Moldova daylight saving time 2025: When clocks change
The Republic of Moldova will officially transition to daylight saving time overnight from Saturday, March 29, to Sunday, March 30.
Clocks will be moved forward by one hour, meaning that 3:00 AM will become 4:00 AM. As a result, the last Sunday of March will consist of only 23 hours, making it the shortest day of the year.
This practice, adopted by around 110 countries, is intended to optimize natural daylight use and lower energy consumption. Moldova introduced daylight saving time in 1979.
In recent years, the European Union has explored the possibility of discontinuing seasonal time changes, but no final decision has been reached. Member states were originally expected to decide by 2021 whether to adopt daylight saving time or standard time permanently, but the process was postponed.
In 2022, the government of Moldova stated that staying in sync with EU countries is economically necessary, particularly in the context of the Association Agreement with the European Union.
Health professionals warn that adjusting the clock can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to fatigue, insomnia, trouble concentrating, irritability, and even headaches.
A European Union survey, with 4.6 million participants, found that 84% of respondents favored abolishing time changes. Around 40% reported difficulty concentrating, while one-third experienced increased irritability after adjusting to the new time.
The body can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to adjust, depending on a person’s chronotype—whether they are naturally an early riser or a night owl. Those who stay up late tend to struggle more with the transition to daylight saving time, while early risers find the return to standard time more challenging.
To minimize the effects of the time change, experts recommend gradually adjusting sleep schedules in the days leading up to the transition by going to bed and waking up 15–20 minutes earlier each day.
Daylight saving time will stay in effect until the last Sunday of October, when Moldova will switch back to standard time.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
