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.
Full Name: Republic of Moldova
Area: 33,843 sq km (land: 33,371 sq km , water: 472 sq km)
Population: 4,324,450 (July 2008 est.)
Capital City: Chisinau (Kishinev)
People: 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
Language: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Religion: Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Government Type: Republic
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)
GDP: $US 9.756 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per Capita: $US 2,300 (2007 est.)
Inflation: 12.3% (2007 est.)
Unemployment: 2.1%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad (2007 est.)
Industries: Sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles
Currency: Moldovan leu (MDL)
Member of EU: No
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Info provided by the CIA World Factbook
Updated 10/2008
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