This year the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) will review the official number of the Moldovan population, with the support of UNFPA and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), in accordance with the data of the 2014 Population and Housing Census.

The United Nations recommends that during the period between censuses, national statistical offices estimate the number of the population on the basis of the latest census data. Thus, the NBS will follow the UN recommendations and will use the data of the 2014 Population and Housing Census to recalculate the country’s population.

Once the number of the population is reviewed, approximately in the autumn of this year, the NBS will adjust not only the number of people with habitual residence in the Republic of Moldova (people living in the country for periods longer than 12 months), but also the main statistical demographic and macroeconomic indicators, such as GDP per capita, as well as the specific health, education and labour indicators.   

Vitalia Valcov, Director General of NBS, stated that ‘the number of the population is reviewed on the basis of information on the number of population as of a certain date, as well as information on the natural movement of the population. Estimating the annual migration flows is the biggest challenge in recalculating the number of the population. In this context, we rely on the support of authorities that have these data, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs’.

In her turn, Rita Columbia, Representative of UNFPA in the Republic of Moldova, stated that ‘availability of qualitative data is crucial to achieve the country’s development objectives, focused on responding to the real needs of the population and fulfillment of their rights. UNFPA and SDC will support the review of the statistical data to help achieve the commitment of 2030 Agenda of not leaving anyone behind’.

NBS will review the number of the population with the assistance of international expertise — a team of international and national consultants will help develop the methodology for the estimation of the number of population and review of statistical indicators.

Simone Giger, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office, said that ‘it is very important for all national stakeholders to participate actively in the review and validation of the statistical indicators in order to ensure availability of quality data, which will be used for the development of evidence-based policies.’   

When the main socio-economic indicators are reviewed on the basis of the estimated present population (with habitual residence), the Government will have updated data to develop evidence-based public policies, to develop the ‘Moldova 2030’ National Development Strategy, and to progress with the implementation of the European Union Association Agreement.