Page Type: countryMoldova | Ethnologue

MD

Republic of Moldova

Moldova

Summary

Republic of Moldova
CDE (1993), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2006), FCPNM (1996), ICCPR (1993), UNCRPD (2010), UNDRIP (2007)
3,364,000
Romanian, Russian
99% (2015 World Factbook)
Sebeok 1963
The number of established languages listed for Moldova is 11. All are living languages. Of these, 3 are indigenous and 8 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 5 are developing, 3 are vigorous, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 2 unestablished languages.
Cahul, Cantemir, Chisinau city, Gagauzia, Leova, and Taraclia districts. Users: 41,800 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 51,900 (2014 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Users: 1,860 in Moldova. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern
Users: 55,000 in Moldova (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Basarabeasca, Cahul, Cantemir, Cimislia, Criuleni, Gagauzia, Leova, and Taraclia districts; Chisinau City. Users: 115,000 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 126,000 (2014 census). Total users in all countries: 148,720. Status: 5* (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Gagauzia (1994, Constitution, Articles 3(1), 3(2)). Alternate Names: Gagauzi Autonym: Gagauz dili, Gagauzça Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Users: 6,700 in Moldova (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Scattered. Users: 5,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 5,000–13,000 deaf signers in Moldova for all sign languages, assuming 0.2%–0.5% of total population. Other estimates: 5,000 (2017 N. Andrianova), 17,500 (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2012, Article 25(1), Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, No. 60). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Scattered. Users: 7,570 in Moldova (2014 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Romani ćhib Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Balkan
Widespread. Users: 2,180,000 in Moldova (2014 census). 1,540,000 Moldavian and 640,000 Romanian (2014 census). Ethnic population: 2,260,000 (2014 census). 2,070,000 Moldovan and 193,000 Romanian (2014 census). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2013, Constitutional Court, Jts. 8b and 41b). Alternate Names: Moldovan, Română, Roumanian, Rumanian Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Briceni, Cantemir, Cahul, Edinet, Falesti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Leova, Nisporeni, Riscani, and Ungheni districts; scattered in areas named above which border Romania. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Widespread. Users: 1,714,000 in Moldova, all users. L1 users: 264,000 in Moldova (2014 census). L2 users: 1,450,000 (Arefyev 2012). Ethnic population: 112,000 (2014 census). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Scattered. Users: 5,000 in Moldova (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 5,000–13,000 deaf signers in Moldova for all sign languages, assuming 0.2%–0.5% of total population. Other estimates: 5,000 (2017 N. Andrianova), 17,500 (2014 IMB). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Briceni, Cimislia, Donduseni, Drochia, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Ocnita, Riscani, and Singerei districts. Users: 107,000 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 181,000 (2014 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Scattered. Users: 600 in Moldova (2018). Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish
    [ron] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2013, Constitutional Court, Jts. 8b and 41b). 2,180,000 in Moldova (2014 census). 1,540,000 Moldavian and 640,000 Romanian (2014 census). Ethnic population: 2,260,000 (2014 census). 2,070,000 Moldovan and 193,000 Romanian (2014 census).
    [bul] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). 41,800 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 51,900 (2014 census).
    [ukr] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). 107,000 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 181,000 (2014 census).
    [fra] 5* (Dispersed). 55,000 in Moldova (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.
    [gag] 5* (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Gagauzia (1994, Constitution, Articles 3(1), 3(2)). 115,000 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 126,000 (2014 census). Total users in all countries: 148,720.
    [vsi] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2012, Article 25(1), Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, No. 60). 5,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 5,000–13,000 deaf signers in Moldova for all sign languages, assuming 0.2%–0.5% of total population. Other estimates: 5,000 (2017 N. Andrianova), 17,500 (2014 IMB).
    [rmn] 6a* (Vigorous). 7,570 in Moldova (2014 census).
    [rms] 6a* (Vigorous).
    [rsl] 6a (Vigorous). 5,000 in Moldova (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 5,000–13,000 deaf signers in Moldova for all sign languages, assuming 0.2%–0.5% of total population. Other estimates: 5,000 (2017 N. Andrianova), 17,500 (2014 IMB).
    [ydd] 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). 600 in Moldova (2018).

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile