Net migration (UNICEF) in Moldova
Moldova: Net migration was -29,766 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-29,766
Change on year
down 9.9%
World rank
65th
of 74 countries
All-time high
89,154
in 2022
All-time low
-84,039
in 2010
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in Moldova, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Moldova stood at -29,766.
That represents a change of down 9.9% on the previous year and up 49.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Moldova peaked at 89,154 in 2022 and was at its lowest, -84,039, in 2010.
That places Moldova 65th out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Moldova, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 13,697 | — |
| 1961 | 14,818 | +8.2% |
| 1962 | 15,884 | +7.2% |
| 1963 | 16,816 | +5.9% |
| 1964 | 17,509 | +4.1% |
| 1965 | 18,066 | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 18,601 | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 19,175 | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 19,830 | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 20,561 | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 606 | -97.1% |
| 1971 | -61 | -110.1% |
| 1972 | 481 | -888.5% |
| 1973 | 1,156 | +140.3% |
| 1974 | 1,785 | +54.4% |
| 1975 | 2,355 | +31.9% |
| 1976 | 2,885 | +22.5% |
| 1977 | 3,245 | +12.5% |
| 1978 | 3,483 | +7.3% |
| 1979 | -6,912 | -298.4% |
| 1980 | -3,693 | -46.6% |
| 1981 | -6,452 | +74.7% |
| 1982 | -8,412 | +30.4% |
| 1983 | -10,543 | +25.3% |
| 1984 | -12,732 | +20.8% |
| 1985 | -10,627 | -16.5% |
| 1986 | -8,769 | -17.5% |
| 1987 | -10,796 | +23.1% |
| 1988 | -4,989 | -53.8% |
| 1989 | -29,307 | +487.4% |
| 1990 | -30,053 | +2.5% |
| 1991 | -29,204 | -2.8% |
| 1992 | -30,136 | +3.2% |
| 1993 | -31,526 | +4.6% |
| 1994 | -31,616 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | -31,975 | +1.1% |
| 1996 | -33,369 | +4.4% |
| 1997 | -41,743 | +25.1% |
| 1998 | -41,975 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | -43,111 | +2.7% |
| 2000 | -43,854 | +1.7% |
| 2001 | -45,043 | +2.7% |
| 2002 | -45,833 | +1.8% |
| 2003 | -46,947 | +2.4% |
| 2004 | -52,491 | +11.8% |
| 2005 | -68,681 | +30.8% |
| 2006 | -72,061 | +4.9% |
| 2007 | -75,734 | +5.1% |
| 2008 | -79,593 | +5.1% |
| 2009 | -83,546 | +5.0% |
| 2010 | -84,039 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | -82,271 | -2.1% |
| 2012 | -81,215 | -1.3% |
| 2013 | -77,571 | -4.5% |
| 2014 | -67,175 | -13.4% |
| 2015 | -59,399 | -11.6% |
| 2016 | -51,642 | -13.1% |
| 2017 | -43,871 | -15.0% |
| 2018 | -36,085 | -17.7% |
| 2019 | -41,233 | +14.3% |
| 2020 | -33,405 | -19.0% |
| 2021 | -33,405 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 89,154 | -366.9% |
| 2023 | -18,570 | -120.8% |
| 2024 | -27,088 | +45.9% |
| 2025 | -29,766 | +9.9% |
Moldova compared with similar countries
- Moldova's -29,766 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -6,994, 4.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Moldova's -29,766 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 158. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Moldova changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | +888.5% | -61 | 481 |
| 1989 | -487.4% | -4,989 | -29,307 |
| 2022 | +366.9% | -33,405 | 89,154 |
| 1979 | -298.4% | 3,483 | -6,912 |
| 1973 | +140.3% | 481 | 1,156 |
| 2023 | -120.8% | 89,154 | -18,570 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17,496 | 13,697 | 20,561 | 10 |
| 1970s | 902.3 | -6,912 | 3,483 | 10 |
| 1980s | -10,632 | -29,307 | -3,693 | 10 |
| 1990s | -34,471 | -43,111 | -29,204 | 10 |
| 2000s | -61,378 | -83,546 | -43,854 | 10 |
| 2010s | -62,450 | -84,039 | -36,085 | 10 |
| 2020s | -8,847 | -33,405 | 89,154 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Moldova
More population data for Moldova
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4425 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.9131 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.8797 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.9131 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.9% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 62,192 people (2100)
- Population density 45.12 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.9% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2118 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.7142 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Moldova?
- Net migration in Moldova was -29,766 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Moldova?
- The highest recorded value was 89,154 in 2022.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Moldova?
- The lowest recorded value was -84,039 in 2010.
- How does Moldova rank for net migration?
- Moldova ranks 65th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Moldova?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Moldova data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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