
were counted as rural.
Total area
| Average population (x 1000) | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2 341 | 91 100 | 26 400 | 64 700 | 38.9 | 11.3 | 27.6 |
| 1951 | 2 381 | 91 700 | 26 000 | 65 700 | 38.5 | 10.9 | 27.6 |
| 1952 | 2 432 | 80 900 | 30 900 | 50 000 | 33.3 | 12.7 | 20.6 |
| 1953 | 2 491 | 79 100 | 23 300 | 55 800 | 31.8 | 9.4 | 22.4 |
| 1954 | 2 557 | 83 600 | 24 100 | 59 500 | 32.7 | 9.4 | 23.3 |
| 1955 | 2 627 | 79 800 | 21 900 | 57 900 | 30.4 | 8.3 | 22.0 |
| 1956 | 2 701 | 81 300 | 20 100 | 61 200 | 30.1 | 7.4 | 22.7 |
| 1957 | 2 777 | 85 700 | 21 100 | 64 600 | 30.9 | 7.6 | 23.3 |
| 1958 | 2 853 | 87 500 | 18 700 | 68 800 | 30.7 | 6.6 | 24.1 |
| 1959 | 2 929 | 92 200 | 21 500 | 70 700 | 31.5 | 7.3 | 24.1 |
| 1960 | 3 003 | 87 910 | 19 290 | 68 620 | 29.3 | 6.4 | 22.9 |
| 1961 | 3 073 | 86 683 | 19 590 | 67 093 | 28.2 | 6.4 | 21.8 |
| 1962 | 3 141 | 80 494 | 21 365 | 59 129 | 25.6 | 6.8 | 18.8 |
| 1963 | 3 208 | 78 422 | 20 737 | 57 685 | 24.4 | 6.5 | 18.0 |
| 1964 | 3 273 | 73 583 | 19 944 | 53 639 | 22.5 | 6.1 | 16.4 |
| 1965 | 3 335 | 67 996 | 20 571 | 47 425 | 20.4 | 6.2 | 14.2 |
| 1966 | 3 395 | 71 406 | 21 474 | 49 326 | 21.0 | 6.3 | 14.5 |
| 1967 | 3 453 | 71 380 | 23 406 | 47 294 | 20.7 | 6.8 | 13.7 |
| 1968 | 3 506 | 69 997 | 24 268 | 45 532 | 20.0 | 6.9 | 13.0 |
| 1969 | 3 549 | 67 575 | 26 249 | 40 651 | 19.0 | 7.4 | 11.5 |
| 1970 | 3 594 | 69 778 | 26 577 | 43 201 | 19.4 | 7.4 | 12.0 |
| 1971 | 3 647 | 73 643 | 27 889 | 45 754 | 20.2 | 7.6 | 12.5 |
| 1972 | 3 700 | 76 198 | 28 001 | 48 197 | 20.6 | 7.6 | 13.0 |
| 1973 | 3 748 | 76 339 | 30 756 | 45 583 | 20.4 | 8.2 | 12.2 |
| 1974 | 3 794 | 77 474 | 32 216 | 45 258 | 20.4 | 8.5 | 11.9 |
| 1975 | 3 839 | 79 169 | 35 635 | 43 534 | 20.6 | 9.3 | 11.3 |
| 1976 | 3 877 | 79 863 | 34 812 | 45 051 | 20.6 | 9.0 | 11.6 |
| 1977 | 3 910 | 79 022 | 37 250 | 41 772 | 20.2 | 9.5 | 10.7 |
| 1978 | 3 936 | 78 994 | 38 410 | 40 584 | 20.1 | 9.8 | 10.3 |
| 1979 | 3 967 | 80 152 | 41 729 | 38 423 | 20.2 | 10.5 | 9.7 |
| 1980 | 4 010 | 79 580 | 40 472 | 39 108 | 19.8 | 10.1 | 9.8 |
| 1981 | 4 054 | 82 279 | 41 476 | 40 803 | 20.3 | 10.2 | 10.1 |
| 1982 | 4 097 | 83 258 | 41 046 | 42 212 | 20.3 | 10.0 | 10.3 |
| 1983 | 4 137 | 91 304 | 44 329 | 46 975 | 22.1 | 10.7 | 11.4 |
| 1984 | 4 175 | 89 637 | 45 537 | 44 100 | 21.5 | 10.9 | 10.6 |
| 1985 | 4 214 | 90 453 | 46 075 | 44 378 | 21.5 | 10.9 | 10.5 |
| 1986 | 4 255 | 94 726 | 40 437 | 54 289 | 22.3 | 9.5 | 12.8 |
| 1987 | 4 290 | 91 762 | 40 185 | 51 577 | 21.4 | 9.4 | 12.0 |
| 1988 | 4 321 | 88 568 | 40 912 | 47 656 | 20.5 | 9.5 | 11.0 |
| 1989 | 4 349 | 82 221 | 40 113 | 42 108 | 18.9 | 9.2 | 9.7 |
| 1990 | 4 364 | 77 085 | 42 427 | 34 658 | 17.7 | 9.7 | 7.9 |
| 1991 | 4 363 | 72 020 | 45 849 | 26 171 | 16.5 | 10.5 | 6.0 |
| 1992 | 4 353 | 69 654 | 44 522 | 25 132 | 16.0 | 10.2 | 5.8 |
| 1993 | 4 350 | 66 179 | 46 637 | 19 542 | 15.2 | 10.7 | 4.5 |
| 1994 | 4 350 | 62 085 | 52 153 | 9 932 | 14.3 | 12.0 | 2.3 |
| 1995 | 4 340 | 56 411 | 52 969 | 3 442 | 13.0 | 12.2 | 0.8 |
| 1996 | 4 325 | 51 865 | 49 748 | 2 117 | 12.0 | 11.5 | 0.5 |
| 1997 | 4 311 | 51 286 | 51 138 | 148 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 0.0 |
| 1998 | 4 299 | 46 755 | 47 691 | - 936 | 10.9 | 11.1 | -0.2 |
| 1999 | 4 287 | 43 511 | 48 904 | -5 393 | 10.1 | 11.4 | -1.3 |
Moldova under the central government control
| Average population (x 1000) | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 3 654 | 45 583 | 42 957 | 2 626 | 12.5 | 11.8 | 0.7 |
| 1998 | 3 652 | 41 332 | 39 922 | 1 410 | 11.3 | 10.9 | 0.4 |
| 1999 | 3 647 | 38 501 | 41 315 | -2 814 | 10.6 | 11.3 | -0.8 |
| 2000 | 3 640 | 36 939 | 41 224 | -4 285 | 10.1 | 11.3 | -1.2 |
| 2001 | 3 631 | 36 448 | 40 075 | -3 627 | 10.0 | 11.0 | -1.0 |
| 2002 | 3 623 | 35 705 | 41 852 | -6 147 | 9.9 | 11.6 | -1.7 |
| 2003 | 3 613 | 36 471 | 43 079 | -6 608 | 10.1 | 11.9 | -1.8 |
| 2004 | 3 604 | 38 272 | 41 668 | -3 396 | 10.6 | 11.6 | -0.9 |
| 2005 | 3 595 | 37 695 | 44 689 | -6 994 | 10.5 | 12.4 | -1.9 |
| 2006 | 3 586 | 37 587 | 43 137 | -5 550 | 10.5 | 12.0 | -1.5 |
| 2007 | 3 577 | 37 973 | 43 050 | -5 077 | 10.6 | 12.0 | -1.4 |
| 2008 | 3 570 | 39 018 | 41 948 | -2 930 | 10.9 | 11.7 | -0.8 |
| 2009 | 3 566 | 40 809 | 42 122 | -1 313 | 11.4 | 11.8 | -0.4 |
| 2010 | 3 563 | 40 474 | 43 631 | -3 157 | 11.4 | 12.3 | -0.9 |
| 2011 |
Ethnic groups
MoldovansMoldovans
Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova...
