Socio-demographic situation in Moldova was varied at different times under the influence of different factors, but in general it should be noted a downward trend across all demographics. Thus, the analysis of socio-demographic situation in the past 50 years shows a decrease in natural population growth. Such changes were observed in 1960-1980, which were associated with an increased rate of internal migration of rural population to urban areas.
After independence in 1991, the country's demographic situation is getting worse. In subsequent years, declining natural population growth, an increasing number of expatriates abroad, educated professional people of working age. The decisive factor in reducing population growth is increasing the level of mortality associated with natural populations. In general decline in the Republic of Moldova has the average annual rate of 0,5%.
In 2000 compared with 1990, the republic's population decreased by approximately 100 000 inhabitants. A small increase and stabilize was recorded in 1992-1994, with 4.353 million people. The next six years was seen population decline of 4 341 000. (1995), to 4 264 000 (2001). Between the two censuses of 1989 and 2004, the Moldovan population decreased by 350 thousand people, including those declared as who went abroad for more than a year. Decline in population in the country have in some cases, the main one being a sharp fall in the last 10 years the birth rate and increased mortality. Among other causes of population decline may be noted the effects of armed conflict in 1992 in Transnistria after the mass migration of rural population of Russian origin, and an unprecedented decline in living standards of people in the past 10 years, affecting both fertility and mortality.
According to government statistics, the number of Moldovan population on 1 January 2001 was 4,264,300 persons, of whom 1,933,900 men (45.4%) of the urban population, and 2,330,400 people (54.6%) in rural areas. On the territory of the left bank registered 14,9% of the total population of the Republic of Moldova or 630,000 inhabitants.
It was recorded that 259,554 people (7,7%) are outside of Moldova. Of these, 144,822 men, 114,732 women. 89% of those who left have fled the country in search of work, 11% had gone to study abroad or for other reasons. The female sex is still the predominant 51.9% of the total population. Number of women registered in the 2004 census was 1,755,643, an increase of 128,000 men. Thus, by 1000 women, compared with 927 men.
The population of working age (men 16-61 years old, women 16-56 years old) registered 63.9% share of the total population in the country increased by 8,8% in 2004 compared with 1989.
In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, the name as "Moldovan" refers not to all citizens, but only to those who speak Dhaka-Romanian language, name here in the country of the Moldovan language. Those who have declared themselves Romanian, they are counted separately.
In the period from 5 to 12 October 2004 in Moldova was held the first independent census. So, according to census the population was calculated separately in the territory controlled by the Government of Moldova in Transnistria:
Nr.
Nationality
Republic of Moldova
Pop.
%
Transnistria
Pop.
%
Total
%
1
Moldovan
2.564.849
76,2%
177.156
31,9%
2.742.005
69,5%
2
Ukraine
282.406
8,3%
159.940
28,8%
442.346
11,2%
3
Russia
201.218
5,9%
168.270
30,3%
369.488
9,4%
4
Gagauzia
147.500
4,4%
11.107
2,0%
158.607
4,0%
5
Romanian
73.276
2,2%
1000
0,5 %
74.276
2,0% (?)
6
Bulgaria
65.662
1,9%
11.107
2,0%
76.769
1,9%
7
Others
48.421
1,4%
27.767
5,0%
76.188
1,9%
8
Total romanian speakers
2.638.125
78,4%
178.156
32,4%
2.816.281
71,5% (?)
9
Total
3.383.332
100%
555.347
100%
3.938.679
100%
Note: Transnistrian authorities published only the percentage of ethnic groups, the corresponding number of individuals was calculated based on these percentages. Number or percentage of people in Transnistria who identified themselves as "Romanians" was not published, these people were included in the section "others".
Approximately 380,000 citizens of Moldova declared Russian as their native language, more than 500 000 people have said that talking in Russian, despite the nationality. It is important to note that compared with the census of 1989, daily use of the Russian language has decreased significantly, due to partial or complete absence of a policy of Russification.
The largest city in the country with more than 780,000 inhabitants is Kishinev (about 20% of Moldova's population), among other cities with a population of about 150,000 residents marked Balti, Tiraspol and Bender. The vast majority of other cities in the country designated urban typology with more than 50,000 residents.
You can also note that, despite the relatively small area (33 800 km ²) population density of Moldova is 126.2 persons per km ², in this way. Moldova is considered one of the European countries with the highest score in this regard. Compared with other countries of the former Soviet Union, in the rural areas in Moldova's quite a large number of residents, and some of them among the largest in Europe (with a population of 15-20 thousand people).
2006 in the Republic of Moldova 37 600 children born that 8,000 fewer than in 1997, and the birth rate fell from 12.5 to 10.5 live births per 1000 population, below the level of fertility in 1990 - when in 1000 residents were born in Moldova, 18 children
1 January 2007 in the Republic of Moldova was registered in the stable population 3.95 million.
to reduce mortality, accounting for 1.1% per 1000 inhabitants.
1 January 2008 the Moldovan population was 2,573,700 people (except for the Transnistrian region and municipality Bender).
2009, there were about 120,000 Moldovans with Romanian citizenship.
More than 15 years in Moldova were not carried out a population census.
Moldova is ranked 14 th place on the planet by the number of elderly citizens in the country with respect to the entire population.