Moldova has experienced significant demographic changes over the past few decades, marked primarily by a declining population. Since the early 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moldova’s population has steadily decreased due to a combination of low birth rates, high mortality rates, and substantial emigration, particularly among young people seeking better economic opportunities abroad. According to recent estimates, Moldova’s population has dropped from about 4.3 million in 1991 to around 2.5-2.6 million in 2024, not including the region of Transnistria. This population decline poses challenges for the country’s economy and social systems, as the proportion of elderly citizens increases and the workforce shrinks, making population growth a central issue for Moldova’s future development.
| Year | Population | Population Density Per Square KM |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,336,432 | 71 |
| 1955 | 2,622,424 | 79.7 |
| 1960 | 2,998,981 | 91.2 |
| 1965 | 3,333,549 | 101.4 |
| 1970 | 3,594,517 | 109.3 |
| 1975 | 3,846,519 | 116.9 |
| 1980 | 3,996,278 | 121.5 |
| 1985 | 4,148,172 | 126.1 |
| 1990 | 4,374,000 | 133 |
| 1995 | 4,355,074 | 132.4 |
| 2000 | 4,180,215 | 127.1 |
| 2005 | 3,948,260 | 120 |
| 2010 | 3,731,159 | 113.4 |
| 2015 | 3,542,172 | 107.7 |
| 2020 | 3,360,212 | 102.2 |
| 2022 | 3,287,326 | 99.9 |
| 2023 | 3,250,532 | 98.8 |
| 2024 | 3,213,504 | 97.7 |
| 2025 | 3,176,315 | 96.6 |
| 2030 | 2,989,022 | 90.9 |
| 2035 | 2,802,592 | 85.2 |
| 2040 | 2,621,878 | 79.7 |
| 2045 | 2,450,198 | 74.5 |
| 2050 | 2,287,079 | 69.5 |
| 2055 | 2,138,798 | 65 |
| 2060 | 2,009,915 | 61.1 |
| 2065 | 1,898,032 | 57.7 |
| 2070 | 1,802,486 | 54.8 |
| 2075 | 1,724,220 | 52.4 |
| 2080 | 1,659,264 | 50.4 |
| 2085 | 1,603,288 | 48.7 |
| 2090 | 1,556,372 | 47.3 |
| 2095 | 1,516,620 | 46.1 |
| 2100 | 1,480,520 | 45 |
Data from US Census International Database