are the largest ethnic group in Moldova. According to the combined data of the census in the government controlled area and the census in Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
in 2004 they account for 69.6% of the country's population. The proportion of Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
and Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
decreased considerably in comparison to the last Soviet census in 1989: from 13.8% to 11.2% and from 13.0% to 9.4% respectively. This is mostly due to emigration. Ukrainians mostly live in the east (Transnitria) and the north, while Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
mostly live in urban areas: 27% of all Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
live in Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
, 18% live in Tiraspol
Tiraspol
Tiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is the capital and administrative centre of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . The city is located on the eastern bank of the Dniester River...
, 11% in Bender
Bender, Moldova
Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992...
and 6% in Bălţi
Balti
Balti can refer to:* Balti language, a language spoken in Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir* Balti people, Muslims of Ladakhi/Tibetan origin from Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir...
. The Gagauz people
Gagauz people
The Gagauz people are Turkic speaking group living mostly in southern Moldova , southwestern Ukraine , south-eastern Romania and northeastern Bulgaria. Unlike most other Turkic speaking people, the Gagauz are predominantly Orthodox Christians...
are the fourth-largest ethnic group (3.8% in 2004). Most of them live in the south of Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
in the autonomous region of Gagauzia
Gagauzia
Gagauzia , formally known as the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Găgăuzia , is an autonomous region of...
.
Total area
| Ethnic group |
census 19591 | census 19702 | census 19793 | census 19894 | census 20045 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Moldovans Moldovans Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova... 6 |
1,886,566 | 65.4 | 2,303,916 | 64.6 | 2,525,687 | 63.9 | 2,794,749 | 64.5 | 2,742,231 | 69.6 |
| Romanians Romanians The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania.... |
1,663 | 0.1 | 1,581 | 0.0 | 1,657 | 0.0 | 2,477 | 0.1 | 73,529 | 1.9 |
| Ukrainians Ukrainians Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens... |
420,820 | 14.6 | 506,560 | 14.2 | 560,679 | 14.2 | 600,366 | 13.8 | 442,475 | 11.2 |
| Russians Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.... |
292,930 | 10.2 | 414,444 | 11.6 | 505,730 | 12.8 | 562,069 | 13.0 | 369,896 | 9.4 |
| Gagauzians | 95,856 | 3.3 | 124,902 | 3.5 | 138,000 | 3.5 | 153,548 | 3.5 | 151,596 | 3.8 |
| Bulgars Bulgars The Bulgars were a semi-nomadic who flourished in the Pontic Steppe and the Volga basin in the 7th century.The Bulgars emerge after the collapse of the Hunnic Empire in the 5th century.... |
61,652 | 2.1 | 73,776 | 2.1 | 80,665 | 2.0 | 88,419 | 2.0 | 79,520 | 2.0 |
| Romani | 7,265 | 0.3 | 9,235 | 0.3 | 10,666 | 0.3 | 11,571 | 0.3 | 12,778 | 0.3 |
| Jews Jews The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation... |
95,104 | 3.3 | 98,062 | 2.7 | 80,124 | 2.0 | 65,799 | 1.5 | 4,867 | 0.1 |
| Poles Poles thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe... |
4,783 | 0.2 | 4,899 | 0.1 | 4,961 | 0.1 | 4,739 | 0.1 | 4,174 | 0.1 |
| Others | 17,838 | 0.6 | 31,498 | 0.9 | 41,587 | 1.1 | 51,623 | 1.2 | 57,613 | 1.5 |
| Total | 2,884,477 | 3,568,873 | 3,949,756 | 4,335,360 | 3,938,679 | |||||
| 1 Source: http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/sng_nac_59.php. 2 Source: http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/sng_nac_70.php. 3 Source: http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/sng_nac_79.php. 4 Source: http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/sng_nac_89.php. 5 Combined population of the government controlled area and Transnistria 6 There is an ongoing controversy Controversy over linguistic and ethnic identity in Moldova A controversy exists over the national identity and name of the native language of the main ethnic group in the Republic of Moldova. The issue more frequently disputed is whether Moldovans constitute a subgroup of Romanians or a separate ethnic group... , whether Romanians and Moldovans should be counted together. |
||||||||||
Moldova under the central government control
Ethnic composition of the main part of Moldova, according to the 2004 census, was:| ethnic group | total population | urban | rural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| population | % | population | % | population | % | |
| Moldovans Moldovans Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova... (Romanians Romanians The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania.... ) |
2,638,125 1 | 77.98% | 870,445 | 66.67% | 1,767,680 | 85.08% |
| Ukrainians Ukrainians Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens... |
282,406 | 8.35% | 145,890 | 11.17% | 136,516 | 6.57% |
| Russians Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.... |
201,218 | 5.95% | 166,395 | 12.74% | 34,823 | 1.68% |
| Gagauzians | 147,500 | 4.36% | 53,613 | 4.11% | 93,887 | 4.52% |
| Bulgarians Bessarabian Bulgarians The Bessarabian Bulgarians are a Bulgarian minority group of the historical region of Bessarabia, inhabiting parts of present-day Ukraine and Moldova.- Location and number :-Modern Ukraine:... |
65,662 | 1.94% | 29,447 | 2.26% | 36,215 | 1.74% |
| Gypsies | 12,271 | 0.36% | 8,139 | 0.62% | 4,132 | 0.20% |
| Jews Bessarabian Jews -Early history:Jews are mentioned from very early in the Principality of Moldavia, but they did not represent a significant number. Their main activity in Moldavia was commerce, but they could not compete with Greeks and Armenians, who had the knowledge of the Levantine commerce and relationships... |
