Economy - overview:
Despite recent progress, Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. With a moderate climate and productive farmland, Moldova's economy relies heavily on its agriculture sector, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, wheat, and tobacco. Moldova also depends on annual remittances of about $1.2 billion - almost 15% of GDP - from the roughly one million Moldovans working in Europe, Israel, Russia, and elsewhere.

With few natural energy resources, Moldova imports almost all of its energy supplies from Russia and Ukraine. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy is underscored by a more than $6 billion debt to Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom, largely the result of unreimbursed natural gas consumption in the breakaway region of Transnistria. Moldova and Romania inaugurated the Ungheni-Iasi natural gas interconnector project in August 2014. The 43-kilometer pipeline between Moldova and Romania, allows for both the import and export of natural gas. Several technical and regulatory delays kept gas from flowing into Moldova until March 2015. Romanian gas exports to Moldova are largely symbolic. In 2018, Moldova awarded a tender to Romanian Transgaz to construct a pipeline connecting Ungheni to Chisinau, bringing the gas to Moldovan population centers. Moldova also seeks to connect with the European power grid by 2022.

The government's stated goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. Moldova experienced better than expected economic growth in 2017, largely driven by increased consumption, increased revenue from agricultural exports, and improved tax collection. During fall 2014, Moldova signed an Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU (AA/DCFTA), connecting Moldovan products to the world’s largest market. The EU AA/DCFTA has contributed to significant growth in Moldova’s exports to the EU. In 2017, the EU purchased over 65% of Moldova’s exports, a major change from 20 years previously when the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) received over 69% of Moldova’s exports. A $1 billion asset-stripping heist of Moldovan banks in late 2014 delivered a significant shock to the economy in 2015; the subsequent bank bailout increased inflationary pressures and contributed to the depreciation of the leu and a minor recession. Moldova’s growth has also been hampered by endemic corruption, which limits business growth and deters foreign investment, and Russian restrictions on imports of Moldova’s agricultural products. The government’s push to restore stability and implement meaningful reform led to the approval in 2016 of a $179 million three-year IMF program focused on improving the banking and fiscal environments, along with additional assistance programs from the EU, World Bank, and Romania. Moldova received two IMF tranches in 2017, totaling over $42.5 million.

Over the longer term, Moldova's economy remains vulnerable to corruption, political uncertainty, weak administrative capacity, vested bureaucratic interests, energy import dependence, Russian political and economic pressure, heavy dependence on agricultural exports, and unresolved separatism in Moldova's Transnistria region.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$23.72 billion (2017 est.)
$22.69 billion (2016 est.)
$21.75 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 143
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.556 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
4.5% (2017 est.)
4.3% (2016 est.)
-0.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 65
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,700 (2017 est.)
$6,400 (2016 est.)
$6,100 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 162
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
13.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
15.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
14.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 143
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 85.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 19% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 1.4% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 42.5% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -70.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 17.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 20.3% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 62% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, grapes, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, tobacco; beef, milk; wine

Industries:
sugar processing, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 104
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
1.295 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 136
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 32.3%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 12%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 55.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
4.1% (2017 est.)
4.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 53
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
9.6% (2015 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.2%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: 22.1% (2014 est.)
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26.8 (2015 est.)
26.8 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 146
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 2.886 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 2.947 billion (2017 est.)
note: National Public Budget

Taxes and other revenues:
30.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 77
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 65
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
31.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
35.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 163
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.6% (2017 est.)
6.4% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 191
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2017)
9% (31 December 2016)
note: this is the basic rate on short-term operations
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 60
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.36% (31 December 2017 est.)
14.28% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 84
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$2.026 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.406 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 134
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$2.026 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.406 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 142
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$2.135 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.942 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 148
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$18.42 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$9.723 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$50.47 million (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 123
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$602 million (2017 est.)
-$268 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 123
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$1.858 billion (2017 est.)
$2.045 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 142
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
Romania 24.6%, Russia 13.7%, Italy 9.1%, Germany 6.2%, Ukraine 5.3%, UK 4.6%, Poland 4.6% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Imports:
$4.427 billion (2017 est.)
$3.635 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 136
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles

Imports - partners:
Romania 15.5%, Ukraine 11.4%, Russia 10.6%, China 10.4%, Germany 8.9%, Italy 6.9%, Turkey 6.1% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.803 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.206 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 111
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$6.549 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.138 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 126
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$3.701 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.581 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 112
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$252.7 million (31 December 2017)
$206.1 million (31 December 2016)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 106
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar -
18.49 (2017 est.)
19.924 (2016 est.)
19.924 (2015 est.)
19.83 (2014 est.)
14.036 (2013 est.)