Moldova is a very tiny and very poor country. With a population of 2.6 million, it is smaller than most US cities. And the per-capita household income in 2020 was only $2,145 per year. In comparison, the US per-capita income is $33,000 per year.
This makes Moldova one of the poorest countries in the world. And by most standards the poorest nation in Europe.
The country of Moldova borders Ukraine on three sides. And Romania is its western border.
Still, the tiny nation had already welcomed at least 320,000 refugees during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And the citizens are embracing the beleaguered Ukrainians.
About two-thirds of the refugees have passed through on their way to other European Union nations. But the country is still struggling to care for the influx. The government along with churches and temples are providing food supplies, accommodations, and emergency medical care for thousands of people.
And it is estimated that Moldova is spending more than $4 million a day on refugee services.
Moldova Politics
Pro-EU reformist candidate Maia Sandu was elected in November 2020. The Party of Action and Solidarity was founded by Sandu in 2015. Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilta and her cabinet took office in August 2021. The country now has a president and a prime minister who are both Harvard educated women.
