Moldova's demographic crisis deepens: What's next?
Over the next 5-10 years, Moldova is projected to face an even steeper decline in fertility rates, an aging population, and a rise in mortality, particularly among men, anticipates Eduard Mihalaș, a regional advisor for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Istanbul.
Speaking on the Moldova 1 show "Departe/ Aproape" (Far/Near), Mihalaș stated that low fertility is a common issue for many countries.
"Both in Moldova and across Europe, as well as in other parts of the world like Japan or South Korea, people have cited the high costs of raising a child, a lack of daycare services, and inflexible maternity or paternity leave as causes of this problem. In South Korea, it also includes housing-related aspects," Eduard Mihalaș noted.
According to the cited source, authorities must find the most suitable solutions to address this issue, adding that some states have even opted to offer cash payments or to extend the period mothers can stay home with their little ones.
On the same show, the expert recalled that demographically, Moldova is also affected by migration, which has led to a population decrease from 4 million to almost 2.5 million, according to data from the latest census conducted in 2024.
According to the UNFPA representative, most of those who tend to leave are educated young people, aged 20 to 34, who are ready for the labor market. However, there's also a flow of citizens returning home, who are typically over 50 years old.
"These individuals usually accumulate savings in the EU and bring them back to Moldova, which is, in fact, an opportunity to utilize the funds of people coming from Europe. With these savings, if invested correctly, the country can prosper, precisely by taking these migratory flows into account," Eduard Mihalaș stated.
The expert added that migration could be an element from which we could benefit greatly. Utilizing the experiences Moldovans gain in other countries could help Moldova's development, especially in the process of joining the European Union, he pointed out.
It's worth noting that the number of newborns in Moldova has been decreasing year after year. While over 38,600 births were registered in 2014, a decade later, in 2024, only 23,600 children were born, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Additionally, the birth rate, meaning the number of births per 1,000 people, dropped from 10.9 in 2014 to 9.8 in 2024.
At the same time, Moldova's natural population growth remains negative, recording a difference of 9.9 thousand people between the number of newborns and deceased individuals in 2024.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
