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Background: |
Formerly part of Romania,
Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War
II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have
remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the
Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have
proclaimed a 'Transnistria' republic. One of the poorest nations in
Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist
as its president in 2001. |
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Location: |
Eastern Europe, northeast of
Romania |
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Geographic coordinates: |
47 00 N, 29 00 E |
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Map references: |
Europe |
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Area: |
total: 33,843 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
water: 472 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
slightly larger than Maryland
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Land boundaries: |
total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km |
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Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked) |
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Climate: |
moderate winters, warm summers
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Terrain: |
rolling steppe, gradual slope
south to Black Sea |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Dniester
River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m |
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Natural resources: |
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum,
arable land, limestone |
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Land use: |
arable land: 54.52%
permanent crops: 8.81%
other: 36.67% (2005) |
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Irrigated land: |
3,000 sq km (2003) |
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Total renewable water resources: |
11.7 cu km (1997) |
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
total: 2.31 cu km/yr
(10%/58%/33%)
per capita: 549 cu m/yr (2000) |
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Natural hazards: |
landslides |
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Environment - current issues: |
heavy use of agricultural
chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil
and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods |
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Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Air Pollution,
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note: |
landlocked; well endowed with
various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and
limestone |
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Population: |
4,324,450 (July 2008 est.)
|
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Age structure: |
0-14 years: 16.3% (male
361,000/female 341,785)
15-64 years: 72.9% (male
1,528,080/female 1,622,620)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male
174,448/female 296,517) (2008 est.) |
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Median age: |
total: 34.3 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 36.4 years (2008 est.)
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Population growth rate: |
-0.092% (2008 est.) |
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Birth rate: |
11.01 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
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Death rate: |
10.8 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.06
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64
years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59
male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008
est.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
total: 13.5 deaths/1,000
live births
male: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 70.5
years
male: 66.81 years
female: 74.41 years (2008
est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
1.26 children born/woman (2008
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.2% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
5,500 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 300 (2001 est.)
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Nationality: |
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan |
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Ethnic groups: |
Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%,
Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3%
(2004 census)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the
Transnistrian region |
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Religions: |
Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish
1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000) |
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Languages: |
Moldovan (official, virtually
the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.6% (2005 est.)
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|
Country name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form:
Moldova
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan
Soviet Socialist Republic |
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Government type: |
republic |
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Capital: |
name: Chisinau
(Kishinev)
note: pronounced kee-shee-now
geographic
coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7
hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving
time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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Administrative divisions: |
32 raions (raioane, singular -
raionul), 3 municipalities (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit
(unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea
teritoriala)
raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul,
Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia,
Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova,
Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca,
Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
autonomous
territorial unit: Gagauzia
territorial unit: Stinga
Nistrului |
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Independence: |
27 August 1991 (from Soviet
Union) |
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National holiday: |
Independence Day, 27 August
(1991) |
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Constitution: |
new constitution adopted 29
July 1994, effective 27 August 1994; replaced old Soviet constitution of
1979 |
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Legal system: |
based on civil law system;
Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental
decisions of resolution; accepts many UN and Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch: |
chief of state:
President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)
head of
government: Prime Minister Zinaida GRECEANII (since 31 March 2008);
First Deputy Prime Minister Igor DODON (since 31 March 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a
four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April
2005 (next to be held in 2009); note - prime minister designated by the
president upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from
designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of
confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire
cabinet; prime minister designated 21 March 2008; cabinet received a vote
of confidence 31 March 2008
election results: Vladimir VORONIN
reelected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe
DUCA 1; Zinaida GRECEANII designated prime minister; parliamentary votes
of confidence - 56 of 101 |
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Legislative branch: |
unicameral Parliament or
Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March
2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of
vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic Moldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%,
other parties 16.4%; seats by party - PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc 34,
PPCD 11 |
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court; Constitutional
Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature) |
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Political parties and leaders: |
Christian Democratic People's
Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or
PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV]; Liberal
Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladmir FILAT]; National Liberal Party or PNL
[Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN];
Party for Social Democracy or PDSM [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Social Liberal Party
or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
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International organization participation: |
ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC
(observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA
chancery: 2101 S Street NW,
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael D. KIRBY
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street,
Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300
FAX: [373] (22)
23-3044 |
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Flag description: |
three equal vertical bands of
blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman
eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a
yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and
a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided
horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and
crescent all in black-outlined yellow; same color scheme as Romania
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Economy - overview: |
Moldova remains one of the
poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small
economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no
major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on
agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must
import almost all of its energy supplies. Moldova's dependence on Russian
energy was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical
station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power to
Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas in disputes over pricing.
Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled
with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural
gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006. However, in 2007 growth returned to the 6%
level Moldova had achieved in 2000-05, boosted by Russia's partial removal
of the bans, solid fixed capital investment, and strong domestic demand
driven by remittances from abroad. Economic reforms have been slow because
of corruption and strong political forces backing government controls.
Nevertheless, the government's primary goal of EU integration has resulted
in some market-oriented progress. The granting of EU trade preferences and
increased exports to Russia will encourage higher growth rates in 2008,
but the agreements are unlikely to serve as a panacea, given the extent to
which export success depends on higher quality standards and other
factors. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor
agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the
presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region
continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$9.999 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate): |
$4.021 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate: |
6% (2007 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$2,200 (2007 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 18.4%
industry: 22.4%
services: 59.2% (2007 est.) |
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Labor force: |
1.333 million (2007 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 40.7%
industry: 12.1%
services: 47.2% (2005) |
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Unemployment rate: |
2.1%; note - roughly 25% of
working age Moldovans are employed abroad (2007 est.) |
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Population below poverty line: |
29.5% (2005) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 26.4% (2003) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
33.2 (2003) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
12.5% (2007 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed): |
25.3% of GDP (2007 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $1.764 billion
expenditures: $1.771 billion (2007 est.) |
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Public debt: |
24.6% of GDP (2007 est.) |
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Agriculture - products: |
vegetables, fruits, wine,
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk |
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Industries: |
sugar, vegetable oil, food
processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and
freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
6% (2007 est.) |
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Electricity - production: |
3.881 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption: |
5.551 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - exports: |
220 million kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - imports: |
3.361 billion kWh (2005) |
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Oil - production: |
0 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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Oil - consumption: |
14,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - exports: |
31.69 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports: |
14,200 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves: |
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption: |
2.35 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports: |
2.35 billion cu m (2005) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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Current account balance: |
-$569 million (2007 est.)
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Exports: |
$1.43 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.) |
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Exports - commodities: |
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
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Exports - partners: |
Russia 22.8%, Germany 12.2%,
Italy 11.1%, Romania 9.7%, Ukraine 9.6%, Belarus 5.7% (2006) |
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Imports: |
$3.59 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.) |
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Imports - commodities: |
mineral products and fuel,
machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles |
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Imports - partners: |
Russia 20.8%, Ukraine 16.9%,
Romania 13.4%, Germany 8.7%, Italy 6.1%, Poland 4.4% (2006) |
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Economic aid - recipient: |
$191.8 million (2005) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$1.05 billion (31 December 2007
est.) |
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Debt - external: |
$2.774 billion (30 June 2007)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
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Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$573.9 million (2004) |
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Currency (code): |
Moldovan leu (MDL) |
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Currency code: |
MDL |
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Exchange rates: |
lei per US dollar - 12.177
(2007), 13.131 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003) |
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Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
1.018 million (2006) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
1.358 million (2006) |
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Telephone system: |
general assessment:
inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is
under way
domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may
face long wait for service; multiple private operators of GSM
mobile-cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being
introduced; a CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and
Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat,
Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2006) |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA
(2006) |
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Radios: |
3.22 million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
40 (2006) |
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Televisions: |
1.26 million (1997) |
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Internet country code: |
.md |
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Internet hosts: |
112,026 (2007) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
2 (1999) |
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Internet users: |
727,700 (2006) |
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Airports: |
10 (2007) |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 6
over
3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m:
2
under 914 m: 1 (2007) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 4
1,524 to
2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1
(2007) |
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Pipelines: |
gas 1,980 km (2007) |
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Railways: |
total: 1,138 km
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge:
14 km 1.435-m gauge (2006) |
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Roadways: |
total: 12,733 km
paved: 10,976 km
unpaved: 1,757 km (2004) |
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Waterways: |
424 km (on Dniester and Prut
rivers) (2007) |
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Merchant marine: |
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT
or over) 15,668 GRT/17,585 DWT
by type: cargo 8
foreign-owned: 3 (Ukraine 3) (2007) |
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Military branches: |
National Army: Ground Forces,
Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (2008) |
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Military service age and obligation: |
18 years of age for compulsory
military service; 12-month service obligation (2006) |
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Manpower available for military service: |
males age 16-49:
1,161,924
females age 16-49: 1,187,771 (2008 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 877,070
females age 16-49: 994,091 (2008 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually: |
males age 16-49: 33,053
females age 16-49: 31,712 (2008 est.) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
0.4% (2005 est.)
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| Transnational Issues |
Moldova |
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Disputes - international: |
Moldova and Ukraine operate
joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities
through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under OSCE
supervision |
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Illicit drugs: |
limited cultivation of opium
poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for
illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western
Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic
activity |
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