MigrantoImmigrants in Moldova
180.4K foreigners live in Moldova — 8% of the country's population
Immigrants in Moldova by country
The 3 largest groups make up 93% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Ukraine | 143623 |
| Russia | 20439 |
| Romania | 3545 |
| Italy | 2567 |
| Kazakhstan | 2459 |
| Belarus | 1036 |
| Turkey | 533 |
| Portugal | 529 |
| Bulgaria | 446 |
| Germany | 429 |
| Azerbaijan | 405 |
| Syria | 359 |
| Uzbekistan | 358 |
| France | 357 |
| Greece | 351 |
| Spain | 303 |
| Israel | 300 |
| Georgia | 299 |
| Armenia | 274 |
| Lithuania | 256 |
| USA | 230 |
| Turkmenistan | 210 |
| Tajikistan | 177 |
| Ireland | 163 |
| United Kingdom | 156 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 131 |
| Canada | 112 |
| Poland | 96 |
| Latvia | 96 |
| Hungary | 60 |
| Estonia | 57 |
By region of origin
97% of immigrants come from Europe
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Key facts
Immigrants in Moldova in numbers
The immigrant population has grown 234% since 2020
The number of foreigners living in Moldova rose from 54.1K to 180.4K in four years.
Ukrainians are the largest group by a wide margin
80% of all immigrants were born in Ukraine, while the next group accounts for just 11%.
More immigrants come from a single country than in 1990
The largest group's share rose from 46% to 80%, and today that group is people born in Ukraine.
The map of origins has changed since 1990
7 countries have entered the top 20 origins since 1990: Italy, Turkey, Portugal. Italy climbed from outside the top 20 to #4.
1 in 13 residents of Moldova was born abroad
180.4K of 2.4M residents were born abroad — 7.5% of the population.
Immigrant population in Moldova over time
Foreigners living in Moldova, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 525003 |
| 1995 | 357527 |
| 2000 | 245618 |
| 2005 | 171524 |
| 2010 | 126307 |
| 2015 | 91994 |
| 2020 | 54065 |
| 2024 | 180356 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Moldova, by year
| Year | Ukrainians | Russians | Romanians | Italians | Kazakhs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 240070 | 223785 | 1494 | 12 | 18970 |
| 1995 | 163612 | 152133 | 1571 | 12 | 13069 |
| 2000 | 112167 | 104184 | 1649 | 14 | 9032 |
| 2005 | 77412 | 71831 | 1727 | 401 | 6403 |
| 2010 | 55084 | 51569 | 1804 | 1363 | 5142 |
| 2015 | 37012 | 35009 | 1884 | 3467 | 4054 |
| 2020 | 17902 | 17692 | 1914 | 4773 | 2912 |
| 2024 | 143623 | 20439 | 3545 | 2567 | 2459 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Moldova
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Moldova
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Moldova?
Around 180.4K immigrants live in Moldova — the world's #117 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Moldova are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 8% of the population of Moldova — that's 180.4K out of a total population of 2.4M.
Where do most immigrants in Moldova come from?
Most immigrants in Moldova come from Ukraine, Russia and Romania — these three countries account for about 93% of all immigrants.
How many Ukrainians live in Moldova?
Around 143.6K Ukrainians live in Moldova — about 80% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Moldova growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Moldova has grown from 92K to 180.4K, about 96%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Moldova come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Moldova. Their children born in Moldova are not included.
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Living in Moldova
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