<!-- "none" is a legitimate description when the title is already adequate; see WP:SDNONE -->
Demographic features of the population of Republic of Moldova include distribution, ethnicity, languages, religious affiliation and other statistical data.
According to the 2014 Moldovan Census, 2,789,205 people resided in the areas controlled by the central government of Republic of Moldova. Another 209,030 were non-resident citizens living abroad, for a total of 2,998,235.
According to the 2015 census in Transnistria, 475,007 people lived in the breakaway Transnistria, including the city of Bender, and the other localities de facto controlled by Transnistrian authorities. Thus, the total population of the country in 2014 amounted to 3,473,242.
Overview of the demographic statistics
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2 | Median age
|-
| total || 34.3 years <small>(2008 est.)<br />(up from 32.22 years in 2005)</small>
|-
| male || 32.4 years<small><br />(up from 30.14 years in 2005)</small>
|-
| female || 36.4 years<small><br />(up from 34.27 years in 2005) </small>
|-
! colspan=2 | Literacy rate
|-
| total || 96% <small>(1989)</small>; 99.1% <small>(2003)</small>; 99.1% <small>(2005)</small>
|-
| male || 99% <small>(1989)</small>; 99.6% <small>(2003)</small>; 99.7% <small>(2005)</small>
|-
| female || 94% <small>(1989)</small>; 98.7% <small>(2003)</small>; 98.6% <small>(2005)</small>
|-
| definition || age 15 and over can read and write
|-
! colspan=2 | Unemployment rate
|-
| colspan=2 | 8% (official), 40% (real)
|-
| colspan=2 | Source: The World Factbook, CIA; UN<sup>,</sup>
|}
Urban–rural distribution of population
According to the 2024 census, 46,4% of the population is urban, which is a considerable increase from 2014, when only 38,5% of the population was urban.
According to the 2014 census, the largest cities under the control of the constitutional authorities are Chișinău with 644,204 (with 590,631 actual urban dwellers) and Bălți with 102,457 (97,930 urban dwellers). The autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia has 134,535, out of which 48,666 or 36,2% are urban dwellers. Ungheni is the third largest city with 32,828, followed by Cahul with 28,763, Soroca with 22,196 and Orhei with 21,065.
By district (2004 census)
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! | no
! | type
! | name
! | population
! colspan="3"| urban
! colspan="3"| rural
|-
|align="right"| || || || || population || % || cities || population || % || communes
|-
|colspan="10"|
|-
| 1 || municipality || Chișinău || align="right"|712,218 || align="right"|644,204 || align="right"|<small>90.45%</small> || align="right"|7 || align="right"|68,014 || align="right"|<small>9.55%</small> || align="right"|12
|-
| 2 || municipality || Bălți || align="right"|127,561 || align="right"|122,669 || align="right"|<small>96.16%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|4,892 || align="right"|<small>3.84%</small> || align="right"|2
|-
| 3 || auton.territ.unit || Găgăuzia || align="right"|155,646 || align="right"|58,190 || align="right"|<small>37.39%</small> || align="right"|3 || align="right"|97,456 || align="right"|<small>62.61%</small> || align="right"|23
|-
| 4 || district || Anenii Noi || align="right"|81,710 || align="right"|8,358 || align="right"|<small>10.23%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|73,352 || align="right"|<small>89.77%</small> || align="right"|25
|-
| 5 || district || Basarabeasca || align="right"|28,978 || align="right"|11,192 || align="right"|<small>38.62%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|17,786 || align="right"|<small>61.38%</small> || align="right"|6
|-
| 6 || district || Briceni || align="right"|78,027 || align="right"|14,230 || align="right"|<small>18.24%</small> || align="right"|2 || align="right"|63,797 || align="right"|<small>81.76%</small> || align="right"|26
|-
| 7 || district || Cahul || align="right"|119,231 || align="right"|35,488 || align="right"|<small>29.76%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|83,743 || align="right"|<small>70.24%</small> || align="right"|36
|-
| 8 || district || Cantemir || align="right"|60,001 || align="right"|3,872 || align="right"|<small>6.45%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|56,129 || align="right"|<small>93.55%</small> || align="right"|26
|-
| 9 || district || Călărași || align="right"|75,075 || align="right"|14,516 || align="right"|<small>19.34%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|60,559 || align="right"|<small>80.66%</small> || align="right"|27
|-
| 10 || district || Căușeni || align="right"|90,612 || align="right"|21,941 || align="right"|<small>24.21%</small> || align="right"|2 || align="right"|68,671 || align="right"|<small>75.79%</small> || align="right"|25 <small>(out of 28)</small>
|-
| 11 || district || Cimișlia || align="right"|60,925 || align="right"|12,858 || align="right"|<small>21.10%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|48,067 || align="right"|<small>78.90%</small> || align="right"|22
|-
| 12 || district || Criuleni || align="right"|72,254 || align="right"|7,138 || align="right"|<small>9.88%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|65,116 || align="right"|<small>90.12%</small> || align="right"|24
|-
| 13 || district || Dondușeni || align="right"|46,442 || align="right"|9,801 || align="right"|<small>21.10%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|36,641 || align="right"|<small>78.90%</small> || align="right"|21
|-
| 14 || district || Drochia || align="right"|87,092 || align="right"|16,606 || align="right"|<small>19.07%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|70,486 || align="right"|<small>80.93%</small> || align="right"|27
|-
| 15 || district || Dubăsari || align="right"|43,015 || align="right"|– || align="right"|– || align="right"|– || align="right"|34,015 || align="right"|<small>100%</small> || align="right"|11
|-
