at birth:
total population: 65.14 years
male: 60.77 years
female: 69.73 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan

Ethnic divisions: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%,
Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7%
(1989 figures)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians and Ukrainians in the
Dniester region and Gagauz Turks in the south

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only
about 1,000 members) (1991)
note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldavian

Languages: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian
language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
total population: 96%
male: 99%
female: 94%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: none
former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia

Data code: MD

Type of government: republic

Capital: Chisinau

Administrative divisions: previously divided into 40 rayons; new
districts possible under new constitution in 1994

Independence: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 August 1991

Constitution: new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old
Soviet constitution of 1979

Legal system: based on civil law system; Constitutional Court
reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of
resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction but accepts many UN and OSCE documents

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mircea SNEGUR (since 3 September 1990) was
elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 8
December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results - Mircea
SNEGUR ran unopposed and won 98.17% of vote; note - President SNEGUR
was named executive president by the Supreme Soviet on 3 September
1990 and was confirmed by popular election on 8 December 1991
head of government: Prime Minister Andrei SANGHELI (since 1 July
1992; reappointed 5 April 1994 after elections for new legislature)
was appointed by Parliament; First Deputy Prime Minister Ion GUTU
(since NA April 1994)