Abstract

Moldova Household Budget Survey (HBS) 2008 was implemented by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova (formerly the Department for Statistics and Sociology of the Republic of Moldova).

Household Budget Survey is a nationally representative survey that provides information on living standards in Moldova through collection of households' income and consumption data, as well as non-monetary indicators covering education, health, employment, housing, asset ownership, and self-assessed living conditions. Information obtained from the survey is also used to calculate the weights for the Consumption Price Index, and the households' final consumption. The HBS has been conducted quarterly starting in the second quarter of 1997.

In 2006, Moldova HBS was substantially modified in two main areas: the way in which households were selected (sampling frame and sampling area), and the data collection tools (questionnaires). Since 1997, the HBS sample had been extracted from the same areas causing exhaustion of households. Moldova Census 2004 provided updated and detailed information on the population to construct a new sampling frame. Census information was used to ensure a larger geographical coverage, thus improving the quality of indicators obtained at country and regional levels. The household diary design was changed to improve the way the survey covers various income sources and types of expenditure.

Data is collected through face-to-face interviews and the households' income and expenditure diary.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households,
• Individuals.

Universe

Population of the Household Budget Survey consists of all individual Moldovan households. Institutional households, such as hospitals, students' hostels, prisons, or senior citizens' houses, were not included in the survey. However, workers' hostels were included in the study.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling methodology for Moldova HBS was re-designed in 2006.

The updated HBS sample was selected using information from the Population Census 2004 and a joint database of electricity consumers in the whole country. 129 Primary Sampling Units (PSU) are now covered by HBS (before 2006, 45 PSUs were surveyed).

A larger number of PSUs improves regional estimates and ensures a representative sample not only for cities, towns and rural areas as did the previous survey, but also at the level of four statistical zones (North, Centre, South, and Chisinau). Moreover, both Chisinau and Balti municipialities are treated as a large primary sampling unit, from where households are selected, whereas before only some districts were included in the sample.

Two-stage probability sample is used to select households.

1) Sampling procedure: 1st stage - sampling with probabilities proportional to size (PPS) in each strata; 2nd stage - simple random sample (SRS) of households in each PSU.

2) Rotation scheme: 1st stage - starting with 2008 about 20% of PSUs will be annually replaced; 2nd stage - one half of households will participate in the survey during five consecutive years and the rest of households will be replaced with the new ones.

Updated HBS sampling design does not use substitution in case of non-response.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Abstract

The Children’s Activities Survey (CAS) was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics of Moldova in October-December 2009 as a module of the nationwide Labour Force Survey (LFS) that has been implemented in Moldova on a quarterly basis since 1998. The CAS provides reliable estimates on the activities of children aged 5-17 (inclusive) for the nation as a whole; for the four statistical regions of Moldova (North, Centre, South, Chisinau Municipality); by geographical area (urban/rural); and by sex (male/female).

The survey aimed to provide an understanding of the prevalence of employment among children and child labour, the main characteristics of working children, and the potential consequences of employment as measured by school and health outcomes.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

• Children aged 5-17

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sample Design The CAS was conducted as a module of a larger, regularly conducted Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is the main survey instrument used to collect labour market data in Moldova. The sample size was chosen so as to allow for representative estimates of key child-labour indicators for the country at large as well as for urban and rural areas and for the four statistical regions of the country, namely, North, Centre, South and Chisinau Municipality, which includes the capital city.

Sample Selection The LFS employs a complex, two-stage sample design based on probabilistic sampling. In Stage I, all primary sampling units (PSU) from the Multi-dimensional Sample for Social Research (EMDOS) master sample were included, with the PSUs in the EMDOS selected using probability-proportional-to-size (PPS) sampling. Population Census lists (2004) combined with the lists of electricity consumers (2007) were also used as the sampling frame. In Stage II, households were initially selected using simple random sampling (SRS); from these, households identified as having children aged 5-17 – the target population – were selected for interviewing in the CAS. The sampling frame for Stage II was comprised of the LFS sample for the first, second and fourth quarter.

