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Population in Moldova compared to Russia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Moldova was 2,402,306 in 2024 vs 143,533,851 people in Russia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Moldova's population is 2,341,166 people compared to 141,906,741 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 60.6 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Moldova is ranked the 145th most populous country in the world, while Russia is the 9th.
  • The countries together account for 1.74% of the world: 0.03% for Moldova vs 1.71% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Moldova has had an average growth rate of -1.57% per year vs -0.02% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Moldova has decreased from 2.88M people to 2.34M (18.7% decline), while Russia has declined from 143M to 142M (0.8% decline).

Moldova vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Moldova
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Moldova Russia
2100 1,175,882 124,983,377
2099 1,186,641 125,086,144
2098 1,197,541 125,186,329
2097 1,208,458 125,264,415
2096 1,219,478 125,354,177
2095 1,230,573 125,422,006
2094 1,241,540 125,474,373
2093 1,252,531 125,529,632
2092 1,263,471 125,604,261
2091 1,274,372 125,652,742
2090 1,285,020 125,707,894
2089 1,295,696 125,760,026
2088 1,306,424 125,810,124
2087 1,317,064 125,858,116
2086 1,327,799 125,926,035
2085 1,338,702 126,001,913
2084 1,349,432 126,076,414
2083 1,360,333 126,151,046
2082 1,371,322 126,234,371
2081 1,382,447 126,317,768
2080 1,393,733 126,414,511
2079 1,405,298 126,534,688
2078 1,417,062 126,674,591
2077 1,429,240 126,830,956
2076 1,441,240 126,982,766
2075 1,453,677 127,165,304
2074 1,466,568 127,362,143
2073 1,479,672 127,576,856
2072 1,493,311 127,802,632
2071 1,507,315 128,080,998
2070 1,522,149 128,353,977
2069 1,537,091 128,642,208
2068 1,552,724 128,920,237
2067 1,568,676 129,203,483
2066 1,584,782 129,511,983
2065 1,601,356 129,842,007
2064 1,618,317 130,177,089
2063 1,635,288 130,522,107
2062 1,652,720 130,851,664
2061 1,670,255 131,200,160
2060 1,688,120 131,526,812
2059 1,705,595 131,884,461
2058 1,722,942 132,247,211
2057 1,740,252 132,584,941
2056 1,757,829 132,925,501
2055 1,775,082 133,271,436
2054 1,792,262 133,595,068
2053 1,809,221 133,914,243
2052 1,825,831 134,180,223
2051 1,842,337 134,443,510
2050 1,858,281 134,687,487
2049 1,874,666 134,909,323
2048 1,890,586 135,117,641
2047 1,906,615 135,311,492
2046 1,922,962 135,482,008
2045 1,939,938 135,664,379
2044 1,956,858 135,863,165
2043 1,974,616 136,085,277
2042 1,992,765 136,307,658
