In the Republic of Moldova live about 4.3 million people. This is more than in such countries as Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Albania etc. This land was always populated despite of many warfare and political causes. For example during the 1940-1950 Stalinist repressions were deported to Siberia about 550 thousand people and during 1946-1947 hunger died 150-200 thousand people. In our day the population number is also decreasing (-1,9% last 10 years) because of the social-economic crises. The average life longitude is 66 years.

 Population density

Republic of Moldova is one of the most densely populated republics of the former USSR, up till 150 persons per square kilometer. This fact is partially due to agreeable natural environment and also due to migration-colonization processes during the Russian Government in XIX century. In such way for the promised incentives in the southern Moldova migrated more than 160 thousand Bulgarians and Gagauz people. Other big ethnic groups migrating to Bessarabia during XIX were: Germans, Serbians, Greeks, Ukrainians, and Russians. Many more Russians and Ukrainians migrated after the World War II as a communist politic intention to mix and rare the local population. The population density in the Republic is higher then in its neighboring countries and such countries as France (104), Portugal (107).

 Urban and rural areas

 Today, the urban population is 46% with the balance of Moldovans residing in rural areas. More than 60% of the urban population (26,8% of total population) is concentrated in the capital city of Chisinau, with a population of 750,000, and three other major cities: Baltsy, Tiraspol, and Tighina. Rural area comprises of 1616 villages (communities) most of them being large (1-5 thousand people). Most of urban areas appeared as commercial centers and city-fortresses (Tighina, Soroca) as a result of geographical situation on the crossroads of the Republic.

 Ethnic structure

 The majority of population is comprised of Moldovans (64,5%), the native population. At the beginning of XX century in Moldova lived - 70,2 % Moldovans, 10,8% Ukrainians, 9,3% Jewish people. Moldovans now live mostly in rural areas (80,3%) with higher percentage in Northern and Central part of the country. Bulgarians and Gagauz are concentrated in the southern part. Most Russians and Ukrainians live in urban areas and in Transdniestria. Gagauz nation is unique because there are, as people call them, Christian Turks. Mainly they are concentrated in Republic of Moldova and in the capital of Gagauz autonomous republic (Comrat) there is the only Gagauz University.

 The population in Moldova is very diverse (about 100 nationalities).

A breakdown of major ethnic groups is as follows:

· Romanians/Moldovans- 64%

· Ukrainians- 13.8%

· Russians- 13%

· Gagauz (Christian Turks)- 3.5%

· Bulgarians- 2.0%

· Others- 3.2%