In Moldova, the female-to-male ratio declines after age 30 due to higher male mortality and emigration
The Republic of Moldova is experiencing a significant demographic imbalance. In rural areas, the population is predominantly male, while women are increasingly migrating to urban centers. National data reveal a concerning trend: the number of men is steadily decreasing relative to the number of women. The main factors contributing to this imbalance are high male mortality rates and the emigration of men from the country.
The gender ratio balances out at age 30 but begins to decline thereafter. Consequently, women make up over 53% of the country's population, with some districts showing a ratio of 85 women for every 100 men.
"Even though more boys are born than girls, the number of men compared to women decreases due to a higher mortality rate and international migration, which involves more men," explained Vitalie Știrba, a scientific researcher at the Demographic Research Center of the National Institute of Economic Research at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, in an interview with journalist Veronica Scorpan on the show "Zi de zi" on Radio Moldova.
Conversely, internal migration contributes to another phenomenon: women often migrate from rural areas to cities, creating an imbalance among young adults.
"In rural areas, there are more boys than girls, while in cities, there are more women than men within the age range of 20 to 35 years," Vitalie Știrba said.
Another reality is that fewer and fewer children are being born in the Republic of Moldova, with the record set in 2025, when just over 22,000 children were born.
“Year after year, we have fewer and fewer young people of reproductive age and, respectively, fewer births. We also observe changes in reproductive behavior, which are characterized by postponing births and increasing the average age of the mother at the first and subsequent births. Young people are increasingly avoiding early marriages and births in favor of financial stability. And here we are talking about both housing space and a career”, says Știrba.
The expert estimated that by 2040, the population of the Republic of Moldova will decrease by over 300,000 and reach about 2 million. The statistics do not take into account the population on the left bank of the Nistru and in the municipality of Tighina.
The population of the Republic of Moldova is decreasing, but globally it is increasing
In a report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), published on July 10, the authors conclude that a standard scenario has emerged worldwide, according to which young people build their lives. It is first about obtaining a decent job, then a home of their own, and finally a stable partnership that will lead to marriage.
If a link in this chain is missing, each subsequent stage is postponed or simply suspended. The same study mentions that every second young person in the Republic of Moldova plans to have a child in the next three years, but only if they have financial stability, a home and a compatible partner.
On July 11, 1987, the planet's five billionth person was born. That was the moment when the United Nations realized that demographic figures are not just statistics, but destinies, resources and, above all, alarm signals.
That is how World Population Day was created. Today, in 2026, the world looks completely different. The Earth has surpassed the 8.3 billion mark, with India becoming the world's most populous country.
Globally, the rate of population growth is slowing, and according to UN projections, the world's population will reach about 11 billion by 2070, after which it will stagnate or decrease.
