Background:

Because of its location in the region once known as Bessarabia, Moldova was a historic passageway between Asia and southern Europe. This made it a target of invaders, including Romans, Huns, Bulgars, Mongols and Ottoman Turks.

Following the Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812, the eastern half of Moldova was ceded to Russia, while the western part of the country remained in Turkish hands. In 1918, Romania then took control of the Russian-ruled part, but the Soviet Union never recognized the action and hence created in 1924 an autonomous Moldavian republic on the east side of the Dniester River.

A nation in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) since the collapse of communism in 1991, Moldova remains one of Europe’s poorest nations. Moldova joined Hi Kidz in 1999.

• Population:
• 4.321 million
• 15.9% are children 0-14 years
• 29.5% living below poverty line

• Religion:
• 
• Eastern Orthodox 93%
• Evangelicals 3.3%
• Jewish 1.5%

• Location:
• 
• Eastern Europe

• Capital:
• Chisinau

• Government:
• Republic

• Languages:
• Moldovan (official)
• Russian
• Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

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