independent republic in southeastern Europe, bordered on the north, east, and south by Ukraine and on the west by Romania. It is also known as Moldavia, and was formerly the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The Prut River forms Moldova's western boundary, and the Dniester River forms part of the country's northeastern and southeastern boundaries. Between 1990 and 1994 Moldova contained two separatist regions: the Trans-Dniester region, located east of the Dniester River and populated predominantly by Russians and Ukrainians, and the Gagauz region in southeastern Moldova, populated by the Gagauz minority, a people of Turkic origin. The constitution adopted in 1994 granted significant autonomy to both regions; however, leaders in the Trans-Dniester region have continued to press for independent statehood. Chisinàu is Moldova's capital and largest city.
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Population
Moldova had the highest population density of any republic of the former USSR and was also one of the least urbanized republics. The country has a population (1996 estimate) of about 4,463,847. The population density is about 132 persons per sq km (about 343 per sq mi); approximately 47 percent of the population lives in urban areas. Chisinàu is the capital and largest city. Other large cities include Tiraspol and Tighina.
Moldovans, who speak Moldovan, the country's official language (and identical to the Romanian language), constitute slightly less than two-thirds of the total population. Ukrainians and Russians are the next two largest ethnic groups, each with about 13 percent of the population. Other ethnic groups include Bulgarians and Gagauz, a Christian people who speak a Turkic language. Orthodox Christianity is the traditional religion of the Moldovans.
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"Moldova," Microsoft ® Encarta 98 Encyclopedia.
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