| 16 || district || Edineț || align="right"|81,390 || align="right"|23,065 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|2 || align="right"|58,325 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|30
|-
| 17 || district || Fălești || align="right"|90,320 || align="right"|14,931 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|75,389 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|32
|-
| 18 || district || Florești || align="right"|89,389|| align="right"|17,086 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|3 || align="right"|17,086 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|37
|-
| 19 || district || Glodeni || align="right"|60,975 || align="right"|10,465 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|50,510 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|18
|-
| 20 || district || Hîncești || align="right"|119,762 || align="right"|15,281 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|104,481 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|38
|-
| 21 || district || Ialoveni || align="right"|97,704 || align="right"|15,041 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|82,663 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|24
|-
| 22 || district || Leova || align="right"|51,056 || align="right"|14,411 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|2 || align="right"|36,645 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|23
|-
| 23 || district || Nisporeni || align="right"|64,924 || align="right"|12,105 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|52,819 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|22
|-
| 24 || district || Ocnița || align="right"|56,510 || align="right"|19,270 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|3 || align="right"|37,240 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|18
|-
| 25 || district || Orhei || align="right"|116,271 || align="right"|25,641 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|90,630 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|37
|-
| 26 || district || Rezina || align="right"|48,105 || align="right"|10,196 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|37,909 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|24
|-
| 27 || district || Rîșcani || align="right"|69,454 || align="right"| 13,351 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|2 || align="right"|56,103 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|26
|-
| 28 || district || Sîngerei || align="right"|87,153 || align="right"|15,760 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|2 || align="right"|71,393 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|24
|-
| 29 || district || Soroca || align="right"|94,986 || align="right"|28,362 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|66,624 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|34
|-
| 30 || district || Strășeni || align="right"|88,900 || align="right"|19,633 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|2 || align="right"|69,267 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|25
|-
| 31 || district || Șoldănești || align="right"|42,227 || align="right"|6,304 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|35,923 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|22
|-
| 32 || district || Ștefan Vodă || align="right"|70,594 || align="right"|7,768 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|62,826 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|22
|-
| 33 || district || Taraclia || align="right"|43,154 || align="right"|13,756 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|29,398 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|14
|-
| 34 || district || Telenești || align="right"|70,126 || align="right"|6,855 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|63,271 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|30
|-
| 35 || district || Ungheni || align="right"|110,545 || align="right"|35,311 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|2 || align="right"|75,234 || align="right"|<small>%</small> || align="right"|31
|-
| colspan=3| Subtotal control by central government || align="right"|3,383,332 || align="right"|1,305,655 || align="right"|<small>38.59%</small> || align="right"|54 || align="right"|2,077,677 || align="right"|<small>61.41%</small> || align="right"|844
|-
|colspan="10"|
|-
| 36 || territorial unit || Transnistria || align="right"|383,806 || align="right"|280,640<sup>1</sup> || align="right"|<small>63.85%</small> || align="right"|10 || align="right"|158,888<sup>1</sup> || align="right"|<small>36.15%</small> || align="right"|69
|-
| 37 || municipality || Bender || align="right"|91,197 || align="right"| 88,055 || align="right"|<small>96.86%</small> || align="right"|1 || align="right"|3,142 || align="right"|<small>3.14%</small> || align="right"|1
|-
| 10 || parts of district || Căușeni || align="right"|14,935 || align="right"|– || align="right"|– || align="right"|– || align="right"|14,935 || align="right"|<small>100%</small> || align="right"|3 <small>(out of 28)</small>
|-
| 15 || parts of district || Dubăsari || align="right"|715 || align="right"|– || align="right"|– || align="right"|– || align="right"|715 || align="right"|<small>100%</small> || align="right"|<small>parts of 1</small>
|-
| colspan=3| Subtotal control by breakaway Tiraspol || align="right"|555,347 || align="right"|377,667 || align="right"|<small>68.01%</small> || align="right"|11 || align="right"|177,680 || align="right"|<small>31.99%</small> || align="right"|73
|-
|colspan="10"|
|-
| colspan=3| Total || align="right"|3,938,679 || align="right"|1,683,322 || align="right"|<small>42.74%</small> || align="right"|65 || align="right"|2,255,357 || align="right"|<small>57.26%</small> || align="right"|917
|-
|}
<small>Note: <sup>1</sup>The breakaway Transnistrian authorities count as rural the population of the towns of Crasnoe, Maiac, and Tiraspolul Nou. Since their exact population isn't available, so does this table.
