Moldova
Europe · Eastern Europe
Europe's least-visited country: EU candidate, cheapest in Europe, wine country.
At a Glance
📈Moldova's Human Development Index
0.763
High human development#85 of 191 countries worldwide, #42 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 56% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Poorest country in Europe by GDP per capita.
- Has the world's largest wine cellar — 200km of underground tunnels in Cricova.
- More Moldovans live abroad than anywhere else as a share of population in Europe.
Quick Facts
Capital
Chișinău
Language
Romanian
Currency
L MDL
Area
32,930 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
152Mbps
Mobile
62Mbps
GDP / Capita
$9K
PPP / Capita
$20K
Inflation
7.8%
Unemployment
1.5%
Innovation (GII)
27.4
GNI / Capita
$8K
Tax Revenue
18.6%
FDI Inflows
2.3%
Education Spend
6.6%
Cost of Living
35.8
Price Level Index
51st pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.688 → 0.763 (+0.075)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Moldova's Human Development Index?
Moldova's Human Development Index is 0.763 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #85 of 191 countries.
Is Moldova safe?
Moldova scores 1.84 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #54 of 160 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.