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Moldova
Moldova Facts Map
Photo: Moldova, All Saints Church
Built in 1830, Moldova’s stunning All Saints Church sits in Armenian Cemetery in the country’s capital city, Chisinau.
Photograph by Dan Herrick/Lonely Planet Images
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Moldova Information and History

Landlocked Moldova lies in eastern Europe between Romania and Ukraine. It consists of hilly grassland drained by the Prut and Dniester Rivers, and the economy is mainly agricultural. Most of Moldova was part of Romania before World War II, and two-thirds of Moldovans speak Romanian. Soviets annexed Moldova in 1940, and Russians and Ukrainians settled in the industrial region east of the Dniester (known as Transdniestria). After Moldova gained independence in 1991, Transdniestria seceded, making Tiraspol its capital. Moldova does not recognize Transdniestria's independence and works to resolve the conflict.

ECONOMY

Industry: food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers.
Agriculture: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain; beef.
Exports: foodstuffs, textiles, machinery.

Text source: National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition, 2004
Moldova Flag and Fast Facts
Flag of Moldova
Population
4,206,000
Capital
Chisinau; 662,000
Area
33,800 square kilometers
(13,050 square miles)
Language
Moldovan, Russian, Gagauz
Religion
Eastern Orthodox
Currency
Moldovan leu
Life Expectancy
68
GDP per Capita
U.S. $2,600
Literacy Percent
99
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Country: Moldova
Continent: Europe
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