</small>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
! !! Population !! colspan="2"| urban !! colspan="2"| rural
|+Transnistrian-controlled areas (2015 cens.)
|align="left"| || || population || cities || population || communes
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|align="left"| Tiraspol || 129,367 || 129,367 || 1 || – || –
|-
|align="left"| Camenca District || 20 542 || ? || 1 || ? || 12
|-
|align="left"| Rîbnița District || 69,000 || ? || 1 || ? || 22
|-
|align="left"| Dubăsari District || 31,000 || ? || 1 || ? || 9
|-
|align="left"| Grigoriopol District || 40,000 || ?<sup>1</sup> || 2 || ?<sup>1</sup> || 14
|-
|align="left"| Slobozia District || 84,000 || ?<sup>2</sup> || 4 || ?<sup>2</sup> || 12
|-
|colspan="15"|
|-
|align="left"| Subtotal Transnistria || 383,806 || ? || 10 || ? || 69
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|align="left"| Bender <small>(w/o Proteagailovca)</small> || 91,197 || 91,197 || 1 || – || –
|-
|align="left"| Proteagailovca || 3,142 || – || – || 3,142 || 1
|-
|align="left"| Gîsca || 4,841 || – || – || 4,841 || 1
|-
|align="left"| Chițcani <small>(incl. Merenești and Zahorna)</small> || ~9,000 || – || – || ~9,000 || 1
|-
|align="left"| Cremenciug || 1,094 || – || – || 1,094 || 1
|-
|align="left"| Roghi || 715 || – || – || 715 || <small>parts of 1</small>
|-
|colspan="15"|
|-
|align="left"| Subotal other localities || 109,989 || 91,197 || 1 || 18,792 || 4
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|align="left"| Total Tiraspol-controlled areas || 475,003 || 333,003 || 11 || 142,000 || 73
|-
|}
<small>
Note:<br />
<sup>1</sup> The breakaway Transnistrian authorities have counties as urban only the population of the town of Grigoriopol, while that of the town of Maiac was counted as rural.<br />
<sup>2</sup> The breakaway Transnistrian authorities have counties as urban only the population of the towns of Slobozia and Dnestrovsc, while those of the towns of Crasnoe and Tiraspolul Nou were counted as rural.
</small>
Vital statistics
{| class="wikitable sortable sort-under sticky-header-multi" style="text-align:right;"
|+Bessarabia Governorate (1900–1914)
!
! width="70pt"|Average population
! width="70pt"|Live births
! width="70pt"|Deaths
! width="70pt"|Natural change
! width="70pt"|Crude birth rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Crude death rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Natural change (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Crude migration rate (per 1000
|-
| 1900
|2,037,000
|83,306||48,480||34,826
|40.9||23.8||17.1
|
|-
| 1901
|2,073,000
|87,797||46,296||41,501
|42.3||22.3||20.0
| −2.3
|-
| 1902
|2,113,000
|96,641||55,423||41,218
|45.7||26.2||19.5
| −0.2
|-
| 1903
|2,154,000
|94,936||53,236||41,700
|44.1||24.7||19.4
| 0
|-
| 1904
|2,194,000
|99,265||55,436||43,829
|45.3||25.3||20.0
| −1.4
|-
| 1905
|2,237,000
|80,085||62,387||17,698
|35.8||27.9||7.9
| 11.7
|-
| 1906
|2,267,000
|95,090||55,638||39,452
|41.9||24.5||17.4
| −4.0
|-
| 1907
|2,303,000
|107,195||59,964||47,231
|46.5||26.0||20.5
| −4.6
|-
| 1908
|2,345,000
|96,088||54,772||41,316
|41.0||23.4||17.6
| 0.6
|-
| 1909
|2,395,000
|105,681||62,498||43,183
|44.1||26.1||18.0
| 3.3
|-
| 1910
|2,441,000
|101,544||77,356||24,188
|41.6||31.7||9.9
| 9.3
|-
| 1911
|2,488,000
|97,864||74,093||23,771
|39.3||29.8||9.6
| 9.7
|-
| 1912
|2,540,000
|102,654||77,431||25,223
|40.4||30.5||9.9
| 11.0
|-
| 1913
|2,602,000
|102,397||77,745||24,652
|39.4||29.9||9.5
| 14.9
|-
| 1914
|2,625,000
|100,871||79,202||21,669
|38.4||30.2||8.3
| 0.5
|}
After WW II, total area
{| class="wikitable sortable sort-under sticky-header-multi" style="text-align:right;"
|-
!
