Skip to main content
European Commission logo

Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Population: demographic situation, languages and religions
Moldova

Moldova

1. Political, social and economic background and trends

1.3Population: demographic situation, languages and religions

Last update: 4 October 2024

As of the latest available data from official sources, the demographic profile of Moldova includes the following key aspects:

  • Age Distribution: the population age distribution is characterised by a significant proportion of younger individuals, with a median age of population of 40.3 years. Nevertheless, the population pyramid at the beginning of 2023 clearly shows a pattern of shrinking population in the 36-56 age group.
  • Employment and Unemployment Rates: the employment rate in 2024 stands at 42.9%, while the unemployment rate is reported at 4.4%.
  • Migration Flows: Moldova experiences notable emigration flows seeking better economic opportunities abroad, particularly to neighbouring European countries. The net migration of the population in 2023 followed the growth trend of recent years, registering a negative value of -63.6 thousand people. Out of the total number of emigrants, the largest share, about 39%, was held by people aged up to 19 years, followed by the population aged 20-39, whose share was about 32%.
  • Demographic Developments: the population of Moldova is gradually aging, influenced by low birth rates and emigration of younger adults. More than 42.3% of the population is residing in urban areas. Internal migration trends show a shift from rural to urban areas, impacting regional demographics and educational policies.

Moldova has a rich linguistic landscape, with several languages spoken on its territory. The official language is Romanian, which is used in legislation and public administration. According to the results of the latest census from 2014, of the total number of the country's inhabitants, 78.6% usually speak Romanian/Moldovan, 14.5% Russian, 2.7% Ukrainian language, 2.7% Gagauz language and 1.0% Bulgarian language. Languages ​​other than those listed are usually spoken by 0.5% of the population. 

Romanian is the primary language of instruction in educational institutions. In the areas traditionally inhabited or by a substantial number of persons belonging to national minorities, if there is sufficient demand, the state ensures, within the limits of the possibilities of the educational system, that the persons belonging to these minorities benefit from appropriate conditions to learn their minority language or to receive education in this language at the level of compulsory education.

The predominant religion in Moldova is Orthodox Christianity (for 90% of population), which significantly influences the cultural landscape. The church often plays a role in community life and moral education, shaping societal values. Religion is taught in primary and secondary schools throughout the country as an optional subject.