3,608 | 0.11% | 3,509 | 0.27% | 99 | 0.01% |
| Poles Poles thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe... |
2,383 | 0.07% | 2,019 | 0.15% | 364 | 0.02% |
| others and undeclared | 30,157 | 0.89% | 26,197 | 2.01% | 3,960 | 0.19% |
| Total | 3,383,332 | 100% | 1,305,655 | 100% | 2,077,677 | 100% |
| 1 including 73,276 (2.17%) Romanians | ||||||
Declared country of birth for the current inhabitants of the part of Moldova under the central government control, according to the 2004 census:
| ethnic group | total population | urban | rural | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| total | Moldova Moldova Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part... |
former USSR | other countries | non-declared | total | Moldova | former USSR | other countries | non-declared | total | Moldova | former USSR | other countries | non-declared | ||||
| Moldovans Moldovans Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova... (Romanians Romanians The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania.... ) |
2,638,125 100% |
2,604,051 98.71% |
30,360 1.15% |
3,345 0.13% |
369 0.01% |
870,445 100% |
848,554 % |
19,501 % |
2,081 % |
309 % |
1,767,680 100% |
1,755,497 % |
10,859 % |
1,264 % |
60 % |
|||
| Ukrainians Ukrainians Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens... |
282,406 100% |
227,750 80.65% |
54,036 19.13% |
598 0.21% |
22 0.01% |
145,890 100% |
103,039 % |
42,318 % |
514 % |
19 % |
136,516 100% |
% |
11,718 % |
84 % |
3 % |
|||
| Russians Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.... |
201,218 100% |
129,664 64.44% |
70,380 34.98% |
1,096 0.54% |
78 0.04% |
166,395 100% |
106,580 % |
58,739 % |
1,011 % |
65 % |
34,823 100% |
23,084 % |
11,641 % |
85 % |
13 % |
|||
| Gagauzians | 147,500 100% |
144,268 97.81% |
3,101 2.10% |
120 0.08% |
11 0.01% |
53,613 100% |
51,586 % |
1,941 % |
76 % |
10 % |
93,887 100% |
92,682 % |
1,160 % |
44 % |
1 % |
|||
| Bulgarians Bessarabian Bulgarians The Bessarabian Bulgarians are a Bulgarian minority group of the historical region of Bessarabia, inhabiting parts of present-day Ukraine and Moldova.- Location and number :-Modern Ukraine:... |
65,662 100% |
59,489 90.60% |
5,968 9.09% |
199 0.30% |
6 0.01% |
29,447 100% |
25,215 % |
4,071 % |
156 % |
5 % |
36,215 100% |
34,274 % |
1,897 % |
43 % |
1 % |
|||
| others | 34,401 100% |
22,702 65.99% |
10,797 31.39% |
894 2.60% |
8 0.02% |
26,058 100% |
16,973 % |
8,358 % |
722 % |
5 % |
8,343 100% |
5,729 % |
2,439 % |
172 % |
3 % |
|||
| non-declared | 14,020 100% |
13,894 99.10% |
12 0.09% |
28 0.20% |
86 0.61% |
13,807 100% |
13,668 % |
9 % |
27 % |
83 % |
213 100% |
206 % |
3 % |
1 % |
3 % |
|||
| Total | 3,383,332 100% |
3,201,818 94.64% |
174,654 5.16% |
6,280 0.19% |
580 0.02% |
1,305,655 100% |
1,165,635 89.28% |
134,937 10.33% |
4,587 0.35% |
496 0.04% |
2,077,677 100% |
2,036,183 98.00% |
39,717 1.91% |
1,693 0.08% |
84 0.004% |
|||
Population by district, according to the 2004 census:
| Population | Moldovans Moldovans Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova... 1 | Ukrainians Ukrainians Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens... | Russians Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.... | Gagauzians | Bulgarians Bulgarians The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:... | Romanians Romanians The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania.... 1 | Jews Jews The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation... | Poles Poles thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe... | Gypsies | others | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chişinău Chisinau Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc... |
712,218 | 481,626
|
58,945 | 99,149 | 6,446 | 8,868 | 31,984 | 2,649 | 834 | 507 | 21,210 |
| Bălţi Balti Balti can refer to:* Balti language, a language spoken in Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir* Balti people, Muslims of Ladakhi/Tibetan origin from Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir... |
127,561 | 66,877
|
30,288 | 24,526 | 243 | 297 | 2,258 | 411 | 862 | 272 | 1,527 |
| Gagauzia Gagauzia Gagauzia , formally known as the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Găgăuzia , is an autonomous region of... |
155,646 | 7,481 | 4,919 | 5,941 | 127,835
|
8,013 | 38 | 17 | 28 | 486 | 888 |
| Anenii Noi | 81,710 | 68,761
|
6,526 | 4,135 | 235 | 481 | 857 | 17 | 28 | 228 | 442 |
| Basarabeasca | 28,978 | 20,218
|
1,948 | 2,568 | 2,220 | 1,544 | 70 | 13 | 5 | 216 | 176 |
| Briceni | 78,027 | 55,123
|
19,939 | 2,061 | 59 | 45 | 314 | 84 | 10 | 187 | 205 |
| Cahul | 119,231 | 91,001
|
7,842 | 7,702 | 3,665 | 5,816 | 2,095 | 40 | 29 | 238 | 803 |
| Cantemir | 60,001 | 52,986
|
969 | 710 | 519 | 3,736 | 910 | - | 11 | 43 | 117 |
| Călăraşi | 75,075 | 69,190
|
2,799 | 947 | 54 | 47 | 1,490 | 21 | 11 | 378 | 138 |
| Căuşeni | 90,612 | 79,432
|
2,469 | 3,839 | 653 | 1,108 | 2,844 | 8 | 9 | 30 | 220 |
| Cimişlia | 60,925 | 52,972
|
3,376 | 2,371 | 278 | 1,341 | 331 | 7 | 10 | 95 | 144 |
| Criuleni | 72,254 | 67,046
|
2,692 | 1,008 | 49 | 72 | 1,170 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 169 |
| Donduşeni | 46,442 | 37,302
|
5,893 | 2,714 | 31 | 36 | 247 | 12 | 15 | 68 | 124 |
| Drochia | 87,092 | 74,369
|
9,849 | 1,641 | 44 | 33 | 675 | 14 | 10 | 272 | 185 |
| Dubăsari Dubasari district Dubăsari district is a district in the east of Moldova, with the administrative center at Cocieri. As of January 1, 2011, its population was 35,200.This does not include the 715 people that live in the village of Roghi, which is controlled by the breakaway Tiraspol authorities.-History:The... |
34,015 | 32,652
|
521 | 611 | 45 | 16 | 102 | 9 | 2 | - | 57 |
| Edineţ | 81,390 | 58,749
|
16,084 | 5,084 | 143 | 91 | 446 | 23 | 26 | 499 | 245 |
| Făleşti | 90,320 | 75,863
|
10,711 | 3,064 | 39 | 32 | 306 | 6 | 20 | 57 | 222 |
| Floreşti | 89,389 | 75,797
|
8,023 | 4,633 | 45 | 51 | 433 | 19 | 29 | 120 | 239 |
| Glodeni | 60,975 | 46,317
|
11,918 | 1,693 | 32 | 44 | 329 | 8 | 174 | 303 | 157 |
| Hînceşti | 119,762 | 108,189
|
6,218 | 1,463 | 99 | 212 | 3,046 | 19 | 16 | 305 | 195 |
| Ialoveni | 97,704 | 91,379
|
1,117 | 1,112 | 95 | 935 | 2,608 | 5 | 12 | 197 | 244 |
| Leova | 51,056 | 43,673
|
1,245 | 1,167 | 432 | 3,804 | 471 | 8 | 9 | 105 | 142 |
| Nisporeni | 64,924 | 60,774
|
223 | 339 | 17 | 28 | 2,329 | 1 | 4 | 1,147 | 62 |
| Ocniţa | 56,510 | 32,491
|
17,351 | 2,764 | 79 | 60 | 104 | 14 | 43 | 3,417 | 187 |
| Orhei | 116,271 | 100,469
|
4,520 | 2,216 | 113 | 90 | 8,253 | 46 | 23 | 221 | 320 |
| Rezina | 48,105 | 44,721
|
1,691 | 1,093 | 34 | 40 | 375 | 30 | 5 | 13 | 103 |
| Rîşcani | 69,454 | 50,391
|
15,632 | 1,726 | 60 | 61 | 777 | 8 | 42 | 602 | 155 |
| Sîngerei | 87,153 | 74,139
|
8,456 | 3,029 | 47 | 43 | 1,162 | 10 | 48 | 56 | 163 |
| Soroca | 94,986 | 84,728
|
4,752 | 2,601 | 53 | 48 | 931 | 65 | 17 | 1,564 | 227 |
| Străşeni | 88,900 | 83,368
|
985 | 1,576 | 70 | 109 | 2,542 | 13 | 14 | 24 | 199 |
| Şoldăneşti | 42,227 | 40,354
|
1,055 | 376 | 9 | 14 | 299 | 2 | - | 74 | 44 |
| Ştefan Vodă | 70,594 | 65,318
|
2,182 | 1,918 | 64 | 145 | 562 | 1 | 4 | 219 | 181 |
| Taraclia | 43,154 | 5,980 | 2,646 | 2,139 | 3,587 | 28,293
|
29 | 2 | 9 | 218 | 251 |
| Teleneşti | 70,126 | 67,309
|
879 | 537 | 16 | 16 | 1,262 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 96 |
| Ungheni | 110,545 | 97,805
|
7,743 | 2,766 | 90 | 93 | 1,627 | 16 | 17 | 68 | 320 |
| Subtotal controlled by central government | 3,383,332 | 2,564,850 | 282,406 | 201,218 | 147,500 | 65,662 | 73,276 | 3,608 | 2,383 | 12,271 | 30,157 |
1There is an ongoing controversy
Controversy over linguistic and ethnic identity in Moldova
A controversy exists over the national identity and name of the native language of the main ethnic group in the Republic of Moldova. The issue more frequently disputed is whether Moldovans constitute a subgroup of Romanians or a separate ethnic group...
over whether Moldovans are a subset of Romanians, or a distinct ethnic group. At the 2004 Moldovan Census
2004 Moldovan Census
The 2004 Republic of Moldova Census was carried between October 5 and October 12, 2004. The breakaway Transnistria failed to come into an agreement with the central government in Chişinău, and carried out its own census during between November 11 and November 18, 2004...
, citizens could declare only one nationality. Consequently, one could not declare oneself both Moldovan and Romanian.
Transnistrian-controlled areas
| Population | Mold. Moldovans Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova... (Rom. Romanians The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania.... ) | Russians Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.... | Ukrainians Ukrainians Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens... | Gagauzes | Bulg. Bulgarians The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:... | Gyps. | Jews Jews The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation... | Poles Poles thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe... | Belor. | Germ. Germans The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages.... | Armen. Armenians Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian.... | others, non-decl. |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiraspol Tiraspol Tiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is the capital and administrative centre of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . The city is located on the eastern bank of the Dniester River... |
158,069 | 23,790 |
65,928 |
52,278 |
1,988 |
2,450 |
116 |
573 |
324 |
1,712 |
701 |
360 |
7,849
|
| Camenca sub-district | 27,284 | 13,048
|
1,880 |
11,610 |
43 |
59 |
9 |
10 |
447 |
85 |
26 |
16 |
51 |
| Rîbniţa sub-district | 82,699 | 24,729 |
14,237 |
37,554 |
149 |
309 |
51 |
177 |
528 |
412 |
150 |
81 |
4,322 |
| Dubăsari sub-district | 36,734 | 18,080 |
7,125 |
10,594 |
92 |
134 |
46 |
46 |
53 |
185 |
63 |
126 |
190 |
| Grigoriopol sub-district | 48,000 | 31,118 |
7,332 |
8,333 |
123 |
240 |
13 |
26 |
100 |
187 |
327 |
62 |
139 |
| Slobozia sub-district | 86,742 | 36,651 |
20,636 |
19,872 |
512 |
7,323 |
133 |
35 |
137 |
475 |
496 |
140 |
332 |
| Subtotal Transnistria Transnistria Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine... |
439,528 | 147,416 |
117,138 |
140,241 |
2,907 |
10,515 |
368 |
867 |
1,589 |
3,056 |
1,763 |
785 |
12,883 |
| Bender Bender, Moldova Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992... |
97,027 | 24,374 |
41,949 |
17,348 |
1,066 |
3,001 |
132 |
383 |
190 |
713 |
258 |
173 |
7,440 |
| Proteagailovca Proteagailovca Proteagailovca is a commune in the municipality of Tighina , Moldova. It is composed of a single village, Proteagailovca, and had a population of 3,142 at the 2004 Census. The locality, although situated on the right bank of the river Dniester, is under the control of the breakaway Transnistrian... |
3,142 | 756-761 |
1,482 |
658 |
25 |
163 |
0-5 |
2 |
0-12 |
19 |
6 |
0-16 |
0-31 |
| Gîsca Gîsca Gîsca is a commune near in Căuşeni district, Moldova, composed of a single village with the same name, population 4,841 at the 2004 Census... |
4,841 | 819-824 |
2,956 |
719 |
91 |
168 |
0-5 |
7 |
0-12 |
8 |
22 |
0-16 |
13-44 |
| Chiţcani Chitcani Chiţcani may refer to several places in Moldova:*Chiţcani, a commune in Căuşeni district*Chiţcanii Vechi, a commune in Teleneşti district, and its village of Chiţcanii Noiand to several places in Romania:... |
~9,000 | ~3,100 |
~4,800 |
~900 |
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|~200
|-
|align="left"| Cremenciug
Cremenciug, Căuşeni
Cremenciug is a commune in Căușeni district, Moldova, composed of a single village with the same name, population 1,094 at the 2004 Census. The locality, although situated on the right bank of the river Dniester, is under the control of the breakaway Transnistrian authorities. On the opposite side...