The CAS survey was conducted as an ad-hoc survey using the LFS sample for the first, second and the fourth quarter of 2009. The LFS sample comprises 12,000 households in 150 Primary Sampling Units (PSUs). Due to the rotational structure of the LFS, some households included in the LFS are interviewed in more than one consecutive month/quarter. Consequently, the total sample size for the CAS would be 36,000 households (LFS: Q1+Q2+Q4), if it were to include the multiple appearances of each household in the rotation scheme. However, in calculating the CAS sample size, individual households were counted only once. Thus, the CAS sample size consisted of 18,400 households, comprised of 23 rotational groups (sub-samples) of 800 households each, and was estimated to include 5,054 households with at least one child aged 5-17 years. This sample was obtained by combining a sub-sample of 3,534 households that had been sampled in the LFS for the first and second quarters of 2009 (Rotational Groups a-g and j-s) with a sub-sample of 1,520 households that were not included in the LFS until after the second quarter of 2009 (Rotational Groups t-y). Estimated numbers of children aged 5-17 expected to be interviewed included 2,194 in the first sub-sample and 5,246 in the second sub-sample, for a total estimate of 7,440 children.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The CAS questionnaire was developed based on the ILO/SIMPOC model Child Labour Survey questionnaire and was appended as a module to the LFS, which is conducted quarterly and is addressed to individuals 15 years of age and over. Like most labour force surveys, it collects information on basic demographics, employment outcomes and inactivity. Since 2006, the LFS has also collected information on labour market earnings of adults; however, this information is not publicly released.

The CAS consists of 43 questions distributed over four main sections, namely: Educational Attainment; Economic Activity; Unpaid Household Services; and Health and Safety Issues. Although the questionnaire is addressed to children aged 5-17, in 36.3 percent of cases (n=2,454 children), another household member answered the questionnaire on the child’s behalf. The proportion of children answering the questionnaire themselves increased with age up until age 14 (76.6%), but decreased thereafter up until age 17 (62%).

Data appraisal

Data Calibration After weighting for non-response, data was calibrated in order to adjust the marginal distribution of variables (sex, age urban/rural, region) within the sample to that of the actual population (according to the current demographic statistics as of 1 January 2009). Calibration was performed until population estimates for each variable were adjusted to within 1.0 percent of the actual reported population.

Further details on data calibration process is given in Appendix D of the final report.

Abstract

Moldova Household Budget Survey (HBS) 2006 was implemented by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova (formerly the Department for Statistics and Sociology of the Republic of Moldova).

Household Budget Survey is a nationally representative survey that provides information on living standards in Moldova through collection of households' income and consumption data, as well as non-monetary indicators covering education, health, employment, housing, asset ownership, and self-assessed living conditions. Information obtained from the survey is also used to calculate the weights for the Consumption Price Index, and the households' final consumption. The HBS has been conducted quarterly starting in the second quarter of 1997.

In 2006, Moldova HBS was substantially modified in two main areas: the way in which households were selected (sampling frame and sampling area), and the data collection tools (questionnaires). Since 1997, the HBS sample had been extracted from the same areas causing exhaustion of households. Moldova Census 2004 provided updated and detailed information on the population to construct a new sampling frame. Census information was used to ensure a larger geographical coverage, thus improving the quality of indicators obtained at country and regional levels. The household diary design was changed to improve the way the survey covers various income sources and types of expenditure.

Data is collected through face-to-face interviews and the households' income and expenditure diary.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households,
• Individuals.

Universe

Population of the Household Budget Survey consists of all individual Moldovan households. Institutional households, such as hospitals, students' hostels, prisons, or senior citizens' houses, were not included in the survey. However, workers' hostels were included in the study.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling methodology for Moldova HBS was re-designed in 2006.

The updated HBS sample was selected using information from the Population Census 2004 and a joint database of electricity consumers in the whole country. 129 Primary Sampling Units (PSU) are now covered by HBS (before 2006, 45 PSUs were surveyed).

A larger number of PSUs improves regional estimates and ensures a representative sample not only for cities, towns and rural areas as did the previous survey, but also at the level of four statistical zones (North, Centre, South, and Chisinau). Moreover, both Chisinau and Balti municipialities are treated as a large primary sampling unit, from where households are selected, whereas before only some districts were included in the sample.

