Moldova has been an independent republic since 1991, following the disintegration of the USSR, with its capital being Chișinău. After a brief civil war, the Russian-speaking region of Transnistriadeclared itself independent in 1993, but was not recognized as such by the international community.
Over a third of the workforce, out of a total population of 3.5 million inhabitants, is engaged in the agricultural sector: thanks to its very fertile soils, wheat, corn, oats and tobacco are grown mainly. Wine production is also very widespread, as is livestock farming.
However, industry and the tertiary sector are weak, so much so that Moldova is the country with the lowest GDP per capita in Europe: 5,657 dollars (2017 data) according to the International Monetary Fund, which is worth 132nd place in this special world ranking.
Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Moldova formally requested to join the European Union in March 2022.
Official Name: | Republic of Moldova | Form of Government: | Parliamentary Republic | President: | Maria Sandu | Prime Minister: | Natalia Gavrilița | Currency: | Moldovan Leu (MDL) |