This was pointed out by economic expert Veaceslav Ionitsa.
In the official data until 2023, the population of Durlesti amounted to 15,305 people. However, a recent census showed that the town actually has more than 26,300 people, and in 2025 it is estimated that the number will already exceed 27,000. This represents an increase of more than 75% over previous official figures.
“The population of Durlesti has increased by about 1,000 people every year, imperceptibly, without statistics. This is a lesson about the gap between documents and reality,” the expert notes.
And cites the rating of the largest cities in Moldova, located on the right bank of the Dniester, as of 2024.
In the first place, of course, is Chisinau – 567 thousand people. The second, traditionally, is Bălţi – 91 thousand. Durlesti, with a projected population of more than 27 thousand in 2025, is in the third place. Next are Ungheni (over 26.5 thousand, projected in 2025); Cahul – 22.22 thousand, Orhei – 22.18 thousand and Soroca with 21.1 thousand inhabitants.
Why has Durlesti grown so much? First, accelerated suburbanization: they are actually a residential extension of Chisinau. Young families flee from the high prices of the capital and settle in 15-20 minutes drive from the center of the municipality.
Secondly, internal migration and higher birth rate: the population renewed faster than in traditional cities. And thirdly, the real estate boom: residential buildings and apartment buildings being built one after another, filling up vacant land, while urban planning has not kept up with the pace of development.
What does this mean for public policy?
That urgent investment in urban infrastructure is needed: schools, kindergartens, roads, lighting, public transportation. Durlesti should not be seen as a suburb, but as an autonomous urban center with the rights and responsibilities of a major city. It is time to elaborate a strategy for the development of the Chisinau-Durlesti metropolitan area, taking into account the realities of the economic and social interrelation between them.
“In the next 2-3 years, Durlesti may become the first city in Moldova (except for Chisinau and Balti) to have a population of more than 30,000 people. This is not just a demographic leap, but a paradigm shift in understanding urban dynamics in Moldova”, concludes Veaceslav Ionita.