Two-stage probability sample is used to select households.

1) Sampling procedure: 1st stage - sampling with probabilities proportional to size (PPS) in each strata; 2nd stage - simple random sample (SRS) of households in each PSU.

2) Rotation scheme: 1st stage - starting with 2008 about 20% of PSUs will be annually replaced; 2nd stage - one half of households will participate in the survey during five consecutive years and the rest of households will be replaced with the new ones.

Updated HBS sampling design does not use substitution in case of non-response.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Abstract

The 2023 Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) in Moldova evaluated the profiles and urgent needs of Ukrainian refugee households. Conducted as part of a regional Ukraine Situation response and used to inform the 2024 Regional Refugee Response Plan, the MSNA employed a non-probability, purposive sample of 850 respondents. The sampling was stratified by region (North, Centre, Chisinau, and South) and excluded settlements with fewer than 15 households. While the data is not statistically representative, regional weighting was applied to improve the accuracy of aggregated results. The data collection, training, and analysis were coordinated by external partner Impact-REACH from August 14 to September 10, 2023. The findings provide indicative insights into refugee needs, particularly in areas along the border with Ukraine, and guide refugee response efforts in Moldova.

Geographic coverage

Country

Analysis unit

Household

Universe

Households fleeing Ukraine: The assessment aimed to evaluate the profiles and urgent needs of these households as part of a regional exercise for the Ukraine Situation.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The 2023 MSNA in Moldova employed a non-probability, purposive sampling method, targeting 850 Ukrainian refugee households. The sampling frame was constructed using data from the UNHCR Cash Programme beneficiary list, the REACH area monitoring exercise, and Moldovan population data from 2019. The assessment excluded settlements with fewer than 15 households. To ensure national coverage, Moldova was stratified into four regions: North, Centre, Chisinau, and South, excluding the Transnistrian region. The assessment employed a three-level hierarchical administrative framework, encompassing regions (admin. 0: North, Centre, Chisinau, South), raions (admin. 1: 35 raions), and settlements (admin. 2: around 900 settlements). This framework allowed differentiation between urban and rural areas and helped ensure more granular data collection. While the data is not statistically representative due to the non-probability sampling method, regional weighting was applied to adjust for distortions in proportionality and enhance the accuracy of aggregated results.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Income, food consumption, expenditures, assets, community relations, wellbeing, resilience, mental health, health, accommodation, protection, and education

Abstract

Moldova Household Budget Survey (HBS) 2007 was implemented by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova (formerly the Department for Statistics and Sociology of the Republic of Moldova).

Household Budget Survey is a nationally representative survey that provides information on living standards in Moldova through collection of households' income and consumption data, as well as non-monetary indicators covering education, health, employment, housing, asset ownership, and self-assessed living conditions. Information obtained from the survey is also used to calculate the weights for the Consumption Price Index, and the households' final consumption. The HBS has been conducted quarterly starting in the second quarter of 1997.

In 2006, Moldova HBS was substantially modified in two main areas: the way in which households were selected (sampling frame and sampling area), and the data collection tools (questionnaires). Since 1997, the HBS sample had been extracted from the same areas causing exhaustion of households. Moldova Census 2004 provided updated and detailed information on the population to construct a new sampling frame. Census information was used to ensure a larger geographical coverage, thus improving the quality of indicators obtained at country and regional levels. The household diary design was changed to improve the way the survey covers various income sources and types of expenditure.

Data is collected through face-to-face interviews and the households' income and expenditure diary.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households,
• Individuals.

Universe

Population of the Household Budget Survey consists of all individual Moldovan households. Institutional households, such as hospitals, students' hostels, prisons, or senior citizens' houses, were not included in the survey. However, workers' hostels were included in the study.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling methodology for Moldova HBS was re-designed in 2006.

The updated HBS sample was selected using information from the Population Census 2004 and a joint database of electricity consumers in the whole country. 129 Primary Sampling Units (PSU) are now covered by HBS (before 2006, 45 PSUs were surveyed).

