Oleg Kara
Demographics
In general, despite the decline in numbers (-13.6% over the decade) and accelerated urbanization, the country’s resident population continues to maintain a patriarchal way of life, paying tribute to traditional family values. More than half of the residents are married, and 65% live in the place where they were born, based on the total number of permanent residents – 2,381,300 people.
Territorially, the stability of residence in the place of birth is registered in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, as well as in Dubasari and Hincesti districts. In Ungheni, Falesti and Soroca districts the highest share of persons born in another locality of the district of permanent residence was recorded. Chisinau and Balti municipalities have the highest share of non-indigenous residents who changed their original place of residence (37% and 36.7% respectively).
The absolute majority of the country’s population – 2301.0 thousand people (or 95.5%) – were born in Moldova. And only 106,7 thousand people (4,4%) were born in other countries. Such people can be found most of all in mun. Chisinau, Basarabeasca district and Balti mun.
Although the number of mothers in Moldova has become more frequent, the potential of the fertile contingent has decreased from 57% to 49% in ten years, due to the decrease in the number of women aged 15-49 years. In other words, the demographic crisis is being overcome with the available resources. The census data, moreover, confirm the established trend towards a higher birth rate in rural areas compared to urban areas.
The share of women who gave birth to 2-3 children increased by 5.4 p.p. (from 32.8% to 38.3%) and by 2 p.p. (from 13.4% to 15.4%) respectively, while the share of women who did not give birth decreased by 4.2 p.p..
The population from rural areas is particularly stable, which is still numerically predominant (53.6%), despite internal and external migration. But aging is also faster there – the average age of rural residents is 42 years, while the average age of urban residents is 39 years.
The age structure of rural areas is also ahead of urban areas in terms of accelerated growth in the number of elderly people. Over ten years, the share of people aged 60-69 increased by 4.6 p.p., but the more pronounced growth was observed in rural areas – by 6.2 p.p. The biggest decline is among the young. And the biggest decrease is accounted for the youth – the share of people aged 20-29 years decreased by 7.5 p.p.
Thus, analyzing the demographic pyramid of the last two censuses, experts see a decrease in the share of children aged 0-6 years and adults aged 45-60 years – by 20.8% and 20.5% respectively. And also the number of young people aged 15-35 years decreased – by 38.5%. Moreover, a more pronounced decrease is observed in the age group of 20-30 years.
Labor reserves
Changes in the structure of the population by economically significant age groups were recorded in all three categories. Thus, the share of persons of working age (men aged 16-62, women aged 16-59) amounted to 55.7% of the total population, decreasing by 9.0 p.p. compared to 2014 (64.7%).
The population under working age – 494.5 thousand people (20.5%), of working age – 1343.1 thousand people (55.7%), over working age – 571.7 thousand people (23.7%).
The highest share of the population below working age – about 22% – was observed in the districts of Ialoveni, Ungheni, Singerei and Criuleni, while in Chisinau municipality their share was 21.3%. The largest share of working age population was observed in Chisinau (60.0% of the municipality’s population) and Balti (56.5%).
The districts of Basarabeasca, Drochia, Cimislia, Briceni and Ocnita recorded the highest share of population above working age – from 29.6% to 30%, while the national average was 23.7%. While in Chisinau mun. Chisinau municipality had the lowest share of this group, amounting to 18.8% of the municipality’s population
The index of demographic burden according to the 2024 population census increased and amounted to 79 persons (against 62 persons according to the 2014 census) of incapable population (children aged 0-15 years and elderly persons) per 100 persons of working age (persons aged 16-59/62 years), while in rural areas this indicator amounted to 85 incapable persons per 100 able-bodied inhabitants.
Level of education
Без полного среднего и с дошкольным образованием – 50,1 тыс. человек (2,4%), начальное – 193,2 тыс. человек (9,2%), основное общее – 478,8 тыс. человек (22,7%), среднее общее – 268,8 тыс. человек (12,8%), среднее профессиональное – 427,5 тыс. people (20.3%), post-secondary vocational education – 281.4 thousand people (13.3%), higher education (bachelor’s and master’s degrees) – 402.3 thousand people (19.1%), doctoral and post-doctoral studies – 5.1 thousand people (0.2%).
Literacy rate: literate population aged 10 years and older – 2099.8 thousand people (99.6%), illiterate population (unable to read and write) – 7.6 thousand people (0.4%).
Citizenship
According to the final data of the 2024 census, 99% of the total population with permanent residence (about 2383.1 thousand people) are citizens of Moldova. And every sixth person declared having a second citizenship. While the number of persons with Moldovan citizenship has slightly decreased (by 0.6 p.p.), the number of persons with dual citizenship has significantly increased over the ten years. 389.3 thousand people, or 16.3% of the country’s citizens declared the presence of citizenship of another state (more by 10.7 p.p. compared to 2014).
Distribution of the population with citizenship of another state, according to the censuses of 2024 and 2014, % of the total number of the population
The share of persons with dual citizenship in urban areas amounted to 21%, which is 8.6 p.p. more than in rural areas (12.4%), and the share of men with dual citizenship (17.3%) was higher than the share of women in this category (15.5%).
Citizens of Ukraine were 73.1% of persons who had citizenship of another state, or 18.9 thousand people, which amounted to 0.78% of the population, an increase compared to the 2014 census (0.14% of the population).
Citizens of the Republic of Moldova – 2383.1 thousand people (98.9%), citizens with dual citizenship – 389.3 thousand people (16.2%), citizens of other states – 25.8 thousand people (1.1%), stateless persons – 0.3 thousand people (0.01%).
Out of the total number of foreign-born persons, 77.4% had the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova (including dual citizenship), 22.4% had the citizenship of another state, and 0.2% had no citizenship. According to the census data, every second foreigner permanently residing in Moldova was born in Ukraine (49.1% or 52.4 thousand persons), and every third foreigner was born in Russia (30.5% of persons born in another country).
Migration
The internal migration component, according to final data, amounted to 9.7% of the country’s population, or 233.3 thousand people who changed their permanent place of residence at the level of districts/municipalities.
The number of population permanently residing in Moldova at the time of the census and having only the citizenship of another state or having no citizenship was 26.1 thousand people, or 1.1% of the total population.
Of these, the majority (57.5% or 15.0 thousand people) were in the territory of the country as a result of forced displacement. They were followed by persons whose stay was dictated by family status (25.2% or 6.6 thousand people). The countries of their citizenship were Ukraine (72.2% of all foreign citizens), the Russian Federation (7.8%), India (4%), Romania (3.6%), Turkey (1.5%), Israel (1.2%). The remaining states had a share of less than 1% each.
Data on external migration, ethnic composition of the population, language of communication, living conditions and housing stock are not disclosed by the official statistics, promising to disseminate all information later.
Oleg Kara, Director General of the National Bureau of Statistics: “The data are disseminated gradually, which allows for the most detailed and structured analysis. It is expected that other important results of the 2024 Perisensus will be published within 18 months after the completion of the census. We want this information to serve as a solid basis for effective public policies and a better understanding of the socio-economic realities of our country.”
