Population
3.07M persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
Population on 1 July. UN estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024; past UN revisions for forecast checks.
Moldova
All indicators of the Macroscope base for Moldova, with sources. Below: what past UN and IMF releases projected and what actually happened.
GDP per capita, PPP
17,087
constant 2021 international $, 2025
What the data shows
Computed with the same code as the observations under the main chart and in the API (get_insights). Moving together in time does not prove a cause.
How the indicators changed
- Fertility (TFR): 3.49 in 1950 → 1.73 in 2023 (−50%). Low: 1.45 in 2002; +20% since then. Threshold: below 2.1 since 1994. The trend broke around 1991 and 2000: −0.03 → −0.08 → +0.02 a year.
- Births: 79.4k in 1950 → 33k in 2023 (−58%). Peak: 102k in 1987; the latest value is 68% lower. The trend broke around 1988 and 1996: +0.32k → −4.06k → −0.71k a year.
- Population: 2.53M in 1950 → 3.07M in 2023 (+21%). Peak: 4.46M in 1991; the latest value is 31% lower. The trend broke around 1993: direction reversed (+40.2k → −54.8k a year).
- Internet: 0% in 1990 → 77.4% in 2024 (+77 pp). Thresholds: above 10% since 2004, above 50% since 2014. Fastest growth in 2009–2014: 27.5% → 67%.
- Urban share: 23.2% in 1960 → 43.7% in 2025 (+21 pp). The trend broke around 1990 and 2004: +0.82 → −0.7 → +0.21 a year.
- GDP per person (PPP): 15,903 PPP dollars in 1990 → 17,087 PPP dollars in 2025 (+7%). Low: 5,597 PPP dollars in 1999; ×3.1 since then. The trend broke around 1996: direction reversed (−1,619 → +356 a year).
- GDP growth: on average −10.5% in the 1990s, 4.7% in the 2000s, 4.2% in the 2010s, 0.8% in the 2020s. Lowest: −30.9% in 1994; highest: 13.9% in 2021.
- Inflation: on average 175.8% in the 1990s, 12.0% in the 2000s, 6.0% in the 2010s, 10.6% in the 2020s. Lowest: 0% in 2009; highest: 788.5% in 1993.
What changed at the same time
- The fastest decline of "Fertility (TFR)" was in 1986–1996: 2.74 → 1.71. Over the same years: births 101k → 56.7k; population 4.31M → 4.39M; internet 0% (1996); urban share 44.3% → 45.1%; GDP per person (PPP) 6,063 PPP dollars (1996); GDP growth −5.9% (1996); inflation 23.5% (1996).
- Over the last 10 years (2013–2023): fertility (TFR) 1.62 → 1.73; births 47k → 33k; population 3.41M → 3.07M; internet 37.4% → 76.5%; urban share 39.4% → 43%; GDP per person (PPP) 11,080 PPP dollars → 15,981 PPP dollars; GDP growth 9% → 1.2%; inflation 4.6% → 13.4%.
How the indicators relate
- Fertility (TFR) and internet (1990–2023, 31 years): levels are barely related (r = 0.23); year-to-year changes are related too (r = 0.63). Changes line up from year to year too, which is more than a shared trend.
- Fertility (TFR) and urban share (1960–2023, 64 years): levels are noticeably related, in opposite directions (r = −0.51); year-to-year changes show no reliable link (r = 0.33).
- Fertility (TFR) and GDP per person (PPP) (1990–2023, 34 years): levels are noticeably related, in the same direction (r = 0.45); year-to-year changes show no reliable link (r = 0.15). Changes line up best with a 8 years shift: "Fertility (TFR)" moves first, then "GDP per person (PPP)" (r = −0.59).
Forecasts vs actual
- Fertility (TFR): past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 1 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 10; median gap +27%.
- The UN 2000 projection expected today's level (1.73, 2023) only around 2036: reality is 13 years ahead of it.
- The UN 2010 projection expected today's level (1.73, 2023) only around 2048: reality is 25 years ahead of it.
- Fertility (TFR): UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 1.70 (−2% vs 2023), 2100 — 1.67 (−3% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 1.17.
- Births: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 4 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 7; median gap +4.2%.
- The UN 2000 projection did not expect today's level (33k, 2023) before its horizon ended (2047).
- The UN 2019 projection expected today's level (33k, 2023) only around 2029: reality is 6 years ahead of it.
- Births: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 25.6k (−22% vs 2023), 2100 — 12.6k (−62% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 3.45k.
- Population: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 12 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and above in none; median gap −23%.
- The UN 2004 projection did not expect today's level (3.07M, 2023) before its horizon ended (2050).
- The UN 2017 projection expected today's level (3.07M, 2023) only around 2059: reality is 36 years ahead of it.
- Population: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 2.35M (−23% vs 2023), 2100 — 1.49M (−51% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 872k.
- GDP growth: IMF next-year forecasts (36 editions, 2007–2024). On average the outcome was 1.1 pp below the forecast; below it in 50% of cases; typical error ±4.6 pp. The biggest miss was for 2009: IMF, April 2008 expected 8%, the outcome was −6%.
- GDP growth: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2026 — 1.9%, 2028 — 3.7%, 2031 — 3.5%.
- Inflation: IMF next-year forecasts (36 editions, 2007–2024). On average the outcome was 1.5 pp above the forecast; below it in 50% of cases; typical error ±3.4 pp. The biggest miss was for 2022: IMF, April 2021 expected 5%, the outcome was 28.7%.
- Inflation: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2026 — 6.4%, 2028 — 5%, 2031 — 5%.
UN projections vs actual
Solid line: actual data, UN WPP 2024 estimates to 2023, then national statistics where comparable with the UN. Dashed: medium variants of past UN revisions. The table shows what each revision expected for the latest year (or five-year period) with actual data.
