Moldova

Moldova Background

Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a Transnistria republic. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.

Moldova Information

• Population: 4,446,455 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan
• Location:: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
• Religions:: Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
• Ethnic Groups:: Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.) note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
• Land Boundaries:: total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
• Area: total: 33,843 sq km water: 472 sq km land: 33,371 sq km
• Coast Line: 0 km (landlocked)
• Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
• Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
• Maritime Claims: none (landlocked)
• Land Use: arable land: 55.3% permanent crops: 10.79% other: 33.91% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
• Natural Resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
• Highways: total: 12,657 km paved: 11,012 km unpaved: 1,645 km (1999)
• Railways: total: 1,138 km broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
• Ports & Harbours: none
• Airports: 24 (2003 est.)