|| 1,094 || 465
|align ="right"|353
|align ="right"|203
|align ="right"|7
|align ="right"|11
|align ="right"|2
|align ="right"|-
|align ="right"|-
|align ="right"|15
|align ="right"|22
|align ="right"|6
|align ="right"|10
|-
|align="left"| Roghi || 715 || ~700
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|
|align ="right"|~15
|-
|align="left"| Subotal other localities || 115,819 || 30,219
|align ="right"|51,540
|align ="right"|19,828
|align ="right"|1,189
|align ="right"|3,343
|align ="right"|139
|align ="right"|392
|align ="right"|202
|align ="right"|755
|align ="right"|308
|align ="right"|195
|align ="right"|7,709
|-
|align="left"| Total Tiraspol-controlled areas || 555,347 || 177,635
|align ="right"|168,678
|align ="right"|160,069
|align ="right"|4,096
|align ="right"|13,858
|align ="right"|507
|align ="right"|1,259
|align ="right"|1,791
|align ="right"|3,811
|align ="right"|2,071
|align ="right"|980
|align ="right"|20,592
|}
Notes:
- The exact numbers in the above table are taken from the data published by the TransnistriaTransnistriaTransnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
n breakaway authorities after the 2004 Census in Transnistria2004 Census in TransnistriaThe 2004 Census in Transnistria was organized in Transnistria at roughly the same time that Moldova held its own census, which Transnistria refused to participate in out of principle and deference to its September 2, 1990 Declaration of Independence....
, except the population of Roghi, which was taken from website of the Dubăsari sub-district of Transnistria. - The number of inhabitants of Slobozia sub-district + that of the commune ChiţcaniChitcaniChiţcani may refer to several places in Moldova:*Chiţcani, a commune in Căuşeni district*Chiţcanii Vechi, a commune in Teleneşti district, and its village of Chiţcanii Noiand to several places in Romania:...
was given by Transnisrian authorities as 95,742. Other sources indicate ~9,000 for Chiţcani. In this table it is assumed there are 9,000 inhabitantts in Chiţcani, and 86,742 in Slobozia sub-district. Should the exact data of the census for Chiţcani be available, the entries in the lines of Slobozia sub-district and of Chiţcani should be corrected accordingly. - Transnistrian authorities have published the ethnic composition for the combined population of the Dubăsari sub-district and the village of Roghi in Molovata NouăMolovata NouaMolovata Nouă is a commune located in Dubăsari district of the Republic of Moldova, on the eastern bank of the River Dniester. It consists of two villages, Molovata Nouă and Roghi....
commune. Other sources indicate that the latter is almost entirely Moldovan (Romanian). In this table it is assumed that of the 715 inhabitants of this village, 700 are Moldovan (Romanian) and 15 are others. Should the exact ethnicity data of the census for Roghi be available, the entries for ethnicities in the lines of Dubăsari sub-district and of Roghi should be corrected accordingly. - Percentages are calculated from the absolute numbers
Languages
RomanianRomanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
is the official language of Moldova. In political contexts it is sometimes also called Moldovan
Moldovan language
Moldovan is one of the names of the Romanian language as spoken in the Republic of Moldova, where it is official. The spoken language of Moldova is closer to the dialects of Romanian spoken in northeastern Romania, and the two countries share the same literary standard...
.
Native language
Currently, 2,588,355 people or 76.51% of the inhabitants of right bankDniester
The Dniester is a river in Eastern Europe. It runs through Ukraine and Moldova and separates most of Moldova's territory from the breakaway de facto state of Transnistria.-Names:...
Moldova (proper) have Moldovan/Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
as native language, of which 2,029,847 (60.00%) declared it Moldovan
Moldovan language
Moldovan is one of the names of the Romanian language as spoken in the Republic of Moldova, where it is official. The spoken language of Moldova is closer to the dialects of Romanian spoken in northeastern Romania, and the two countries share the same literary standard...
and 558,508 (16.51%) declared it Romanian. 380,796 people or 11.26% have Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
as native language, 186,394 or 5.51% - Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
, 137,774 or 4.07% - Gagauz, 54,401 or 1.61% - Bulgarian
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
, 21,504 or 0.63% - another language, and 14,108 or 0.41% did not declare one.
First language in daily use
According to the 2004 census, 2,543,354 people or 75.17% of the inhabitants of Moldova (proper) have Moldovan/Romanian as first language, of which 1,988,540 (58.77%) declared it Moldovan and 554,814 (16.40%) declared it Romanian. 540,990 people or 15.99% have Russian as first language, 130,114 or 3.85% - Ukrainian, 104,890 or 3.10% - Gagauz, 38,565 or 1.14% - Bulgarian, 11,318 or 0.34% - another language, and 14,101 or 0.41% did not declare one.| Ethnic group \ First language | Romanian Romanian language Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova... | Russian Russian language Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics... | Ukrainian Ukrainian language Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet.... | Gagauzian | Bulgarian Bulgarian language Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the... | other language | did non declare | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moldovans Moldovans Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova... /Romanians Romanians The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
|
2,495,977 2,424,444 71,533 |
129,909 128,372 1,537 |
9,251 9,170 81 |
804 799 5 |
1,117 1,113 4 |
1,067 951 116 |
- - - |
2,638,125 2,564,849 73,276 |
| Russians Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.... |
11,657 | 187,526 | 1,224 | 329 | 344 | 138 | - | 201,218 |
| Ukrainians Ukrainians Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens... |
21,649 | 141,206 | 118,699 | 427 | 294 | 131 | - | 282,406 |
| Gagauzians | 3,365 | 40,445 | 413 | 102,395 | 821 | 61 | - | 147,500 |
| Bulgarians Bulgarians The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:... |
5,698 | 23,259 | 188 | 673 | 35,808 | 36 | - | 65,662 |
| other ethnic groups | 4,961 | 18,610 | 339 | 262 | 181 | 9,856 | 192 | 34,401 |
| did non declare | 47 | 35 | - | - | - | 29 | 13,909 | 14,020 |
| Total by language of first use | 2,543,354 75.17% |
540,990 15.99% |
130,114 3.85% |
104,890 3.10% |
38,565 1.14% |
11,318 0.34% |
14,101 0.41% |
3,383,332 100% |
Usage of own language by the ethnic groups of Moldova
| ethhnic group | own language | Romanian Romanian language Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova... | Russian Russian language Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moldovans Moldovans Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova... /Romanians Romanians The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania.... |
94.62% | - | 4.92% |
| Russians Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.... |
93.20% | 5.79% | - |
| Ukrainians Ukrainians Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens... |
42.03% | 7.66% | 50.00% |
| Gagauzians | 69.42% | 2.28% | 27.42% |
| Bulgarians Bulgarians The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:... |
54.53% | 8.68% | 35.42% |
| others | up to 28.65% | 14.42% | 54.10% |
Urban areas
| ethhnic group | own language | Romanian Romanian language Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova... | Russian Russian language Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moldovans Moldovans Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova... /Romanians Romanians The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania.... |
87.23% | - | 12.56% |
| Russians Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.... |
95.85% | 3.82% | - |
| Ukrainians Ukrainians Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens... |
13.06% | 6.56% | 80.19% |
| Gagauzians | 40.10% | 2.19% | 57.23% |
| Bulgarians Bulgarians The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:... |
36.81% | 7.93% | 54.45% |
| others | up to 28.11% | 8.35% | 62.05% |
Rural areas
| ethhnic group | own language | Romanian Romanian language Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova... | Russian Russian language Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moldovans Moldovans Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova... /Romanians Romanians The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania.... |
98.25% | - | 1.16% |
| Russians Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.... |
80.52% | 15.25% | - |
| Ukrainians Ukrainians Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens... |
72.99% | 8.85% | 17.74% |
| Gagauzians | 86.16% | 2.33% | 10.40% |
| Bulgarians Bulgarians The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:... |
68.95% | 9.29% | 19.95% |
| others | up to 30.34% | 33.39% | 29.25% |
Soviet era data
Soviet Census (1989)
The 1989 Soviet census, conducted between January 12-19 of that year, was the last one conducted in the former USSR. It resulted in a total population of 286,730,819 inhabitants...
members of most of the ethnic groups in Moldavian SSR
Moldavian SSR
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic , commonly abbreviated to Moldavian SSR or MSSR, was one of the 15 republics of the Soviet Union...
claimed the language of their ethnicity as their mother tongue: Moldovans
Moldovans
Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova...
(95%), Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
(62%), Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
(99%), Gagauz
Gagauz people
The Gagauz people are Turkic speaking group living mostly in southern Moldova , southwestern Ukraine , south-eastern Romania and northeastern Bulgaria. Unlike most other Turkic speaking people, the Gagauz are predominantly Orthodox Christians...
(91%), Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
(79%), and Gipsies (82%). The exceptions were Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
(26% citing Yiddish), Belarusians
Belarusians
Belarusians ; are an East Slavic ethnic group who populate the majority of the Republic of Belarus. Introduced to the world as a new state in the early 1990s, the Republic of Belarus brought with it the notion of a re-emerging Belarusian ethnicity, drawn upon the lines of the Old Belarusian...
(43%), Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
(31%), and Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
(10%).
In the Soviet census of 1989
Soviet Census (1989)
The 1989 Soviet census, conducted between January 12-19 of that year, was the last one conducted in the former USSR. It resulted in a total population of 286,730,819 inhabitants...
, 62% of the total population claimed Moldovan as their native language. Only 4% of the entire population claimed Moldovan as a second language.
In 1979, Russian was claimed as a native language by a large proportion of Jews (66%) and Belarusians (62%), and by a significant proportion of Ukrainians (30%). Proportions of other ethnicities naming Russian as a native language ranged from 17% of Bulgarians to 3% of Moldovans (Russian was more spoken by urban Moldovans than by rural Moldovans). Russian was claimed as a second language by a sizeable proportion of all ethnicities: Moldovans (46%), Ukrainians (43%), Gagauz (68%), Jews (30%), Bulgarians (67%), Belarusians (34%), Germans (53%), Roma (36%), and Poles (24%).
Religion
According to the 2004 census, the population of Moldova has the following religious composition:| Religion | Adherents | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Orthodox Christians | 3,158,015 | 93.3% |
Newer Protestant faiths
|
32,754 13,503 9,179 5,075 |
1.79% 0.97% 0.40% 0.27% 0.15% |
Traditional Protestant Protestantism Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
|
1,429 1,190 3,596 |
0.19% 0.04% 0.04% 0.11% |
| Old-Rite Christians Old Believers In the context of Russian Orthodox church history, the Old Believers separated after 1666 from the official Russian Orthodox Church as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon between 1652–66... |
5,094 | 0.15% |
| Roman Catholics Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity... |
4,645 | 0.14% |
| Other religions | 29,813 | 0.88% |
| Non-religious Irreligion Irreligion is defined as an absence of religion or an indifference towards religion. Sometimes it may also be defined more narrowly as hostility towards religion. When characterized as hostility to religion, it includes antitheism, anticlericalism and antireligion. When characterized as... |
33,207 | 0.98% |
| Atheists | 12,724 | 0.38% |
Notes: 75,727 (2.24% of population) did not answer that question.
a Known as Creştini după Evanghelie.
b Traditionally Orthodox Lipovans.
History
In 1940-1941, and 1944–1991, the Soviet government strictly limited the activities of the Orthodox Church (and all religions) and at times sought to exploit it, with the ultimate goal of abolishing it and all religious activity altogether. Most Orthodox churches and monasteries in Moldova were demolished or converted to other uses, such as administrative buildings or warehouses, and clergy were sometimes punished for leading services. Still, many believers continued to practice their faith.
