Moldova has a population of around 2.5 million within its government-controlled territory, with another 450,000 or so in Transnistria. This figure has fallen sharply over the past three decades: emigration has been one of the defining forces in Moldovan life since independence, with large communities now living in Romania, Italy, Russia, and elsewhere. Some villages have lost the majority of their working-age adults.
Ethnic groups: The majority identify as Moldovan or Romanian (the distinction is politically contested — the two languages are effectively identical). Ukrainians make up around 7% of the population, Russians around 4.5%, and Gagauz — a Turkic-speaking Orthodox Christian group — about 4.5%, concentrated in the autonomous region of Gagauzia in the south. Transnistria has significant Russian and Ukrainian populations.
Language: Moldovan (Romanian) is the official language. Russian is widely spoken and understood, particularly among older generations and in urban areas. In Transnistria, Russian is the dominant language of everyday life. Gagauz, a Turkic language, is spoken in Gagauzia. Most younger Moldovans in Chisinau speak some English; outside the capital, Russian is more useful than English for getting around.
Religion: Eastern Orthodoxy is central to Moldovan cultural identity. The country has a remarkable density of monasteries — many actively functioning — and religious observance, especially on major feast days, is high. The cave churches at Orheiul Vechi and the monastery complexes at Capriana and Saharna give a sense of how deeply rooted Orthodox Christianity is here.
Society: Moldovan society is family-oriented and hospitable. Guests are fed generously. Rural life still follows seasonal rhythms — the grape harvest in autumn, mushroom-picking in autumn forests, the preserving of vegetables for winter. The gap between Chisinau and the countryside is large, in outlook as much as in income.