Population
persons, 1 July
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2023 | 25 years | 4.54M | 3.07M | −32.4% |
| UN 2000 | 2023 | 23 years | 4.08M | 3.07M | −24.8% |
| UN 2002 | 2023 | 21 years | 4.13M | 3.07M | −25.7% |
| UN 2004 | 2023 | 19 years | 4.01M | 3.07M | −23.4% |
| UN 2006 | 2023 | 17 years | 3.53M | 3.07M | −13.2% |
| UN 2008 | 2023 | 15 years | 3.33M | 3.07M | −7.9% |
| UN 2010 | 2023 | 13 years | 3.3M | 3.07M | −7.1% |
| UN 2012 | 2023 | 11 years | 3.26M | 3.07M | −5.8% |
| UN 2015 | 2023 | 8 years | 3.98M | 3.07M | −22.9% |
| UN 2017 | 2023 | 6 years | 3.98M | 3.07M | −22.9% |
| UN 2019 | 2023 | 4 years | 4M | 3.07M | −23.4% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 3.44M | 3.07M | −10.7% |
Births
births per year
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 58.6k | 43.4k | −26% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 45.6k | 43.4k | −4.8% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 44.4k | 43.4k | −2.2% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 41.6k | 43.4k | +4.2% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 42.4k | 43.4k | +2.3% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 41.5k | 43.4k | +4.6% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 37.8k | 43.4k | +14.7% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 38.3k | 43.4k | +13.2% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 40.7k | 43.4k | +6.5% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 40.3k | 43.4k | +7.6% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 49.7k | 33k | −33.6% |
Total fertility rate
children per woman
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 1.80 | 1.82 | +1.3% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 1.43 | 1.82 | +27.5% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 1.40 | 1.82 | +30.1% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 1.32 | 1.82 | +38.2% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 1.48 | 1.82 | +23.5% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 1.58 | 1.82 | +15.7% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 1.44 | 1.82 | +27% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 1.46 | 1.82 | +25% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 1.23 | 1.82 | +48.3% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 1.23 | 1.82 | +48.1% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 1.80 | 1.73 | −3.7% |
IMF forecasts vs actual
Solid line: actual values from the latest IMF edition (data get revised, so we use the newest). Dashed: April editions, current year and five years ahead. The table covers next-year forecasts from all editions: mean error shows bias, mean absolute error shows accuracy.
Real GDP growth
% per year
- Actual (IMF)
- WEO, April editions
| Indicator | Forecasts | Mean error | Mean absolute error | Actual below forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | 36 | −1.1 pp | 4.6 pp | 50% |
| Inflation | 36 | +1.5 pp | 3.4 pp | 50% |
| Unemployment rate | 29 | −0.4 pp | 0.9 pp | 62% |
| Government gross debt | 28 | −0.3 pp | 7.6 pp | 54% |
All indicators
Demography
Births
33k births per year latest value, 2023
Live births per calendar year. UN WPP 2024 and national statistics (64 countries, 2015-2025).
Total fertility rate
1.73 children per woman latest value, 2023
Average number of children a woman would have at the age-specific fertility rates of the year.
Life expectancy at birth, women
75.5 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn girl would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Life expectancy at birth, men
66.6 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn boy would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Median age
37.8 years latest value, 2023
Age that divides the population in two halves (UN).
Mean age of mothers at childbirth
28 years latest value, 2023
Mean age of mothers at the birth of their children of any order (UN).
Sex ratio at birth
106.2 boys per 100 girls latest value, 2023
Boys born per 100 girls born (UN).
Net migration
−18.6k persons per year latest value, 2023
Immigrants minus emigrants per year (UN estimate and projection).
Old-age dependency
23.7 persons 65+ per 100 aged 20-64 latest value, 2020
Persons aged 65+ per 100 aged 20-64, every five years (UN).
Digitalisation
Internet users
77.4 % of population latest value, 2024
Share of individuals who used the Internet in the last three months from any device. ITU data.
Mobile cellular subscriptions
120.1 per 100 people latest value, 2024
Active mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people; can exceed 100 when people have several SIM cards. ITU data.
Fixed broadband subscriptions
29.6 subscriptions per 100 people latest value, 2024
Fixed subscriptions to high-speed Internet (256 kbit/s or more) per 100 people. ITU data.
Economy
GDP per capita, PPP
17,087 constant 2021 international $ latest value, 2025
Gross domestic product per person at purchasing power parity, constant 2021 international dollars (World Bank, ICP).
Real GDP growth
2.4 % per year latest value, 2025
Annual change of GDP at constant prices. Actual values and forecasts from IMF WEO editions.
Inflation
7.8 % per year, average latest value, 2025
Change of the annual average consumer price index (IMF WEO).
Government gross debt
36.6 % of GDP latest value, 2025
General government gross debt, percent of GDP (IMF WEO).
Unemployment rate
3.8 % of labour force latest value, 2025
Unemployed as a share of the labour force (IMF WEO; national definitions).
GDP per capita, US dollars
8,542 current US dollars latest value, 2025
GDP per person in current US dollars at market exchange rates (IMF WEO).
Society
Urban population
43.7 % of population latest value, 2025
Share of people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices (World Bank, from UN World Urbanization Prospects).
Tertiary enrolment, women
84.8 % gross latest value, 2024
Women enrolled in tertiary education as a share of women in the five-year age group after secondary school; can exceed 100 (UNESCO).
Women with upper secondary education
74 % of women 25+ latest value, 2024
Share of women aged 25+ who completed at least upper secondary education (UNESCO).
Life expectancy at birth
71.3 years latest value, 2024
Life expectancy at birth, both sexes (World Bank, from UN and national statistics).
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