2041 2,011,342 136,557,818
2040 2,030,732 136,821,807
2039 2,051,163 137,122,219
2038 2,071,871 137,433,644
2037 2,093,068 137,770,811
2036 2,114,669 138,118,955
2035 2,136,998 138,478,809
2034 2,159,450 138,852,689
2033 2,182,023 139,237,595
2032 2,204,431 139,635,142
2031 2,227,006 140,058,187
2030 2,250,038 140,453,528
2029 2,272,963 140,840,370
2028 2,295,739 141,214,141
2027 2,318,425 141,580,416
2026 2,341,166 141,906,741
2025 2,373,265 142,772,403
2024 2,402,306 143,533,851
2023 2,457,783 143,826,130
2022 2,528,654 144,236,933
2021 2,595,809 144,746,762
2020 2,635,130 145,245,148
2019 2,664,224 145,453,291
2018 2,707,203 145,398,106
2017 2,755,189 145,293,260
2016 2,803,186 145,015,460
2015 2,835,978 144,640,716
2014 2,857,815 144,237,223
2013 2,859,558 143,805,638
2012 2,860,324 143,378,447
2011 2,860,699 143,018,195
2010 2,862,354 142,849,468
2009 2,865,213 142,785,348
2008 2,868,833 142,742,366
2007 2,874,299 142,805,114
2006 2,880,967 143,049,637
2005 2,888,985 143,518,814
2004 2,896,023 144,067,316
2003 2,903,198 144,648,618
2002 2,911,385 145,306,497
2001 2,918,135 145,976,482
2000 2,924,668 146,596,869
1999 2,930,622 147,214,776
1998 2,935,227 147,670,784
1997 2,936,413 147,915,361
1996 2,947,293 148,160,129
1995 2,953,200 148,375,787
1994 2,966,745 148,407,912
1993 2,975,966 148,458,777
1992 2,980,965 148,538,197
1991 2,981,566 148,394,216
1990 2,977,912 147,969,406
1989 2,970,039 147,721,000
1988 2,948,891 146,857,000
1987 2,916,306 145,908,000
1986 2,883,057 144,894,000
1985 2,850,787 143,858,000
1984 2,820,518 142,745,000
1983 2,791,207 141,668,000
1982 2,763,101 140,823,000
1981 2,735,987 139,941,000
1980 2,708,675 139,010,000
1979 2,683,035 138,027,000
1978 2,656,211 137,060,000
1977 2,626,298 136,100,000
1976 2,596,491 135,147,000
1975 2,566,998 134,200,000
1974 2,538,164 133,432,000
1973 2,510,584 132,669,000
1972 2,484,742 131,909,000
1971 2,460,611 131,155,000
1970 2,437,590 130,404,000
1969 2,408,469 129,664,000
1968 2,373,073 128,928,000
1967 2,337,695 128,196,000
1966 2,301,871 127,468,000
1965 2,265,287 126,745,000
1964 2,228,000 125,345,000
1963 2,188,895 123,960,000
1962 2,147,227 122,591,000
1961 2,103,327 121,236,000
1960 2,058,020 119,897,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/moldova/russia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Moldova decreased by 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline), while Russia gained 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Moldova lost 462,020 people (a 16.5% decline), while Russia's population decreased by 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% decline).