! width="70pt"|Average population
! width="70pt"|Live births
! width="70pt"|Deaths
! width="70pt"|Natural change
! width="70pt"|Crude birth rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Crude death rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Natural change (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Crude migration rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Total fertility rate
! width="70pt"|Urban Fertility
! width="70pt"|Rural Fertility
|-
| 1945
|2,028,000
|42,795||78,797|| style="color: red" |−36,002
|21.1||38.9||style="color: red" |−17.8
|
|-
| 1946
|2,108,000
|64,462||64,371|| 91
|28.6||28.5||0.1
| 111.3
|-
| 1947
|2,188,000
|57,555||165,049|| style="color: red" |−107,494
|26.3||75.5||style="color: red" |−49.2
| 19.9
|-
| 1948
|2,239,000
|73,123||35,846||37,277
|34.4||16.9||17.5
| 19.9
|-
| 1949
|2,290,000
|94,180||30,407||63,773
|42.1||13.6||28.5
| 23.2
|-
| 1950
|2,341,000
|91,137||26,363||64,774
|38.9||11.3||27.7
| 19.3
|-
| 1951
|2,381,000
|91,645||25,957||65,688
|38.5||10.9||27.6
| −10.5
|-
| 1952
|2,432,000
|80,918||30,968||49,950
|33.3||12.7||20.5
| 0.9
|-
| 1953
|2,491,000
|79,041||23,257||55,784
|31.7||9.3||22.4
| 1.9
|-
| 1954
|2,557,000
|83,607||24,077||59,530
|32.7||9.4||23.3
| 3.2
|-
| 1955
|2,627,000
|79,772||21,864||57,908
|30.4||8.3||22.0
| 5.4
|-
| 1956
|2,701,000
|81,372||20,109||61,263
|30.1||7.4||22.7
| 5.5
|-
| 1957
|2,777,000
|85,743||21,114||64,629
|30.9||7.6||23.3
| 4.8
|-
| 1958
|2,853,000
|87,502||18,741||68,761
|30.7||6.6||24.1
| 3.3
| style="color: blue" | 3.54
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1959
|2,929,000
|92,176||21,467||70,709
|31.5||7.3||24.1
| 2.5
| style="color: blue" | 3.64
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1960
|3,003,000
|87,910||19,290||68,620
|29.3||6.4||22.9
| 2.4
| style="color: blue" | 3.41
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1961
| 3,073,000
| 86,683
| 19,590
| 67,093
| 28.2
| 6.4
| 21.8
| 1.5
| style="color: blue" | 3.20
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1962
| 3,141,000
| 80,494
| 21,365
| 59,129
| 25.6
| 6.8
| 18.8
| 3.3
| style="color: blue" | 3.00
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1963
| 3,208,000
| 78,422
| 20,737
| 57,685
| 24.4
| 6.5
| 18.0
| 3.3
| style="color: blue" | 2.89
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1964
| 3,273,000
| 73,583
| 19,944
| 53,639
| 22.5
| 6.1
| 16.4
| 3.9
| style="color: blue" | 2.71
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1965
| 3,335,000
| 67,996
| 20,571
| 47,425
| 20.4
| 6.2
| 14.2
| 4.7
| style="color: blue" | 2.68
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1966
| 3,395,000
| 71,406
| 21,474
| 49,932
| 21.0
| 6.3
| 14.5
| 3.5
| style="color: blue" | 2.73
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1967
| 3,453,000
| 71,380
| 23,406
| 47,974
| 20.7
| 6.8
| 13.7
| 3.4
| style="color: blue" | 2.69
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1968
| 3,506,000
| 69,997
| 24,268
| 45,729
| 20.0
| 6.9
| 13.0
| 2.3
| style="color: blue" | 2.65
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1969
| 3,549,000
| 67,575
| 26,249
| 41,326
| 19.0
| 7.4
| 11.5
| 0.8
| style="color: blue" | 2.58
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1970