People in the independent Moldova have much greater religious freedom than they did in Soviet times. Legislation passed in 1992 guarantees religious freedom, but requires all religious groups to be officially recognized by the government.
Orthodox Christians
In 1991, Moldova had 853 Orthodox churches and eleven Orthodox monasteries (four for monks and seven for nuns). In 1992 construction or restoration of 221 churches was underway, but clergy remained in short supply. As of 2004, Chistian Orthodox constitute the vast majority of the population in all districts of Moldova.
In the interwar period
Union of Bessarabia with Romania
On , the Sfatul Ţării, or National Council, of Bessarabia proclaimed union with the Kingdom of Romania.-Governorate of Bessarabia:The 1812 Treaty of Bucharest between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empires provided for Russian annexation of the eastern half of the territory of the Principality...
, the vast majority of ethnic Moldovans belonged to the Romanian Orthodox Church
Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
(Bucharest Patriarchate), but today both Romanian and Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
(Moscow Patriarchate) have jurisdiction in Moldova, with the latter having more parishes. According to the local needs, liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
is performed in Romanian, Russian, and Turkic (Gagauz). After the revival of religious activity in the last 20 years, a minority of the clergy and the faithful wanted to return to the Bucharest Patriarchate (Metropolis of Bessarabia
Metropolis of Bessarabia
The Metropolis of Bessarabia is an autonomous Eastern Orthodox Metropolitan bishopric of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Metropolis of Bessarabia was created in 1923 and organized in 1925, when the Archbishopric of Chișinău was raised to the rank of metropolis...
). Because higher-level church authorities were unable to resolve the matter, Moldova now has two episcopates, one for each patriarchate. After the Soviet occupation in 1940, the Metropolis was downgraded to a Bishopric. In late 1992, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia issued a decree upgrading its eparchy
Eparchy
Eparchy is an anglicized Greek word , authentically Latinized as eparchia and loosely translating as 'rule over something,' like province, prefecture, or territory, to have the jurisdiction over, it has specific meanings both in politics, history and in the hierarchy of the Eastern Christian...
of Chişinău and Moldova to a Metropolis
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
.
Greek Catholics
Moldova also has a Greek Catholic minority, mainly among ethnic Ukrainians, although the Soviet government declared the Greek Catholic Churches illegal in 1946 and forcibly united them with the Russian Orthodox Church. However, the Greek Catholic Churches had survived underground until the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Roman Ctholics
Half of Moldova's Roman Catholics are in Chişinău, and 1/5 in Bălţi.
Old Believers
In addition, the Old Russian Orthodox Church (Old Believers
Old Believers
In the context of Russian Orthodox church history, the Old Believers separated after 1666 from the official Russian Orthodox Church as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon between 1652–66...
) had fourteen churches and one monastery in Moldova in 1991.
Half of Moldova's Old Believers are in Floreşti district, and 1/5 in Sîngerei district.
Judaism
Despite the Soviet government's suppression and harassment, Moldova's practicing Jews managed to retain their religious identity. About a dozen Jewish newspapers were started in the early 1990s, and religious leaders opened a synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Chişinău; there were six Jewish communities of worship throughout the country. In addition, Moldova's government created the Department of Jewish Studies at Chişinău State University
Moldova State University
The Moldova State University is a university located in Chişinău, Moldova. It was founded in 1946.-Organization:The university is organized into eleven faculties:*1. Biology and Pedology...
, mandated the opening of a Jewish high school in Chişinău, and introduced classes in Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
in high schools in several cities. The government also provides financial support to the Society for Jewish Culture.
Protestants
There are around 65,000 Protestants of all sects in Moldova today. There are more than 1,000 Baptists in the cities of Chişinău and Bălţi, in Cahul, Făleşti, Hînceşti, Sîngerei, Ştefan Vodă, and Ungheni districts, and in Găgăuzia. There are more than 1,000 Seventh-day Adventists in Cahul, Hînceşti and Sîngerei districts, and in Găgăuzia, there are more than 1,000 Penticostals in Chişinău and in Briceni district. There are more than 1,000 members of Brethren assemblies only in Chişinău. There are more than 1,000 Evangelical Synod-Presbyterians only in Chişinău.
Others
Other religious denominations in Moldova include:
- Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic ChurchThe Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
- MolokanMolokanMolokans are sectarian Christians who evolved from "Spiritual Christian" Russian peasants that refused to obey the Russian Orthodox Church, beginning in the 17th century...
s (a Russian Orthodox sect).
Analysis
Moldova's territory is generally ethnically homogeneous. MoldovansMoldovans
Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova...
(Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
) form majorities in 33 of the 37 first-tier territorial units (including over 90% in 15 districts, between 80% and 90% in 9 districts, between 70% and 80% in 7 administrative units, and between 50% and 60% in 2 units), and a 33.5% plurality in Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
, where there are 32% Ukrainians and 27% Russians. Gagauzians represent a 82% majority in the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia
Gagauzia
Gagauzia , formally known as the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Găgăuzia , is an autonomous region of...
, with only 5% Moldovans (Romanians). Bulgarians
Bessarabian Bulgarians
The Bessarabian Bulgarians are a Bulgarian minority group of the historical region of Bessarabia, inhabiting parts of present-day Ukraine and Moldova.- Location and number :-Modern Ukraine:...
represent a 66% majority in the Taraclia district, with 14% Moldovans (Romanians). Finally, Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
represent a 43% plurality in the municipality of Bender
Bender, Moldova
Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992...
, with 25% Moldovans (Romanians). Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
represent between 20% and 30% minorities in four units with Moldovan (Romanian) majority: Bălţi
Balti
Balti can refer to:* Balti language, a language spoken in Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir* Balti people, Muslims of Ladakhi/Tibetan origin from Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir...
, Briceni, Ocniţa, and Rîşcani, and one with Moldovan plurality (Transnistria). Elsewhere, the ethnic populations are under 20% district-wise (generally much less).
Although before 1991 Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
was the most densely populated of the former Soviet republics (129 inhabitants per square kilometer in 1990, compared with 13 inhabitants per square kilometer for the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
as a whole), it had and has only few large cities.
The largest and most important of these is Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
, the country's capital and its most important industrial center, with a population of 712,218 in 2004. The city's population is 72.11% Moldovan
Moldovans
Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova...
(Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
), 13.92% Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
, 8.28% Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
, and 5.69% others (Bulganians, Gagauzians, Jews, Poles, Gypsies, etc.). The proportion of Russophones living in Moldova decreased in the years immediately after 1989 because of the emigration to Russia, after an immigration from Russia had taken place during the Soviet period.
The second largest city in the country, Tiraspol
Tiraspol
Tiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is the capital and administrative centre of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . The city is located on the eastern bank of the Dniester River...
, had a population of 184,000 in 1990. Located in Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
, with a population of 158,069 in 2004, it is the capital of the breakaway republic. In contrast to Chişinǎu, Tiraspol has only some 15% Moldovans (Romanians), with Russians comprising 41.7%, and Ukrainians 33%. Due to deportations by the breakaway authorities, and emigration during and after the 1992 War of Transnistria
War of Transnistria
The War of Transnistria was a limited conflict that broke out in November 1990 at Dubăsari between pro-Transnistria forces, including the Transnistrian Republican Guard, militia and Cossack units, and supported by elements of the Russian 14th army, and pro-Moldovan forces, including Moldovan...
, it has been reported that the Moldovan (Romanian) population has gone down by up to 10,000 since 1990.
Other important cities include Bălţi
Balti
Balti can refer to:* Balti language, a language spoken in Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir* Balti people, Muslims of Ladakhi/Tibetan origin from Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir...
, with a population of 162,000 in 1990, and 127,561 in 2004, and Bender
Bender, Moldova
Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992...
, with a population of 132,000 in 1990 and 100,169 in 2004. Other major cities include Rîbniţa
Rîbnita
Rîbnița, also spelled Râbnița is a city in Moldova. The city is under the administration of the breakaway government of the Transnistria. According to the 2004 Census in Transnistria, it has a population of 53,648. Rîbniţa is situated in the northern half of Transnistria, on the left bank of the...
, population 53,648, Cahul
Cahul
-Demographics:According to the last Moldovan census from 2004 there were 35,488 people living within the city of Cahul and 1,317 people within Cotihana....
, population 35,488, Ungheni
Ungheni
----Ungheni is the seventh largest city in Moldova and, since 2003, the seat of Ungheni District.There is a bridge across the Prut and a border checkpoint to Romania. There is another border town with the same name in Romania , on the other side of the Prut River.- History :The first historical...
, population 32,530, Soroca
Soroca
Soroca is a Moldovan city situated on the Nistru river about 160 km north of Chişinău. It is the administrative center of Soroca District.- History :The city has its origin in the medieval Genoese trade post of Olchionia, or Alchona...
, population 28,362, and Orhei
Orhei
Orhei is a city and the administrative centre of Orhei District in Moldova with a population of 25,680. Orhei is approximately 50 kilometers north of the capital, Chişinău.-Demographics:...
, population 25,641.
Traditionally a predominantly rural country, Moldova gradually began changing its character in the 20th century. As urban areas became the sites of new industrial and intellectual jobs and amenities such as hospitals, the population of cities and towns grew. The Soviets kept the population of Moldova under control with the famous Soviet policy of propiska
Propiska
Propiska was both a residence permit and migration recording tool in the Russian Empire before 1917 and from 1930s in the Soviet Union. It was documented in local police registers and certified with a stamp in internal passports....
, which forbid a person to live in another locality than the one written in his/her identity documents without approval of Soviet authorities. The new residents Moldova's cities during the Soviet era were not only Moldovans, who had moved from the nearby rural areas, but also many Russians and Ukrainians who had been recruited to fill positions in industry and government, moving in from other parts of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Many people have emigrated to Romania in 1940 (estinated at 200,000) and 1944 (estimated at more than 200,000), and others had lost their lives during the war (over 100,000 as Soviet soldiers in 1944-1945, and up to 50,000 as Romanian soldiers before 1944, including as Soviet POWs in 1944-1945), in Stalinist persecutions (over 8,000 executed, ca. 50,000 sent to Gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
, over 200,000 deported), and during the 1946-1947 famine (216,000 deceised). During 1940s, thousands of young people were recruited to work in large-scale Soviet construction projects. Then, as a consequence of industrial growth after 1956, there was significant immigration to the Moldavian SSR
Moldavian SSR
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic , commonly abbreviated to Moldavian SSR or MSSR, was one of the 15 republics of the Soviet Union...
by representatives of other ethnic groups, especially Russians and Ukrainians.
At the time of the 1989 census, Moldova's total population was 4,335,400. The largest ethnic group, Moldovans, numbered 2,795,000, accounting for 64.5 % of the population. The other major ethnicities were Ukrainians, about 600,000 (14%); Russians, about 562,000 (13.0%); Gagauz, about 153,000 (4%); Bulgarians, about 88,000 (2%); and Jews, about 66,000 (2.0%). There were also smaller but appreciable numbers of Poles and Roma in the population. In Transnistria ethnic Moldovans accounted for 40% of the population in 1989, followed by Ukrainians (28%), and Russians (25%). In the early 1990s, there was significant emigration from the republic, primarily from urban areas and mainly by non-Moldovan minorities. Moldovans made up a sizable proportion of the urban population in 1989 (about half the population of Chişinǎu and other cities), as well as a large proportion of the rural population (over 85%), but only 23% of the ethnic Moldovans lived in the republic's ten largest cities, with the rest of the community being predominantly rural.
Unlike Moldovans, Russians tend to be urban dwellers in Moldova; more than 72% of them lived in the ten largest cities in 1989. Many of them came to the Moldova after it was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. Some of them came to alleviate the postwar shortage of qualified labor in the Moldavian SSR, which was created by the rapid industrialization, but also by the loss of human life during the war, deportations, and famine. Ethnic Russians settled mainly in Chişinǎu, Bălţi, Bender, and in the cities of the eastern bank of the Dniester
Dniester
The Dniester is a river in Eastern Europe. It runs through Ukraine and Moldova and separates most of Moldova's territory from the breakaway de facto state of Transnistria.-Names:...
, such as Tiraspol, Rîbniţa, and Dubăsari. Only about 25% of Moldova's Russians lived in Transnistria in 1990, as many as in Chişinǎu alone.
In 1990, Moldova's divorce rate of 3.0 divorces per 1,000 population had risen from the 1987 rate of 2.7 divorces per 1,000 population. The usual stresses of marriage were exacerbated by a society in which women were expected to perform most of the housework in addition to their work outside the home. Compounding this were crowded housing conditions (with their resulting lack of privacy) and the growing economic crisis.
External links
- Arianna Montanari, Rumanian national identity in the Republic of Moldova
- Disaster by Depopulation, a Red Cross report about impact of demographic changes on family structure and child care