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 Nistru (Dnister) River
supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who
have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in
Europe and plagued by a moribund economy, in 2001 Moldova became the first
former Soviet state to elect a communist as its president.
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Population: |
4,431,570 (July 2001 est.) |
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Ethnic groups: |
Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%,
Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%,
Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other
1.7% (1989 est.)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian
region |
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Religions: |
Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish
1.5%, Baptist
(only about 1,000 members) (1991) |
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Languages: |
Moldovan (official, virtually
the same as the Romanian language),
Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect) |
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Currency: |
Moldovan lei (MDL) |
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Exchange rates: |
1 EURO to Moldovan Lei: 13.7827 (April 2004) |
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