In 2024, the total population of Moldova was 2.42 million people. Between 1992 and 2024, the figure dropped by 560,000 people, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory. The forecast shows the total population will steadily decline by 240,000 people from 2024 to 2030.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

Historical dataset showing total population for Moldova by year from 1950 to 2025.

Demographics data Moldova 2023 at municipality level - 160+ attributes, including gender, age bands, rural/urban population, income, and more

The total population in Moldova was estimated at 2.4 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Moldova Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Complete population data for Moldova showing how many people live in Moldova from 1960 to 2024

Moldova MD: Population: Growth data was reported at -0.062 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of -0.061 % for 2016. Moldova MD: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 0.656 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.508 % in 1960 and a record low of -0.432 % in 1995. Moldova MD: Population: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Moldova – Table MD.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

In 2023, the annual population growth in Moldova was -2.84 percent. Between 1961 and 2023, the figure dropped by 5.02 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Yearly (annual) dataset of the Moldova Population, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1960-12-31 to 2024-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Moldova's first Demographic and Health Survey (2005 MDHS) is a nationally representative sample survey of 7,440 women age 15-49 and 2,508 men age 15-59 selected from 400 sample points (clusters) throughout Moldova (excluding the Transnistria region). It is designed to provide data to monitor the population and health situation in Moldova; it includes several indicators which follow up on those from the 1997 Moldova Reproductive Health Survey (1997 MRHS) and the 2000 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2000 MICS). The 2005 MDHS used a two-stage sample based on the 2004 Population and Housing Census and was designed to produce separate estimates for key indicators for each of the major regions in Moldova, including the North, Center, and South regions and Chisinau Municipality. Unlike the 1997 MRHS and the 2000 MICS surveys, the 2005 MDHS did not cover the region of Transnistria. Data collection took place over a two-month period, from June 13 to August 18, 2005. The survey obtained detailed information on fertility levels, abortion levels, marriage, sexual activity, fertility preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods, breastfeeding practices, nutritional status of women and young children, childhood mortality, maternal and child health, adult health, and awareness and behavior regarding HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. Hemoglobin testing was conducted on women and children to detect the presence of anemia. Additional features of the 2005 MDHS include the collection of information on international emigration, language preference for reading printed media, and domestic violence. The 2005 MDHS was carried out by the National Scientific and Applied Center for Preventive Medicine, hereafter called the National Center for Preventive Medicine (NCPM), of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. ORC Macro provided technical assistance for the MDHS through the USAID-funded MEASURE DHS project. Local costs of the survey were also supported by USAID, with additional funds from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and in-kind contributions from the NCPM. MAIN RESULTS CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS Ethnicity and Religion. Most women and men in Moldova are of Moldovan ethnicity (77 percent and 76 percent, respectively), followed by Ukrainian (8-9 percent of women and men), Russian (6 percent of women and men), and Gagauzan (4-5 percent of women and men). Romanian and Bulgarian ethnicities account for 2 to 3 percent of women and men. The overwhelming majority of Moldovans, about 95 percent, report Orthodox Christianity as their religion. Residence and Age. The majority of respondents, about 58 percent, live in rural areas. For both sexes, there are proportionally more respondents in age groups 15-19 and 45-49 (and also 45-54 for men), whereas the proportion of respondents in age groups 25-44 is relatively lower. This U-shaped age distribution reflects the aging baby boom cohort following World War II (the youngest of the baby boomers are now in their mid-40s), and their children who are now mostly in their teens and 20s. The smaller proportion of men and women in the middle age groups reflects the smaller cohorts following the baby boom generation and those preceding the generation of baby boomers' children. To some degree, it also reflects the disproportionately higher emigration of the working-age population. Education. Women and men in Moldova are universally well educated, with virtually 100 percent having at least some secondary or higher education; 79 percent of women and 83 percent of men have only a secondary or secondary special education, and the remainder pursues a higher education. More women (21 percent) than men (16 percent) pursue higher education. Language Preference. Among women, preferences for language of reading material are about equal for Moldovan (37 percent) and Russian (35 percent) languages. Among men, preference for Russian (39 percent) is higher than for Moldovan (25 percent). A substantial percentage of women and men prefer Moldovan and Russian equally (27 percent of women and 32 percent of men). Living Conditions. Access to electricity is almost universal for households in Moldova. Ninety percent of the population has access to safe drinking water, with 86 percent in rural areas and 96 percent in urban areas. Seventy-seven percent of households in Moldova have adequate means of sanitary disposal, with 91 percent of households in urban areas and only 67 percent in rural areas. Children's Living Arrangements. Compared with other countries in the region, Moldova has the highest proportion of children who do not live with their mother and/or father. Only about two-thirds (69 percent) of children under age 15 live with both parents. Fifteen percent live with just their mother although their father is alive, 5 percent live with just their father although their mother is alive, and 7 percent live with neither parent although they are both alive. Compared with living arrangements of children in 2000, the situation appears to have worsened. FERTILITY Fertility Levels and Trends. The total fertility rate (TFR) in Moldova is 1.7 births. This means that, on average, a woman in Moldova will give birth to 1.7 children by the end of her reproductive period. Overall, fertility rates have declined since independence in 1991. However, data indicate that fertility rates may have increased in recent years. For example, women of childbearing age have given birth to, on average, 1.4 children at the end of their childbearing years. This is slightly less than the total fertility rate (1.7), with the difference indicating that fertility in the past three years is slightly higher than the accumulation of births over the past 30 years. Fertility Differentials. The TFR for rural areas (1.8 births) is higher than that for urban areas (1.5 births). Results show that this urban-rural difference in childbearing rates can be attributed almost exclusively to younger age groups. CONTRACEPTION Knowledge of Contraception. Knowledge of family planning is nearly universal, with 99 percent of all women age 15-49 knowing at least one modern method of family planning. Among all women, the male condom, IUD, pills, and withdrawal are the most widely known methods of family planning, with over 80 percent of all women saying they have heard of these methods. Female sterilization is known by two-thirds of women, while periodic abstinence (rhythm method) is recognized by almost six in ten women. Just over half of women have heard of the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), while 40-50 percent of all women have heard of injectables, male sterilization, and foam/jelly. The least widely known methods are emergency contraception, diaphragm, and implants. Use of Contraception. Sixty-eight percent of currently married women are using a family planning method to delay or stop childbearing. Most are using a modern method (44 percent of married women), while 24 percent use a traditional method of contraception. The IUD is the most widely used of the modern methods, being used by 25 percent of married women. The next most widely used method is withdrawal, used by 20 percent of married women. Male condoms are used by about 7 percent of women, especially younger women. Five percent of married women have been sterilized and 4 percent each are using the pill and periodic abstinence (rhythm method). The results show that Moldovan women are adopting family planning at lower parities (i.e., when they have fewer children) than in the past. Among younger women (age 20-24), almost half (49 percent) used contraception before having any children, compared with only 12 percent of women age 45-49. MATERNAL HEALTH Antenatal Care and Delivery Care. Among women with a birth in the five years preceding the survey, almost all reported seeing a health professional at least once for antenatal care during their last pregnancy; nine in ten reported 4 or more antenatal care visits. Seven in ten women had their first antenatal care visit in the first trimester. In addition, virtually all births were delivered by a health professional, in a health facility. Results also show that the vast majority of women have timely checkups after delivering; 89 percent of all women received a medical checkup within two days of the birth, and another 6 percent within six weeks. CHILD HEALTH Childhood Mortality. The infant mortality rate for the 5-year period preceding the survey is 13 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning that about 1 in 76 infants dies before the first birthday. The under-five mortality rate is almost the same with 14 deaths per 1,000 births. The near parity of these rates indicates that most all early childhood deaths take place during the first year of life. Comparison with official estimates of IMRs suggests that this rate has been improving over the past decade. NUTRITION Breastfeeding Practices. Breastfeeding is nearly universal in Moldova: 97 percent of children are breastfed. However the duration of breast-feeding is not long, exclusive breastfeeding is not widely practiced, and bottle-feeding is not uncommon. In terms of the duration of breastfeeding, data show that by age 12-15 months, well over half of children (59 percent) are no longer being breastfed. By age 20-23 months, almost all children have been weaned. Exclusive breastfeeding is not widely practiced and supplementary feeding begins early: 57 percent of breastfed children less than 4 months are exclusively breastfed, and 46 percent under six months are exclusively breastfeed. The remaining breastfed children also consume plain water, water-based liquids or juice, other milk in addition to breast milk, and complimentary foods. Bottle-feeding is fairly widespread in Moldova; almost one-third (29 percent) of infants under 4 months old are fed with a bottle with

