Moldova confirms only 32 living centenarians on registry
Moldova’s civil registry lists 1,119 citizens aged over 100, but authorities have confirmed only 32 are actually alive and collecting state pensions, officials said.
The remaining 1,087 registered centenarians lack updated records, leaving the Public Services Agency (ASP) unable to verify whether they have died or emigrated without notifying state bodies. The agency disclosed the figures following an inquiry by public broadcaster Teleradio-Moldova.
Outdated soviet passports obscure records
Administrative hurdles stem largely from Soviet-era passports, which officially expired on September 1, 2014. Without death certificates or formal notices of foreign residency, authorities cannot legally strike these individuals from the State Population Register.
“In the absence of supporting documents regarding the death of persons or their settlement abroad, the Public Services Agency is unable to update the respective information in the State Population Register,” the ASP said in an official statement.
The agency noted that the unverified group of 1,087 people carries no practical statistical significance, as no public benefits are being disbursed on their behalf.
Regional distribution and demographic aging
Among the 32 confirmed living centenarians, 17 reside in the capital Chisinau, nine live in the northern Briceni district, and six are registered in the Edinet district.
Overall records show modest fluctuation. As of October 1, 2026, the registry listed 1,119 centenarians, down slightly from 1,129 in 2025, when the cohort comprised 963 women and 166 men. Last year, 450 entries were officially removed from the database for various verified reasons.
The registry discrepancy highlights broader demographic headwinds facing the EU candidate country. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, approximately 612,000 people—a record 25.9% of the population—were aged 60 or older at the start of 2026.
Gender disparities among seniors remain pronounced. Women receive an average monthly pension of 4,162 MDL (approx. €212), compared to 4,964 MDL (approx. €253) for men, reflecting career gaps that heighten the risk of old-age poverty among female retirees.
Men face significantly higher rates of premature mortality, with life expectancy in old age trailing that of women by roughly five years. Currently, around 15,000 isolated elderly citizens across the country receive specialized home-care assistance, according to data from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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