Moldova is the country with the fastest shrinking population in the world. Of these total inhabitants, almost 25% are young people between the ages of 16 and 30. But 16.6 % are aged 60 years or older, a figure that is expected to more than double to 33.6 per cent by 2050. Meanwhile, the fertility rate according to official statistics is 1.24, well below the replacement rate of 2.1. Young people emigrating from Moldova in search of better prospects often means the country’s older generation is left alone as they age. Active and healthy ageing is inaccessible for almost three-fourths of the country’s population aged 55 and older.

UNFPA is helping the Government of Moldova to develop evidence-based public policies focused on the rights and needs of people, offering high-quality technical opinions, international expertise, and examples of good practices in other countries. Developing human capital is essential for Moldova to address population trends that the country is facing today.