Moldova was ranked 134th most populous country in 2006 and is 145th in 2026. Russia was ranked 9th in 2006 and still ranked 9th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Moldova's population will shrink by 20.6% to 1,858,281 people with a rank change from 145th to 150th. The population of Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people and rank change from 9th to 14th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 38.4% of the population in Moldova and 10.5% in Russia.

Population growth rate by year

Moldova
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Moldova Russia
2100 -0.91% -0.08%
2099 -0.91% -0.08%
2098 -0.9% -0.06%
2097 -0.9% -0.07%
2096 -0.9% -0.05%
2095 -0.88% -0.04%
2094 -0.88% -0.04%
2093 -0.87% -0.06%
2092 -0.86% -0.04%
2091 -0.83% -0.04%
2090 -0.82% -0.04%
2089 -0.82% -0.04%
2088 -0.81% -0.04%
2087 -0.81% -0.05%
2086 -0.81% -0.06%
2085 -0.8% -0.06%
2084 -0.8% -0.06%
2083 -0.8% -0.07%
2082 -0.8% -0.07%
2081 -0.81% -0.08%
2080 -0.82% -0.09%
2079 -0.83% -0.11%
2078 -0.85% -0.12%
2077 -0.83% -0.12%
2076 -0.86% -0.14%
2075 -0.88% -0.15%
2074 -0.89% -0.17%
2073 -0.91% -0.18%
2072 -0.93% -0.22%
2071 -0.97% -0.21%
2070 -0.97% -0.22%
2069 -1.01% -0.22%
2068 -1.02% -0.22%
2067 -1.02% -0.24%
2066 -1.03% -0.25%
2065 -1.05% -0.26%
2064 -1.04% -0.26%
2063 -1.05% -0.25%
2062 -1.05% -0.27%
2061 -1.06% -0.25%
2060 -1.02% -0.27%
2059 -1.01% -0.27%
2058 -0.99% -0.25%
2057 -1% -0.26%
2056 -0.97% -0.26%
2055 -0.96% -0.24%
2054 -0.94% -0.24%
2053 -0.91% -0.2%
2052 -0.9% -0.2%
2051 -0.86% -0.18%
2050 -0.87% -0.16%
2049 -0.84% -0.15%
2048 -0.84% -0.14%
2047 -0.85% -0.13%
2046 -0.88% -0.13%
2045 -0.86% -0.15%
2044 -0.9% -0.16%
2043 -0.91% -0.16%
2042 -0.92% -0.18%
2041 -0.95% -0.19%
2040 -1% -0.22%
2039 -1% -0.23%
2038 -1.01% -0.24%
2037 -1.02% -0.25%
2036 -1.04% -0.26%
2035 -1.04% -0.27%
2034 -1.03% -0.28%
2033 -1.02% -0.28%
2032 -1.01% -0.3%
2031 -1.02% -0.28%
2030 -1.01% -0.27%
2029 -0.99% -0.26%
2028 -0.98% -0.26%
2027 -0.97% -0.23%
2026 -1.35% -0.61%
2025 -1.21% -0.53%
2024 -2.26% -0.2%
2023 -2.8% -0.28%
2022 -2.59% -0.35%
2021 -1.49% -0.34%
2020 -1.09% -0.14%
2019 -1.59% 0.04%
2018 -1.74% 0.07%
2017 -1.71% 0.19%
2016 -1.16% 0.26%
2015 -0.76% 0.28%
2014 -0.06% 0.3%
2013 -0.03% 0.3%
2012 -0.01% 0.25%
2011 -0.06% 0.12%
2010 -0.1% 0.04%
2009 -0.13% 0.03%
2008 -0.19% -0.04%
2007 -0.23% -0.17%
2006 -0.28% -0.33%
2005 -0.24% -0.38%
2004 -0.25% -0.4%
2003 -0.28% -0.45%
2002 -0.23% -0.46%
2001 -0.22% -0.42%
2000 -0.2% -0.42%
1999 -0.16% -0.31%
1998 -0.04% -0.17%
1997 -0.37% -0.17%
1996 -0.2% -0.15%
1995 -0.46% -0.02%
1994 -0.31% -0.03%
1993 -0.17% -0.05%
1992 -0.02% 0.1%
1991 0.12% 0.29%
1990 0.27% 0.17%
1989 0.72% 0.59%
1988 1.12% 0.65%
1987 1.15% 0.7%
1986 1.13% 0.72%
1985 1.07% 0.78%
1984 1.05% 0.76%
1983 1.02% 0.6%
1982 0.99% 0.63%
1981 1.01% 0.67%
1980 0.96% 0.71%
1979 1.01% 0.71%
1978 1.14% 0.71%
1977 1.15% 0.71%
1976 1.15% 0.71%
1975 1.14% 0.58%
1974 1.1% 0.58%
1973 1.04% 0.58%
1972 0.98% 0.57%
1971 0.94% 0.58%
1970 1.21% 0.57%
1969 1.49% 0.57%
1968 1.51% 0.57%
1967 1.56% 0.57%
1966 1.61% 0.57%
1965 1.67% 1.12%
1964 1.79% 1.12%
1963 1.94% 1.12%
1962 2.09% 1.12%
1961 2.2% 1.12%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/moldova/russia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Moldova declined by 2.26%, while Russia's population declined by 0.2%.