A larger number of PSUs improves regional estimates and ensures a representative sample not only for cities, towns and rural areas as did the previous survey, but also at the level of four statistical zones (North, Centre, South, and Chisinau). Moreover, both Chisinau and Balti municipialities are treated as a large primary sampling unit, from where households are selected, whereas before only some districts were included in the sample.

Two-stage probability sample is used to select households.

1) Sampling procedure: 1st stage - sampling with probabilities proportional to size (PPS) in each strata; 2nd stage - simple random sample (SRS) of households in each PSU.

2) Rotation scheme: 1st stage - starting with 2008 about 20% of PSUs will be annually replaced; 2nd stage - one half of households will participate in the survey during five consecutive years and the rest of households will be replaced with the new ones.

Updated HBS sampling design does not use substitution in case of non-response.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Abstract

Moldova Household Budget Survey provides detailed information on social and economic aspects of the welfare of the population and households. The information contained in the sections of the survey allows for in-depth analysis of socio-economic status of households and individual members at the moment or over time. Thus, the survey reveals poor households and individuals, or those households that were unprotected by social policies. The results of household surveys are also used in analyzing the impact of various economic effects of the transition period, the socio-economic status of the population.

Information obtained from the Household Budget Survey is used in the calculation of some macroeconomic indicators: final consumption of households, the Consumer Price Index, the informal trade, etc. Each year, the main indicators of income and expenditure and living conditions are presented to various international organizations: International Labor Organization, World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, etc.

Data is collected through face-to-face interviews and the households' income and expenditure diary.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households,
• Individuals.

Universe

The HBS covers all households/individuals - citizens of the Republic of Moldova who have their permanent residence in the selected survey centers.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling methodology for Moldova HBS was re-designed in 2006.

The updated HBS sample was selected using information from the Population Census 2004 and a joint database of electricity consumers in the whole country. 129 Primary Sampling Units (PSU) are now covered by HBS (before 2006, 45 PSUs were surveyed).

A larger number of PSUs improves regional estimates and ensures a representative sample not only for cities, towns and rural areas as did the previous survey, but also at the level of four statistical zones (North, Centre, South, and Chisinau). Moreover, both Chisinau and Balti municipialities are treated as a large primary sampling unit, from where households are selected, whereas before only some districts were included in the sample.

Two-stage probability sample is used to select households:

1) Sampling procedure: 1st stage - sampling with probabilities proportional to size (PPS) in each strata; 2nd stage - simple random sample (SRS) of households in each PSU.

2) Rotation scheme: 1st stage - about 20% of PSUs will be annually replaced; 2nd stage - one half of households will participate in the survey during five consecutive years and the rest of households will be replaced with the new ones.

Updated HBS sampling design does not use substitution in case of non-response.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The Main Household Questionnaire and the Household Diary are used to collect information within the HBS.

Abstract

Moldova Household Budget Survey (HBS) 2013 was implemented by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova (formerly the Department for Statistics and Sociology of the Republic of Moldova).

Information obtained from the Household Budget Survey is used in the calculation of some macroeconomic indicators: final consumption of households, the Consumer Price Index, the informal trade, etc. Each year, the main indicators of income and expenditure and living conditions are presented to various international organizations: International Labor Organization, World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, etc.

Data is collected through face-to-face interviews and the households' income and expenditure diary.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households,
• Individuals.

Universe

The HBS covers all households/individuals - citizens of the Republic of Moldova who have their permanent residence in the selected survey centers.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling methodology for Moldova HBS was re-designed in 2006.

The updated HBS sample was selected using information from the Population Census 2004 and a joint database of electricity consumers in the whole country. 129 Primary Sampling Units (PSU) are now covered by HBS (before 2006, 45 PSUs were surveyed).

A larger number of PSUs improves regional estimates and ensures a representative sample not only for cities, towns and rural areas as did the previous survey, but also at the level of four statistical zones (North, Centre, South, and Chisinau). Moreover, both Chisinau and Balti municipialities are treated as a large primary sampling unit, from where households are selected, whereas before only some districts were included in the sample.

Two-stage probability sample is used to select households.

1) Sampling procedure: 1st stage - sampling with probabilities proportional to size (PPS) in each strata; 2nd stage - simple random sample (SRS) of households in each PSU.

