MD
Republic of Moldova
Moldova
Summary
Official Name
Republic of Moldova
International Conventions
CDE (1993), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2006), FCPNM (1996), ICCPR (1993), UNCRPD (2010), UNDRIP (2007)
Population
3,364,000
Principal Languages
Romanian, Russian
Literacy Rate
99% (2015 World Factbook)
General References
Sebeok 1963
Language Counts
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.
Languages
- Bulgarian bul
- 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
- Crimean Tatar crh
- Users: 1,860 in Moldova. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern
- French fra
- 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
- Gagauz gag
- 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
- German, Standard deu
- 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
- Moldova Sign Language vsi
- 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
- Romani, Balkan rmn
- 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
- Romanian ron
- 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
- Romanian Sign Language rms
- 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
- Russian rus
- 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
- Russian Sign Language rsl
- 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
- Ukrainian ukr
- 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
- Yiddish, Eastern ydd
- 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
Languages by Status
Romanian
[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).
Bulgarian
[bul] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). 41,800 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 51,900 (2014 census).
Ukrainian
[ukr] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). 107,000 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 181,000 (2014 census).
French
[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 55,000 in Moldova (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.
Gagauz
[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.
Moldova Sign Language
[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).
Romani, Balkan
[rmn] 6a* (Vigorous). 7,570 in Moldova (2014 census).
Romanian Sign Language
[rms] 6a* (Vigorous).
Russian Sign Language
[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).
Yiddish, Eastern
[ydd] 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). 600 in Moldova (2018).
Language Vitality Profile

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Language Status Profile

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