| 3,594,000
| 69,778
| 26,577
| 43,201
| 19.4
| 7.4
| 12.0
| 0.7
| style="color: blue" | 2.56
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1971
| 3,647,000
| 73,643
| 27,889
| 45,754
| 20.2
| 7.6
| 12.5
| 2.2
| style="color: blue" | 2.63
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1972
| 3,700,000
| 76,198
| 28,001
| 48,197
| 20.6
| 7.6
| 13.0
| 1.5
| style="color: blue" | 2.63
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1973
| 3,748,000
| 76,339
| 30,756
| 45,583
| 20.4
| 8.2
| 12.2
| 0.8
| style="color: blue" | 2.59
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1974
| 3,794,000
| 77,474
| 32,216
| 45,258
| 20.4
| 8.5
| 11.9
| 0.4
| style="color: blue" | 2.55
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1975
| 3,839,000
| 79,169
| 35,635
| 43,534
| 20.6
| 9.3
| 11.3
| 0.6
| style="color: blue" | 2.52
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1976
| 3,877,000
| 79,863
| 34,812
| 45,051
| 20.6
| 9.0
| 11.6
| −1.7
| style="color: blue" | 2.46
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1977
| 3,910,000
| 79,022
| 37,250
| 41,772
| 20.2
| 9.5
| 10.7
| −2.2
| style="color: blue" | 2.40
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1978
| 3,936,000
| 78,994
| 38,410
| 40,584
| 20.1
| 9.8
| 10.3
| −3.7
| style="color: blue" | 2.38
| 1.70
| style="color: blue" | 3.00
|-
| 1979
| 3,967,000
| 80,152
| 41,729
| 38,423
| 20.2
| 10.5
| 9.7
| −1.8
| style="color: blue" | 2.39
| 1.80
| style="color: blue" | 2.90
|-
| 1980
| 4,010,000
| 79,580
| 40,472
| 39,108
| 19.8
| 10.1
| 9.8
| 1.0
| style="color: blue" | 2.41
| 1.80
| style="color: blue" | 2.90
|-
| 1981
| 4,054,000
| 82,279
| 41,476
| 40,803
| 20.3
| 10.2
| 10.1
| 0.9
| style="color: blue" | 2.45
| 1.80
| style="color: blue" | 3.10
|-
| 1982
| 4,097,000
| 83,258
| 41,046
| 42,212
| 20.3
| 10.0
| 10.3
| 0.3
| style="color: blue" | 2.43
| 1.79
| style="color: blue" | 3.19
|-
| 1983
| 4,137,000
| 91,304
| 44,329
| 46,975
| 22.1
| 10.7
| 11.4
| −1.6
| style="color: blue" | 2.57
| 1.87
| style="color: blue" | 3.46
|-
| 1984
| 4,175,000
| 89,637
| 45,537
| 44,100
| 21.5
| 10.9
| 10.6
| −1.4
| style="color: blue" | 2.67
| 1.95
| style="color: blue" | 3.65
|-
| 1985
| 4,214,000
| 90,453
| 46,075
| 44,378
| 21.5
| 10.9
| 10.5
| −1.2
| style="color: blue" | 2.70
| 2.00
| style="color: blue" | 3.70
|-
| 1986
| 4,255,000
| 94,726
| 40,437
| 54,289
| 22.3
| 9.5
| 12.8
| −3.1
| style="color: blue" | 2.78
| 2.00
| style="color: blue" | 3.80
|-
| 1987
| 4,290,000
| 91,762
| 40,185
| 51,577
| 21.4
| 9.4
| 12.0
| −3.8
| style="color: blue" | 2.70
| style="color: blue" | 2.10
| style="color: blue" | 3.80
|-
| 1988
| 4,321,000
| 88,568
| 40,912
| 47,656
| 20.5
| 9.5
| 11.0
| −3.8
| style="color: blue" | 2.63
| 2.00
| style="color: blue" | 3.60
|-
| 1989
| 4,349,000
| 82,221
| 40,113
| 42,108
| 18.9
| 9.2
| 9.7
| −3.2
| style="color: blue" | 2.46
| 2.02
| style="color: blue" | 3.00
|-
| 1990
| style="color: blue" | 4,364,000
| 77,085
| 42,427
| 34,658
| 17.7
| 9.7
| 7.9
| −4.5
| style="color: blue" | 2.39
| 1.91
| style="color: blue" | 3.07
|-
| 1991
| 4,363,000
| 72,020
| 45,849
| 26,171
| 16.5
| 10.5
| 6.0
| −6.2
| style="color: blue" | 2.26
| 1.79
| style="color: blue" | 2.84
|-
| 1992
| 4,353,000
| 69,654
| 44,522
| 25,132
