Population: 4,430,654 (July 2000 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 23%

(male 523,373; female 505,064)

- 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,422,470; female 1,544,169)

- 65 years and over: 10% (male 161,659; female 273,919) (2000 est.)

Population growth rate: -0% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 12.86 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 12.58 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Sex ratio:

- at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

- under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

- 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

- 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female

- total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

43.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

- total population: 64.45 years

- male: 59.92 years

- female: 69.22 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.63 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality:

- noun: Moldovan(s)

- adjective: Moldovan Ethnic groups:

- Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%

- Ukrainian 13.8%

- Russian 13%

- Gagauz 3.5%

- Jewish 1.5%

- Bulgarian 2%

- other 1.7% (1989 est.)

note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the

Transnistrian region Religions:

- Eastern Orthodox 98.5%

- Jewish 1.5%,

- Baptist (only about 1,000 members) (1991)

Languages:

Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Literacy:

- definition: age 15 and over can read and write

- total population: 96% - male: 99% - female: 94% (1989 est.)

Town Life

Moldovan towns vary in size from 7,000-55,000 and usually have apartment blocks, stores, markets, bars, factories, banks, and at least one post office. Many also have discos. Parks are a popular social attraction and locals enjoy walking in them or just sitting and talking with friends. The bigger towns, such as Balti and Cahul, have trolley buses or public transportation. Most of the streets are paved, but beware of the mud on wet days and dust on dry ones.Running water is usually available to town citizens, though more and more frequently it is also provided only at scheduled times. Apartment buildings generally have flush toilets and running water. Private homes may or may not be tapped into the town water system, and even if they have running water for bathing and cooking, they may not have indoor toilets. Also, as with villages, electricity may be rationed year round.Towns have a variety of general and specialty stores. General stores have various non-specialty items, such as cooking oil, flour, sugar, etc. There are also specialty stores that sell bread, meat, and dairy products. Keep in mind that what the stores carry is usually limited and may vary from week to week or season to season.Usually towns have several nursery schools, at least two secondary schools, and perhaps a vocational school or college. You will also find a hospital, at least one polyclinic (for outpatient services) and a pharmacy.

Village Life

Some people say that if you want to really experience Moldova, you have to spend some time in a village. Village populations range from 4,000 to 12,000. Most people live in singe or two-story houses. The houses are usually hidden behind colorful gates with yards that contain gardens and free-roaming farm animals.Life in a village is generally quiet. The center of the village usually contains a town hall, community center, a post office, and sometimes a bank. If there is not a bank in the village, there may be a Casa de Economii, where a person can deposit and withdraw money. Most villages have at least one general store carrying a small variety of items such as butter, sugar, candy, soaps, and detergents. Every village also has a polyclinic (outpatient medical clinic), and some have a pharmacy.Entertainment in the village is found at the community center (known as the Casa de Cultura), or in individual's homes. The Casa de Cultura holds dances, performances and other public events. Often there are weekly films (the cinema). If you go to someone's house for a special event or just to visit, you can expect good hospitality, lots of food and vin de casa (homemade wine).

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