The Government of the Republic of Moldova approved today the Government Decision regarding the production of the population projections. Starting from 2024, the population projections at the national level will be updated annually, and at the territorial level, every 3 years.

Population projections are estimates that represent the future size of a population and the age and sex distribution if the assumptions used hold. The projections are based on both past trends and information, as well as future assumptions of three demographic components: births, deaths, and migration.

The UN Population Fund - UNFPA Moldova, has constantly supported in recent years the process of preparation and development of the legal and normative basis to allow the production of population projections of the Republic of Moldova regularly.

In this context, Karina Nersesyan, the UNFPA representative, welcomed this achievement, noting that "the projections will allow the effective planning of budgets and development programs, to invest in the needs of people in an informed manner, taking into account the size and future structure of the population. Especially in the context of the rapid demographic changes facing the Republic of Moldova, the existence of such population data is essential".

Population projections will help decision-makers and public policymakers assess future demand for resources such as food, water, and energy, but also services such as health and education. Projections alert to major trends that may affect social and economic development and help design appropriate policies and programs.

The population projections at the national and territorial level will be produced by the National Institute of Economic Research (Center for Demographic Researches) of the Public Institution Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova based on a methodology that will be approved by order of the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, within 6 months from the date of publication of the Government Decision and will be disseminated in the fourth quarter of 2024.

UNFPA, through the project "Building Data Governance through Reliable and Disaggregated Demographic Data for Central and Local Authorities", financed by the Swiss Cooperation Office in the Republic of Moldova and co-financed and implemented by UNFPA, will provide technical and financial support to the Government of the Republic of Moldova for the development of the methodology and population projections.