| 16.0
| 10.2
| 5.8
| −8.1
| style="color: blue" | 2.21
| 1.68
| style="color: blue" | 2.86
|-
| 1993
| 4,350,000
| 66,179
| 46,637
| 19,542
| 15.2
| 10.7
| 4.5
| −5.2
| style="color: blue" | 2.10
| 1.53
| style="color: blue" | 2.77
|-
| 1994
| 4,350,000
| 62,085
| 51,514
| 10,571
| 14.3
| 12.0
| 2.3
| −2.3
| 1.95
| 1.44
| style="color: blue" | 2.54
|-
| 1995
| 4,340,000
| 56,411
| 52,969
| 3,442
| 13.0
| 12.2
| 0.8
| −3.1
| 1.76
| 1.31
| style="color: blue" | 2.24
|-
| 1996
| 4,325,000
| 51,865
| 49,748
| 2,117
| 12.0
| 11.5
| 0.5
| −4.0
| 1.60
| 1.19
| 2.05
|-
| 1997
| 4,311,000
| 51,286
| 51,138
| 148
| 11.9
| 11.9
| 0.0
| −3.2
| 1.55
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1998
| 4,309,000
| 46,705
| 47,691
| style="color: red" | −986
| 10.8
| 11.0
| style="color: red" | −0.2
| 1.8
| 1.48
|
| style="color: blue" |
|-
| 1999
| 4,312,000
| 43,511 || 48,904 || style="color: red" | −5,393
| 10.1 || 11.4 || style="color: red" | −1.3
| −1.2
| 1.43
|
| style="color: blue" |
|}
(e)= estimate
Moldova under central government control
- Source: National Bureau of Statistics
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
!
! width="70pt"|Average population
! width="70pt"|Live births
! width="70pt"|Deaths
! width="70pt"|Natural change
! width="70pt"|Crude birth rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Crude death rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Natural change (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Crude migration rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Total fertility rate (TFR)
! width="60pt"|Urban TFR
! width="60pt"|Rural TFR
! width="80pt"|Life Expectancy<br />(total)
! width="80pt"|Life Expectancy<br />(male)
! width="80pt"|Life Expectancy<br />(female)
|-
| 1997
|3,654,000
|45,583||42,957||2,626
|12.5||11.8||0.7
|
|1.73||1.36||style="color: blue" | 2.09
|66.61||62.86||70.30
|-
| 1998
|3,652,000
|41,332||39,922||1,410
|11.3||10.9||0.4
| −0.9
|1.67||1.32||2.03
|67.77||64.03||71.39
|-
| 1999
|3,647,000
|38,501||41,315|| style="color: red" | −2,814
|10.6||11.3||style="color: red" | −0.8
| −0.6
|1.61||1.26||1.97
|67.44||63.74||71.04
|-
| 2000
|3,640,000
|36,939||41,224|| style="color: red" | −4,285
|10.2||11.3||style="color: red" | −1.2
| −0.7
|1.57||1.23||1.95
|67.59||63.87||71.22
|-
| 2001
|3,631,000
|36,448||40,075|| style="color: red" | −3,627
|10.0||11.0||style="color: red" | −1.0
| −1.5
|1.48||1.21||1.92
|68.20||64.50||71.75
|-
| 2002
|3,623,000
|35,705||41,852|| style="color: red" | −6,147
|9.9||11.6||style="color: red" | −1.7
| −0.5
||1.41||1.13||1.89
|68.13||64.40||71.71
|-
| 2003
|3,613,000
|36,471||43,079|| style="color: red" | −6,608
|10.1||11.9||style="color: red" | −1.8
| −1.0
|1.47||1.18||1.88
|68.13||64.47||71.64
|-
| 2004
|3,604,000
|38,272||41,668|| style="color: red" | −3,396
|10.6||11.6||style="color: red" | −0.9
| −1.6
|1.50||1.19||1.91
|68.38||64.50||72.16
|-
| 2005
|3,595,000
|37,695||44,689|| style="color: red" | −6,994
|10.5||12.4||style="color: red" | −1.9
| −0.6
|style="color: red"|1.219||style="color: red" |0.94||style="color: red" | 1.301
|67.85||63.84||71.66
|-
| 2006
|3,586,000
|37,587||43,137|| style="color: red" | −5,550
|10.5||12.0||style="color: red" | −1.5
| −1.0
|1.228||1.025||1.387
|68.40||64.57||72.23
