Former prime minister outlines demographic trends
Former prime minister Vlad Filat has raised concerns about Moldova’s demographic situation, saying the scale of the decline may be greater than reflected in official statistics.
He pointed to a significant decrease in the number of young children, noting that over the past ten years the population aged 0 to 4 has fallen by around 45,000. Filat said this reflects broader challenges affecting birth rates and family planning.
“A country where children are not being born loses its future before it has a chance to shape it,” he said.
Filat also questioned official population figures, arguing that the actual number of residents may be lower than reported. According to his estimates, the total population has declined by more than 430,000 since 2014.
Emigration and aging population
Another trend highlighted is emigration among young people. Filat said that nearly 45% of those aged 15 to 34 have left the country, with migration rates in this group significantly higher than in others.
He also pointed to the ageing of the population, with the share of retirees increasing while the number of working-age contributors declines. According to Filat, these trends place additional pressure on the country’s economic and social systems.
Debate over labour market policies
The discussion comes alongside government efforts to address labour shortages. Officials have proposed measures to liberalise the labour market, including attracting workers from non-EU countries.
Economy Minister Eugen Osmochescu said earlier this year that Moldova plans to continue opening its labour market to workers from countries such as India and Bangladesh in 2026.
Filat and his supporters have called for prioritising demographic policy and developing measures to encourage citizens living abroad to return.
