4,312,000 (1997).

127.6 per sq km.

Chisinau (Kishinev).

667,100 (1992).

Moldova is a small landlocked state in southeastern Europe – one of the most highly populated republics of the former USSR. To the north, east and south Moldova, is bound by Ukraine; to the west by Romania. The River Prut constitutes the border with Romania. The country has rich pastures and wooded slopes, ideal for wine-growing.

Republic since 1991. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Head of State: President Petru Lucinschi since 1997. Head of Government: Prime Minister Ion Sturza since 1997.

The Constitution of 1994 described the official language as 'Moldovan' although it is considered to be virtually identical to Romanian. In 1940, after Soviet annexation, the Cyrillic script was introduced and was referred to as Moldavian up until 1989 when the Latin alphabet was reintroduced. Russian is still the most widely spoken language. The ethnic and linguistic make-up of Moldova is as follows: Moldovans 64.5%, Ukrainians 13.8%, Russians 13.0%, Gagauz 3.5%, Bulgarians 1.5%, Others 3.7%.

Mostly Eastern Orthodox Christian and other Christian denominations. A small amount of the population are Jewish. There are more than 850 churches, 11 Christian Orthodox monasteries, two Armenian churches and more than 60 churches of the Seventh Day Adventists. There is one synagogue (in Chisinau).

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

220 volts AC, 50Hz.