|-
| 2007
|3,577,000
|37,973||43,050|| style="color: red" | −5,077
|10.6||12.0||style="color: red" | −1.4
| −1.1
|1.256||0.973||1.543
|68.79||65.04||72.56
|-
| 2008
|3,570,000
|39,018||41,948|| style="color: red" | −2,930
|10.9||11.7||style="color: red" | −0.8
| −1.2
|1.277||1.018||1.533
|69.36||65.55||73.17
|-
| 2009
|3,566,000
|40,803||42,139|| style="color: red" | −1,336
|11.4||11.8||style="color: red" | −0.4
| −0.7
|1.326||1.048||1.582
|69.31||65.31||73.37
|-
| 2010
|3,563,000
|40,474||43,631|| style="color: red" | −3,157
|11.4||12.3||style="color: red" | −0.9
| 0.1
|1.309||1.055||1.531
|69.11||65.00||73.41
|-
| 2011
|3,560,000
|39,182||39,249|| style="color: red" | −67
|11.0||11.0||style="color: red" | −0.0
| −0.8
|1.266||1.009||1.482
|70.88||66.82||74.93
|-
| 2012
| 3,560,000
| 39,435||39,560|| style="color: red" | −125
| 11.0||11.1|| style="color: red" | −0.1
| 0.1
| 1.279||1.030||1.483
| 71.12||67.24||74.99
|-
| 2013
| 3,559,000
| 37,871|| 38,060|| style="color: red" | −189
| 10.6|| 10.7|| style="color: red" | −0.1
| −0.2
| 1.238 ||0.975||1.449
| 71.85||68.05||75.55
|-
| 2014
| 2,857,815
| 40,709|| 39,522|| |1,187
| 14.3|| 13.8|| | 0.5
| −197.5
| 1.82 || 1.52|| 2.04
| 69.33 ||65.20||73.60
|-
| 2015
| 2,835,978
| 40,547|| 39,800|| | 747
| 14.4|| 14.1|| | 0.4
| −8.0
| 1.87 || 1.52|| style="color: blue" | 2.11
| 69.37||65.22||73.72
|-
| 2016
| 2,803,186
| 39,640|| 38,412|| | 1,228
| 14.3|| 13.7|| | 0.5
| −12.1
| 1.89 || 1.56|| style="color: blue" | 2.12
| 69.85||65.68||74.20
|-
| 2017
| 2,755,189
| 36,363||36,779|| style="color: red" | −416
| 13.2|| 13.3|| style="color: red" | −0.2
| −16.9
| 1.81 ||1.49||2.03
| 70.77||66.71||74.92
|-
| 2018
| 2,707,203
| 34,537||37,263|| style="color: red" | −2,726
| 12.8|| 13.8|| style="color: red" | −1.0
| −16.4
| 1.81 ||1.48||2.03
| 70.6||66.3||75.0
|-
| 2019
| 2,664,224
| 32,423||36,411|| style="color: red" | −3,988
| 12.2|| 13.7|| style="color: red" | −1.5
| -14.4
| 1.78|| 1.47||1.99
| 70.9||66.8||75.2
|-
| 2020
| 2,635,130
| 30,834||40,717|| style="color: red" | −9,883
| 11.7 || 15.5 || style="color: red" | −3.8
| −7.1
| 1.76 || 1.46||1.98
| 69.9||66.0||73.9
|-
| 2021
| 2,595,809
| 29,320||45,464|| style="color: red" | −16,144
| 11.3 || 17.5 || style="color: red" | −6.2
| −8.7
| 1.75 || 1.48|| 1.94
| 69.0 ||65.1||72.9
|-
| 2022
| 2,528,654
| 27,018 || 36,196 || style="color: red" | –9,178
| 10.7 || 14.3 || style="color: red" | −3.6
| −18.3
| 1.69 || 1.46 || 1.87
| 71.4 || 67.1 || 75.7
|-
| 2023
| 2,457,783
| 24,123 || 33,782 || style="color: red" | –9,659
| 9.8 || 13.7 || style="color: red" | −3.9
| −13.1
| 1.61 || ||
| 71.9 ||67.5||76.4
|-
| 2024
| 2,402,306
| 23,658 || 33,545 || style="color: red" | –9,887
| 9.8 || 13.9 || style="color: red" | −4.1
|
| 1.66 || ||
| 72.0 || 67.6 || 76.4
|-
| 2025
| 2,381,300
| 22,142 || 32,074 || style="color: red" | –9,932
|}
- Starting with 2014, the sharp changes in the statistics are because of the new calculation methods and according with the latest census, and include only data of resident people that lived in the country predominantly during the last 12 months, regardless of temporary absences (for the purpose of recreation, vacations, visits to relatives and friends, business, medical treatment, religious pilgrimages, etc.).
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Total fertility rates by development regions (2024)
!Regions
!TFR
|-
|Central Development Region
|1.90
|-
|Southern Development Region
|1.76
|-
|Northern Development Region
|1.71
|-
|
|1.66
|-
|Gagauzia
|1.60
|-
|Bălți Municipality
|1.53
|-
|Chișinău Municipality
|1.33
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+ Total fertility rate by district (2024)
!Districts
!TFR
|-
| Șoldănești
|style="color:blue"|2.15
|-
| Cantemir
|style="color:blue"|2.14
|-
| Nisporeni
|2.08
|-
| Telenești
|2.04
|-
| Orhei
|2.03
|-
| Cimișlia
|1.96
|-
| Hîncești
|1.95
|-
| Ungheni
|1.95
|-
| Călărași
|1.92
|-
| Sîngerei
|1.91
|-
| Rezina
|1.90
|-
| Edineț
|1.89
|-
| Ștefan Vodă
|1.89
|-
| Ialoveni
|1.86
|-
| Dondușeni
|1.85
|-
| Criuleni
|1.84
|-
| Drochia
|1.84
|-
| Fălești
|1.83
|-
| Leova
|1.82
|-
| Dubăsari
|1.75
|-
| Strășeni
|1.75
|-
| Glodeni
|1.72
|-
| Florești
|1.70
|-
| Anenii Noi
|1.69
|-
| Soroca
|1.67
|-
| Căușeni
|1.66
|-
| Rîșcani
|1.64
|-
| Taraclia
|1.63
|-
| Briceni
|1.61
|-
| Gagauzia
|1.60
|-
| Cahul
|1.59
|-
| Bălți
|1.53
|-
| Basarabeasca
|1.52
|-
| Ocnița
|1.44
|-
| Chișinău
|1.33
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Current vital statistics
|-
! Period
! Live births
! Deaths
! Natural increase
|-
! January – December 2024
| 23,648
| 33,510
| −9,862
|-
! January – December 2025
| 22,142
| 32,121
| −9,979
|-
! Difference
| –1,506 (–6.37%)
| −1,389 (−4.14%)
| –117
|}
Structure of the population
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 1 352 099
| align="right" | 1 452 702
| align="right" | 2 804 801
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 88 311
| align="right" | 83 681
| align="right" | 171 992
| align="right" | 6.13
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 82 455
| align="right" | 78 229
| align="right" | 160 684
| align="right" | 5.73
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 77 275
| align="right" | 72 752
| align="right" | 150 027
| align="right" | 5.35
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 93 727
| align="right" | 89 965
| align="right" | 183 692
| align="right" | 6.55
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 118 376
| align="right" | 112 777
| align="right" | 231 153
| align="right" | 8.24
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 129 771
| align="right" | 121 694
| align="right" | 251 465
| align="right" | 8.97
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 109 201
| align="right" | 105 669
| align="right" | 214 870
| align="right" | 7.66
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 95 575
| align="right" | 95 220
| align="right" | 190 795
| align="right" | 6.80
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 87 451
| align="right" | 89 455
| align="right" | 176 906
| align="right" | 6.31
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 84 288
| align="right" | 89 276
| align="right" | 173 564
| align="right" | 6.19
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 98 512
| align="right" | 110 162
| align="right" | 208 674
| align="right" | 7.44
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 93 612
| align="right" | 110 213
| align="right" | 203 825
| align="right" | 7.27
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 79 681
| align="right" | 102 009
| align="right" | 181 690
| align="right" | 6.48
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 39 652
| align="right" | 55 755
| align="right" | 95 407
| align="right" | 3.40
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 32 645
| align="right" | 52 625
| align="right" | 85 270
| align="right" | 3.04
|-
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 22 757
| align="right" | 42 339
| align="right" | 65 096
| align="right" | 2.32
|-
| align="right" | 80–84
| align="right" | 12 543
| align="right" | 25 437
| align="right" | 37 980
| align="right" | 1.35
|-
| align="right" | 85–89
| align="right" | 4 801
| align="right" | 11 701
| align="right" | 16 502
| align="right" | 0.59
|-
| align="right" | 90–94
| align="right" | 1 148
| align="right" | 3 129
| align="right" | 4 277
| align="right" | 0.15
|-
| align="right" | 95–99
| align="right" | 158
| align="right" | 416
| align="right" | 574
| align="right" | 0.02
|-
| align="right" | 100+
| align="right" | 160
| align="right" | 198
| align="right" | 358
| align="right" | 0.01
|-
! width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 248 041
| align="right" | 234 662
| align="right" | 482 703
| align="right" | 17.21
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 990 194
| align="right" | 1 026 440
| align="right" | 2 016 634
| align="right" | 71.90
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 113 864
| align="right" | 191 600
| align="right" | 305 464
| align="right" | 10.89
|-
|}