2) Rotation scheme: 1st stage - about 20% of PSUs will be annually replaced; 2nd stage - one half of households will participate in the survey during five consecutive years and the rest of households will be replaced with the new ones.

Updated HBS sampling design does not use substitution in case of non-response.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The main household questionnaire and the household register are used to collect information within the HBS. In addition, the instructions on filling in, the non-answer form, the list of selected households and the letter to the household are used.

Abstract

Moldova Household Budget Survey (HBS) 2011 was implemented by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova (formerly the Department for Statistics and Sociology of the Republic of Moldova).

Information obtained from the Household Budget Survey is used in the calculation of some macroeconomic indicators: final consumption of households, the Consumer Price Index, the informal trade, etc. Each year, the main indicators of income and expenditure and living conditions are presented to various international organizations: International Labor Organization, World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, etc.

Data is collected through face-to-face interviews and the households' income and expenditure diary.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households,
• Individuals.

Universe

The HBS covers all households/individuals - citizens of the Republic of Moldova who have their permanent residence in the selected survey centers.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling methodology for Moldova HBS was re-designed in 2006.

The updated HBS sample was selected using information from the Population Census 2004 and a joint database of electricity consumers in the whole country. 129 Primary Sampling Units (PSU) are now covered by HBS (before 2006, 45 PSUs were surveyed).

A larger number of PSUs improves regional estimates and ensures a representative sample not only for cities, towns and rural areas as did the previous survey, but also at the level of four statistical zones (North, Centre, South, and Chisinau). Moreover, both Chisinau and Balti municipialities are treated as a large primary sampling unit, from where households are selected, whereas before only some districts were included in the sample.

Two-stage probability sample is used to select households.

1) Sampling procedure: 1st stage - sampling with probabilities proportional to size (PPS) in each strata; 2nd stage - simple random sample (SRS) of households in each PSU.

2) Rotation scheme: 1st stage - about 20% of PSUs will be annually replaced; 2nd stage - one half of households will participate in the survey during five consecutive years and the rest of households will be replaced with the new ones.

Updated HBS sampling design does not use substitution in case of non-response.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The main household questionnaire and the household register are used to collect information within the HBS. In addition, the instructions on filling in, the non-answer form, the list of selected households and the letter to the household are used.

Abstract

Moldova Household Budget Survey (HBS) 2012 was implemented by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova (formerly the Department for Statistics and Sociology of the Republic of Moldova).

Information obtained from the Household Budget Survey is used in the calculation of some macroeconomic indicators: final consumption of households, the Consumer Price Index, the informal trade, etc. Each year, the main indicators of income and expenditure and living conditions are presented to various international organizations: International Labor Organization, World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, etc.

Data is collected through face-to-face interviews and the households' income and expenditure diary.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households,
• Individuals.

Universe

The HBS covers all households/individuals - citizens of the Republic of Moldova who have their permanent residence in the selected survey centers.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling methodology for Moldova HBS was re-designed in 2006.

The updated HBS sample was selected using information from the Population Census 2004 and a joint database of electricity consumers in the whole country. 129 Primary Sampling Units (PSU) are now covered by HBS (before 2006, 45 PSUs were surveyed).

A larger number of PSUs improves regional estimates and ensures a representative sample not only for cities, towns and rural areas as did the previous survey, but also at the level of four statistical zones (North, Centre, South, and Chisinau). Moreover, both Chisinau and Balti municipialities are treated as a large primary sampling unit, from where households are selected, whereas before only some districts were included in the sample.

Two-stage probability sample is used to select households.

1) Sampling procedure: 1st stage - sampling with probabilities proportional to size (PPS) in each strata; 2nd stage - simple random sample (SRS) of households in each PSU.

2) Rotation scheme: 1st stage - about 20% of PSUs will be annually replaced; 2nd stage - one half of households will participate in the survey during five consecutive years and the rest of households will be replaced with the new ones.

Updated HBS sampling design does not use substitution in case of non-response.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The main household questionnaire and the household register are used to collect information within the HBS. In addition, the instructions on filling in, the non-answer form, the list of selected households and the letter to the household are used.