. Population is calculated by applying the international definition of usual residence.


Further information about Moldova population data

• In the latest reports, Moldova Unemployment Rate dropped to 4.0 % in Jun 2025
• Monthly earnings of the Moldova population was 894.3 USD in Jun 2025
• Moldova Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 41.8 % in Jun 2025

Historical dataset showing Moldova population growth rate by year from 1961 to 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for the Republic of Moldova (SPPOPGROWMDA) from 1961 to 2024 about Moldova, population, and rate.

Historical dataset showing Moldova population density by year from 1992 to 2022.

Actual value and historical data chart for Moldova Population Growth Annual Percent

Comprehensive socio-economic dataset for Moldova including population demographics, economic indicators, geographic data, and social statistics. This dataset covers key metrics such as GDP, population density, area, capital city, and regional classifications.

Moldova MD: Population: Total data was reported at 3,549,750.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,551,954.000 Person for 2016. Moldova MD: Population: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 3,557,481.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,706,000.000 Person in 1992 and a record low of 2,544,000.000 Person in 1960. Moldova MD: Population: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Moldova – Table MD.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: disaggregating the population composition by gender will help a country in projecting its demand for social services on a gender basis.

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Moldova was reported at 85.44 sq. Km in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Moldova - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

Monthly and long-term Moldova Population data: historical series and analyst forecasts curated by FocusEconomics.

Moldova: Population ages 65 and above, percent of total: The latest value from 2024 is 16.21 percent, an increase from 15.61 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 10.43 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Moldova from 1960 to 2024 is 9.11 percent. The minimum value, 4.94 percent, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 16.21 percent was recorded in 2024.

Graph and download economic data for Population Ages 0 to 14 for the Republic of Moldova (SPPOP0014TOZSMDA) from 1960 to 2024 about Moldova, 0 to 14 years, and population.