World Factbook
Moldova
Republica Moldova
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of Prussian blue (left side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; the Moldavan coat of arms in the center is a dark gold Roman eagle outlined in black, with a red beak and talons; the eagle carries a yellow cross in its beak, a green olive branch in its right talons, and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on the eagle's breast is a red-and-blue shield divided horizontally, with a stylized aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent in black and outlined yellow; the reverse of the flag displays a mirror image of the coat of arms history: replaced the communist flag in 1990; the coat of arms is based on traditional designs
note 1: colors are based on the Romanian flag, but Moldova's blue band is lighter
note 2: one of three national flags that differ on each side -- the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia
Capital
name
Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)
note
note: pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov)
etymology
origin unclear but may derive from the Old Moldovan word kishineu ("spring" or "artesian well")
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
47 00 N, 28 51 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Moldova
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994
amendment process
proposed by voter petition (at least 200,000 eligible voters), by at least one third of Parliament members, or by the government; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament within one year of initial proposal; revisions to constitutional articles on sovereignty, independence, and neutrality require majority vote by referendum; articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended
Country name
former
Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic
etymology
named for the Moldova River in neighboring eastern Romania; the river's name probably comes from the Indoeuropean root word mel , meaning "dark" or "black"
local long form
Republica Moldova
local short form
Moldova
conventional long form
Republic of Moldova
conventional short form
Moldova
Independence
27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Legal system
civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
note
note: the Constitutional Court is autonomous; it interprets the Constitution and reviews the constitutionality of parliamentary laws and decisions, decrees of the president, and acts of the government
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief judge, 3 deputy-chief judges, 45 judges, and 7 assistant judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 6 judges)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court of Justice judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistracy, an 11-member body of judicial officials; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy for 6-year terms; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament
chief of state
President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020)
election results
2024: In the second round of presidential elections, incumbent Maia SANDU (PAS) wins 55.4% of the vote, Alexandr STOIANOGLO (PSRM) 44.6; turnout is 54.3% 2020: Maia SANDU elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Maia SANDU (PAS) 57.7%, Igor DODON (PSRM) 42.3%
head of government
Prime Minister Alexandru MUNTEANU (since 1 November 2025)
most recent election date
3 November 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister designated by the president in consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence for his/her proposed work program from the Parliament
expected date of next election
2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
National color(s)
blue, yellow, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Struve Geodetic Arc
Political parties
Common Action Party - Civil Congress or PAC-CC Democracy at Home Party or PPDA Future of Moldova Party or PVM National Alternative Movement or MAN Our Party or PN Party of Action and Solidarity or PAS Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova or PDCM Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova or PSRM
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
101 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament (Parlament)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
9/28/2025
expected date of next election
September 2029
percentage of women in chamber
37.6%
parties elected and seats per party
Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) (55); Electoral Bloc “Patriotic of Socialists, Communists, Heart and Future of Moldova” (26); Alternative Bloc (8); Our Party (6); Democracy at Home Party (6)
National anthem(s)
title
"Limba noastra" (Our Tongue)
history
adopted 1994; originally a 12-verse poem, but only stanzas 1, 2, 5, 9, and 12 are included in the anthem
lyrics/music
Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA
National symbol(s)
aurochs (type of wild cattle)
Administrative divisions
32 districts ( raioane , singular - raion ), 3 municipalities ( municipii , singular - municipiul ), 1 autonomous territorial unit ( unitatea teritoriala autonoma ), and 1 territorial unit ( unitatea teritoriala ) districts: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 667-2624
chancery
2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 667-1130
chief of mission
Ambassador Vladislav KULMINSKI (since 5 September 2025)
email address and website
washington@mfa.gov.md https://sua.mfa.gov.md/en
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[373] (22) 233-044
embassy
103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
telephone
[373] (22) 408-300
mailing address
7080 Chisinau Place, Washington DC 20521-7080
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Nick PIETROWICZ (since 2025)
email address and website
ChisinauACS@state.gov https://md.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEU (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
note: Moldova is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction