Moldova — map and facts

About Moldova

Moldova is a small landlocked country in Eastern Europe of approximately 2.6 million people, bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. Its capital is Chi?in?u. Moldova is one of Europe's least prosperous countries but has undergone significant political change since 2021, when pro-European president Maia Sandu came to power; the country became an EU candidate in 2022. The official language is Romanian (called Moldovan in the constitution, though linguistically identical), and the country shares deep cultural and historical ties with Romania. The breakaway region of Transnistria, along the eastern border with Ukraine, has been under de facto control of Russian-backed separatists since 1992. Remittances from Moldovans working abroad form a critical part of the economy, alongside agriculture and wine production.

Geography and Landscape

Moldova is predominantly a hilly plains country, with gentle rolling terrain shaped by river erosion. The central plateau reaches up to 430 metres at B?l?ne?ti Hill, the country's highest point. The Prut River forms the western border with Romania, while the Dniester (Nistru) flows through the east and separates the Transnistria region. The country has no significant forest cover compared to neighbours — around 12 per cent — but has fertile black-earth (chernozem) soil covering much of the south and centre, making it highly productive agricultural land. Moldova is one of Europe's leading wine producers, with centuries of viticulture tradition; the Cricova and Mile?tii Mici cellars are among the world's largest. The climate is temperate continental with warm summers and cold winters.

History

The territory of Moldova was part of the ancient Dacian kingdom and later the Roman province of Dacia. The Principality of Moldavia was established in the fourteenth century and maintained varying degrees of independence under Ottoman suzerainty until the nineteenth century. Russia annexed eastern Moldavia (Bessarabia) in 1812. Following the First World War, Bessarabia united with Romania in 1918. The Soviet Union occupied the region in 1940, creating the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. After independence in 1991, Moldova remained divided by the Transnistria conflict. The country struggled with political instability and corruption for three decades. The 2021 election of Maia Sandu and subsequent pro-EU parliamentary majority marked a turning point; Moldova signed the EU accession treaty in 2024.