Poverty Rate in Moldova is Falling but Remains High, Especially in Rural Areas
The poverty rate in the Republic of Moldova has seen a slight decline in recent years; however, it remains significantly high, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Experts highlight a substantial disparity between rural and urban residents, emphasising the need for targeted measures to address these differences.
02.06.2025
Many people believe that the authorities could do more to reduce the poverty rate. They also point out that individuals with higher education and well-paid jobs have greater opportunities to lead decent lives.
“It’s never enough, but it does what it can; it’s for the good.”
“The state could do more to support people through allowances, food pensions, and external funding to increase these resources. Currently, the state is making significant efforts to reduce poverty. As citizens of this country, we should appreciate the efforts being made.”
“I think that vulnerable populations face greater challenges. When you’re at home or even in a clinic, you have to buy medicines, and even at church, you still need to buy candles. Without a penny in your pocket, it’s hard to achieve much today.”
“People with higher financial status have access to more opportunities. For children, this includes placements in various development centres, which unfortunately are not available to those with fewer resources.”
Adrian Lupușor, the executive director of the Expert-Group Analytical Center, expresses satisfaction that the multidimensional poverty rate has decreased. However, when examining the data by specific groups, the situation becomes concerning. He points out that there is a significant discrepancy between people living in rural and urban areas. The issue is most pronounced in rural areas, where multidimensional poverty rates are over three times higher than in urban areas, which is troubling.
“Even though it has decreased compared to 2023, over one-third of the population still lacks basic living standards. This is a cause for concern for the government, which must implement policies to address these issues. We are talking about fundamental needs, such as access to water, sewage systems, and medical insurance, which are often unavailable to the rural population. This contributes to the ruralisation of our country. We have the most rural population on the European continent.”
Moreover, families with many children are among the most affected by poverty, as claimed by Adrian Lupușor.
“When many families with multiple children live in poverty, we start to witness intergenerational poverty. Children born into poverty are at risk of perpetuating this cycle, which is a significant concern. This is a signal for the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and the entire government, to increase funding for services targeting families with many children. Additionally, social services need to be better targeted to address these issues.”
Starting in 2022, the National Bureau of Statistics will measure the multidimensional poverty rate annually, analysing the main problems faced by the country’s poor population in areas including education, health, living conditions, and employment, according to Aurelia Spătaru, the deputy director of the NBS.
“We consider a person deprived if they live in a household where at least one member lacks health insurance, or if, when seeking medical assistance, they cannot afford it due to a lack of funds or inadequate transportation options to reach healthcare services. Additionally, in the education component, people are considered deprived if they live in a household where at least one member lacks complete secondary education, or if there are young people aged 15-19 who are not working, studying, or integrating into any form of training.”
We remind you that over 25 percent of the Republic of Moldova’s population is considered multidimensionally poor. This means these individuals lack access to secondary education, medical services, decent living conditions, or employment. The National Bureau of Statistics has presented this data. However, despite this alarming statistic, the multidimensional poverty rate has decreased by 0.9 percentage points compared to 2023 and by 1.9 percentage points compared to 2022.
