GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

The iconic bell tower in Chișinău's Cathedral Park during a tranquil sunset evening.A stunning aerial shot capturing Chișinău, Moldova in vibrant autumn colors.

Moldova

Europe · Eastern Europe

High safetyAffordable cost of livingHigh development
Safety

54th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.836lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#54 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
2.5per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
55.4Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$8,050national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
14.7New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
14.1years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 629% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 99% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$10K$20K$19,996 PPP$8,622Inflation, % a year30%0200620102015202020252006, $1,183 a person, $5,271 at PPP, inflation 12.8%2007, $1,531 a person, $5,590 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2008, $2,111 a person, $6,153 at PPP, inflation 12.8%2009, $1,898 a person, $5,827 at PPP2010, $2,437 a person, $6,323 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2011, $2,941 a person, $6,833 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2012, $3,045 a person, $7,255 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2013, $3,321 a person, $8,233 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2014, $3,290 a person, $8,643 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2015, $2,750 a person, $9,198 at PPP, inflation 9.7%2016, $2,847 a person, $10,326 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2017, $3,453 a person, $11,252 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2018, $4,156 a person, $11,868 at PPP, inflation 3%2019, $4,405 a person, $13,413 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2020, $4,376 a person, $13,527 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2021, $5,275 a person, $15,682 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2022, $5,744 a person, $16,442 at PPP, inflation 28.7%2023, $6,800 a person, $17,751 at PPP, inflation 13.4%2024, $7,579 a person, $18,662 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2025, $8,622 a person, $19,996 at PPP, inflation 7.8%$0$10K$20KInflation, % a year30%0200620102015202020252006, $1,183 a person, $5,271 at PPP, inflation 12.8%2007, $1,531 a person, $5,590 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2008, $2,111 a person, $6,153 at PPP, inflation 12.8%2009, $1,898 a person, $5,827 at PPP2010, $2,437 a person, $6,323 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2011, $2,941 a person, $6,833 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2012, $3,045 a person, $7,255 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2013, $3,321 a person, $8,233 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2014, $3,290 a person, $8,643 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2015, $2,750 a person, $9,198 at PPP, inflation 9.7%2016, $2,847 a person, $10,326 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2017, $3,453 a person, $11,252 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2018, $4,156 a person, $11,868 at PPP, inflation 3%2019, $4,405 a person, $13,413 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2020, $4,376 a person, $13,527 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2021, $5,275 a person, $15,682 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2022, $5,744 a person, $16,442 at PPP, inflation 28.7%2023, $6,800 a person, $17,751 at PPP, inflation 13.4%2024, $7,579 a person, $18,662 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2025, $8,622 a person, $19,996 at PPP, inflation 7.8%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
71.3years, at birthModerate
#126 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
71WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
8.9PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
1.5%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
152 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
531EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet152 MbpsVery fast
Mobile62 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A stunning aerial shot capturing Chișinău, Moldova in vibrant autumn colors.
How it changed

Moldova's Human Development Index

0.785High human development

86th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 43rd of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #84Brazil0.786
  2. #84Palau0.786
  3. #86Moldova0.785
  4. #87Ukraine0.779
  5. #88Ecuador0.777
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2005

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.702 in 2005 to 0.785 in 2023.

0.650.750.850.7852005201020232005: 0.7022006: 0.7112007: 0.7182008: 0.7282009: 0.7292010: 0.7392011: 0.7482012: 0.7542013: 0.7582014: 0.7622015: 0.7592016: 0.7632017: 0.7692018: 0.7722019: 0.7752020: 0.7702021: 0.7732022: 0.7842023: 0.7850.650.750.852005201020232005: 0.7022006: 0.7112007: 0.7182008: 0.7282009: 0.7292010: 0.7392011: 0.7482012: 0.7542013: 0.7582014: 0.7622015: 0.7592016: 0.7632017: 0.7692018: 0.7722019: 0.7752020: 0.7702021: 0.7732022: 0.7842023: 0.785

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 19 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
71.3 years2024at birthUp 3.1 years from 68.2 years in 2005
Internet users
77%2024of people onlineUp 58 points from 20% in 2006
Urban population
44%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 5 points from 39% in 2006
Births per woman
1.732024births per womanUp 0.20 from 1.53 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
21%2021of energy usedUp 17 points from 5% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 99% in 2005
Infant mortality
152024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 3 from 18 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
3.4 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.5 t from 2.9 t in 2005
Forest area
12%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 11% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Europe's least-visited country: EU candidate, cheapest in Europe, wine country.

About Moldova

Moldova is a small landlocked country in Eastern Europe between Romania and Ukraine, known among those who know it for its extraordinary wine culture, with some of the largest wine cellars in the world carved deep into limestone hills. The countryside is pastoral and gentle, and the capital Chișinău has a certain provincial charm. Those with a specific interest in wine, slow travel, or undiscovered Eastern Europe will find it quietly rewarding.

Practical facts

  • CapitalChișinău
  • LanguagesRomanian
  • CurrencyMoldovan leu (MDL)
  • Area32,930 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Moldova's Human Development Index?

Moldova's Human Development Index is 0.785 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #86 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Moldova safe?

Moldova scores 1.84 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #54 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Moldova?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Moldova at 35.8 (New York = 100); that is #48 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Moldova?

Life expectancy at birth in Moldova is 71.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #126 of 195 countries.