But there are no fewer old people there either. The share of the elderly population increased in all development regions compared to 2024. The largest increase was recorded in the Southern region – by 0.3 p.p., compared to the previous year.
The structure of the population by age groups at the beginning of 2025 by region is relatively homogeneous, but the South of the country is the youngest.
In this respect, the Chisinau municipality stands out with a greater difference, where the share of persons of working age (16-60/62 years) is the highest, and the share of elderly persons (61/63 years and older) is the lowest, compared to other regions. But there are also more people here.
According to the latest NBS estimates, 2381.3 thousand people permanently resided on the territory of the country since the beginning of the year, having decreased by about 42 thousand people (by 1.7%) compared to the beginning of the previous year. The population decline was more pronounced in rural areas – by 2.0% less compared to 2024, in urban areas – by 1.4% less.
The factors determining the decrease in population remain negative natural increase and migration. As in previous years, the population decline was largely influenced by the balance of international migration, which remains negative. In 2023, according to revised data, a negative value of 32.6 thousand people was recorded, and in 2024, according to preliminary estimates, -32.1 thousand people.
The average age of the population as of January 1, 2025 increased by 0.5 years compared to the previous year (from 41.1 years to 41.6 years). The population ageing rate (the number of people aged 60 and over per 100 inhabitants) at the beginning of 2025 is estimated at 25.9 people per 100 inhabitants, compared to 25.2 people in 2024.
