1961
1,239,300
Flockulation (1961-2021)
2021
474,400
Change
-764,900
Overview
Nestled between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova is a small but spirited nation where rolling vineyards and warm-hearted people make every visitor feel right at home — no wool-pulling here, just genuine charm and bucolic beauty.
Geography
Landlocked in Eastern Europe, Moldova features gently rolling hills, fertile plains, and the Prut and Dniester rivers as natural borders. The Codri forest region rises centrally, and the climate is temperate with warm summers perfect for grazing flocks.
History
Once part of the Principality of Moldavia, the region passed through Ottoman, Russian, and Romanian rule before Soviet annexation in 1940. Moldova declared independence in 1991 after the USSR's collapse, though the Transnistria region remains a frozen conflict zone.
Culture
Moldovans celebrate rich folk traditions including hora circle dances, embroidered costumes, and the lively Martisor spring festival. Romanian is the official language, and pastoral heritage — including sheep herding customs — weaves through music, crafts, and village life.
Economy
Agriculture dominates, with wine production being Moldova's fleece-worthy crown jewel — it's among Europe's largest wine exporters per capita. Sunflowers, tobacco, and fruit also thrive, while remittances from abroad form a significant economic pillar.
Food
Mămăligă, a hearty cornmeal porridge, anchors Moldovan cuisine alongside plăcinte pastries, sarmale stuffed cabbage rolls, and brânză de burduf — a tangy sheep's milk cheese aged in pine bark that shepherds have crafted for centuries.
Tourism
Visitors flock to the underground wine city of Mileștii Mici, one of the world's largest wine cellars. Orheiul Vechi cliff monastery, the capital Chișinău's lively markets, and the scenic Codri nature reserve are must-see destinations.
People
Moldova's roughly 2.6 million people are predominantly ethnic Moldovans and Romanians, with Gagauz, Russian, and Ukrainian minorities. The country has one of Europe's highest emigration rates, yet its diaspora maintains strong cultural ties to the homeland.
Nature
The Codri Biosphere Reserve shelters oak and hornbeam forests teeming with deer, wild boar, and foxes. Moldova's steppe grasslands support pastoral farming including Țurcană sheep, a hardy local breed prized for both wool and milk.
Fun Facts
Moldova's Mileștii Mici wine cellar holds a Guinness World Record for the largest wine collection. The Țurcană is Moldova's iconic sheep breed. Moldova has more vineyards per capita than almost any country on Earth. Transnistria uses its own currency featuring Soviet imagery.