Live population counters

Moldova Russia
Current population
2341166
141906741
Population rank 145/197 9/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 1.71%
One net population change
9.47 minutes
1.8 minutes
One birth every
19.9 minutes
25.5 seconds
One death every
15.7 minutes
18.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline -152 -801
Annual growth/decline -55,477 -292,279
Annual growth/decline rate -2.26% -0.2%
Population growth rate rank 196/197 177/197
One migration net change every
17.7 minutes
2.09 minutes
Annual migration change -29,766 -251,822
Net migration rank 164/196 187/196
Foreign-born residents 188,207 7,605,774
Foreign-born residents rank 116/195 10/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.2% 5.3%
Foreign-born share rank 85/195 91/195

Natural population change vs migration

Moldova
Natural

Migration
Russia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Moldova Russia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,766 - -251,822
2024 - -27,088 - -178,042
2023 -7,007 -18,570 -503,392 27,807
2022 -6,385 89,154 -576,948 765,629
2021 -13,444 -33,405 -1,027,702 314,112
2020 -7,067 -33,405 -697,177 334,094
2019 -3,416 -41,233 -319,997 336,494
2018 -961 -36,085 -232,637 339,972
2017 1,402 -43,871 -130,764 396,619
2016 4,580 -51,642 0 447,645
2015 6,049 -59,399 43,392 384,756
2014 7,248 -67,175 28,848 264,698
2013 3,537 -77,571 28,761 289,872
2012 5,581 -81,215 0 285,977
2011 5,948 -82,271 -128,716 309,377
2010 7,456 -84,039 -242,844 307,555
2009 7,492 -83,546 -257,014 350,206
2008 5,210 -79,593 -356,856 360,840
2007 3,490 -75,734 -471,257 365,717
2006 2,406 -72,061 -686,638 308,370
2005 2,005 -68,681 -846,761 263,541
2004 1,714 -52,491 -792,370 261,519
2003 -322 -46,947 -896,822 256,804
2002 -1,249 -45,833 -944,492 1,358,944
2001 -718 -45,043 -963,445 259,614
2000 -324 -43,854 -967,540 550,401
1999 642 -43,111 -927,453 375,468
1998 2,140 -41,975 -694,053 528,135
1997 4,669 -41,743 -769,159 541,387
1996 2,655 -33,369 -785,248 587,171
1995 5,534 -31,975 -845,742 723,875
1994 9,921 -31,616 -920,129 1,271,417
1993 13,886 -31,526 -757,140 507,229
1992 17,373 -30,136 -222,808 -1,129,589
1991 21,127 -29,204 103,876 125,505
1990 25,824 -30,053 325,533 299,863
1989 29,638 -29,307 576,112 89,400
1988 35,608 -4,989 778,343 269,862
1987 40,122 -10,796 977,583 275,611
1986 39,463 -8,769 985,279 283,553
1985 38,060 -10,627 762,447 280,614
1984 38,108 -12,732 756,548 247,026
1983 36,076 -10,543 906,676 200,159
1982 32,814 -8,412 830,855 107,520
1981 31,360 -6,452 713,700 36,686
1980 30,053 -3,693 681,149 10,440
1979 28,322 -6,912 690,135 -5,791
1978 27,622 3,483 812,766 108,882
1977 27,707 3,245 832,932 122,316
1976 27,801 2,885 852,237 113,851
1975 27,677 2,355 843,850 80,069
1974 27,219 1,785 883,186 -51,759
1973 25,967 1,156 846,561 -107,568
1972 24,626 481 872,050 -111,168
1971 23,359 -61 854,999 -134,968
1970 22,314 606 785,554 -264,464
1969 21,768 20,561 753,088 -64,643
1968 22,005 19,830 787,621 -83,221
1967 22,654 19,175 854,554 -116,029
1966 23,720 18,601 989,279 -111,360
1965 24,916 18,066 1,059,335 -138,078
1964 25,860 17,509 1,233,520 -148,595
1963 29,382 16,816 1,436,077 -168,649
1962 32,082 15,884 1,573,701 -177,358
1961 35,180 14,818 1,810,538 -204,349
1960 36,352 13,697 1,962,834 -234,895

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/moldova/russia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 6.04% of the population change in Moldova is from natural causes (a loss of 19,001 people) and 94% is from migration (a loss of 295,631 people). In Russia 48.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 people).

As of 2024, 188,207 residents or 6.2% of the population were not native-born in Moldova, compared to 7,605,774 people or 5.3% in Russia.

Biggest cities by population

Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Dubasari 28.5K
Ungheni 26.5K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K
Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/moldova/russia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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