According to the Moldovan law on territorial administrative organisation,

Moldova Moldova ( , ; ), officially the Republic of Moldova ( ro, Republica Moldova), is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The unrecognised state of Transnistri ...

is divided administratively into the following administrative territorial units:

districts A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...

( ro, raioane; ''see also

raion A raion (also spelt rayon) is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet states. The term is used for both a type of subnational entity and a division of a city. The word is from the French (meaning 'honeycomb, department'), and is c ...

s''), cities/towns ( ro, orașe) and villages ( ro, sate). The administrative territorial organization of Moldova is made on 2 levels:Administrative-territorial organization of Moldova
/ref> #villages (

communes An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork from the start. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, relig ...

), sectors and cities/towns ( municipii) constitute the first level, along with Chișinău municipality, Bălți municipality and Tighina municipality. Two or more villages can form together a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

( ro, comună). Currently,

is divided into the following first-tier units, which include 32 districts and 3 municipalities, grouped into three regions: Northern Region #

Bălți Bălți (; russian: Бельцы, , uk, Бєльці, , yi, בעלץ ) is a city in Moldova. It is the second largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city is one of the five Moldovan municipalit ...

Municipality #

Briceni Briceni (, uk, Брича́ни, yi, בריטשאן, Britshan, pl, Bryczany) is a city in northern Moldova. It is the seat of Briceni District. Demographics At the 2004 census, the city had a population of 8,765. At the 1930 census, there ...

Dondușeni Dondușeni () is a city in the north of Moldova. It is the administrative, economic, and cultural center of Dondușeni District. Its postal code is MD-5102. The population at the 2004 census was 9,801. Demographics At the 1930 census, the l ...

Drochia Drochia () is a city in the northern part of Moldova. It is the administrative center of the eponymous district. The city is located north of the national capital, Chișinău, and north-east of the Romanian city of Iaşi. The average eleva ...

Edineț Edineț (, uk, Є́динці, yi, יעדינעץ, Yedinets, pl, Jedeńcy) is a town and municipality in northern Moldova. It is the administrative center of the eponymous district. The town is located 201 km north of the national capit ...

Fălești Fălești (Moldovan Cyrillic: Фэлешть; ) is a city and the administrative center of Fălești District, Moldova. In January 2011, the population of Fălești was estimated to be 17,800. On 7 August 2012, Fălești recorded a temperature ...

# Florești #

Glodeni Glodeni (; russian: Глодяны; pl, Głodziany; uk, Глодяни) is a city in the northwest of Moldova; it is the seat of Glodeni District. Its population as of 2012 was 11,600. One village, Stîrcea, is administered by the city. Medi ...

Ocnița Ocnița (; russian: Óкница) is a town and the administrative center of Ocnița District, Moldova. References

Cities and towns in Moldova Khotinsky Uyezd Ocnița District {{Ocnița-geo-stub ...

Rîșcani Rîșcani (, also spelled ''Râșcani'') is a city in Moldova, the capital of the Rîșcani District. It is located along the Copăceanca river, about 22 kilometres from the station in Drochia. Two villages are administered by the city, Bălanu ...

Sîngerei Sîngerei (also spelled Sângerei) is a city in Moldova and the seat of Sîngerei District. One village is administered by the city, Vrănești. History During the interwar period, the city was the seat of Plasa Sângerei, in Bălți County, Ro ...

# Soroca Central Region #

Chișinău Chișinău ( , , ), also known as Kishinev (russian: Кишинёв, r=Kishinjóv ), is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Moldova. The city is Moldova's main industrial and commercial center, and is located in the middle of the ...

Municipality #

Anenii Noi Anenii Noi () is a city in east-central Moldova, the seat of Anenii Noi District. It is located SE of the capital, Chișinău. According to the 2004 census, the city administers an area inhabited by 11,463 people. This area consists of the cit ...

# Călărași #

Criuleni Criuleni () is a city in Moldova, seat of the Criuleni District. The city administers two villages, Ohrincea and Zolonceni. International relations Twin towns — Sister cities Ungheni is twinned with: * Orăștie, Romania Ro ...

# Dubăsari #

Hîncești Hîncești () is a city and municipality in Moldova. Hîncești is situated on the Cogâlnic River, southwest of the Moldovan capital, Chișinău. Since 2003 it has been the seat of Hîncești District. History Hîncești was established in ...

Ialoveni Ialoveni () is a city in the Republic of Moldova situated from Chișinău. The city is administrative center of the Ialoveni District. History On 25 March 1977 the settlement was named to Kutuzov, and also its status was changed to urban-ty ...

Nisporeni Nisporeni () The city is administrative center of the Nisporeni District. Demographics Most of the population (80.5%) are Moldovans. History The first historical appearance was in 1618. The Romanian People's Salvation Cross, the largest cros ...

Orhei Orhei (; Yiddish ''Uriv'' – אוריװ), also formerly known as Orgeev (russian: Орге́ев), is a city, municipality and the administrative centre of Orhei District in the Republic of Moldova, with a population of 21,065. Orhei is appro ...

Rezina Rezina is a city in Moldova and the capital of Rezina District. Three villages are administered by the city: Boşerniţa, Ciorna and Stohnaia. Geography In the northeastern part of Moldova, as far as 98 km from Chișinău, the town of Rezin ...

# Șoldănești # Strășeni #

Tighina Bender (, Moldovan Cyrillic: Бендер) or Bendery (russian: Бендеры, , uk, Бендери), also known as Tighina ( ro, Tighina), is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under ''de facto'' control of the un ...

Municipality #

Telenești Telenești () is a city in Moldova, located 91 kilometres to the north of the capital city, Chișinău. Telenești is the administrative center of the eponymous district. Three villages are administered by the city: Mihălașa, Mihălașa Nouă ...

Ungheni Ungheni () is a municipality in Moldova. With a population of 35,157, it is the seventh largest town in Moldova and the seat of Ungheni District. There is a bridge across the Prut and a border checkpoint to Romania. There is another border ...

Southern Region #

Basarabeasca #

Cahul Cahul (; also known by other alternative names) is a city and municipality in southern Moldova. The city is the administrative center of Cahul District; it also administers one village, Cotihana. As of 2014 census, the city has had a population ...

# Cantemir #

Căușeni Căușeni () is a town and the administrative center of Căușeni District, Moldova. Its population at the 2014 census was 15,939, of which 12,056 Moldovans, 1,119 Romanians, 747 Russians, 545 Ukrainians, 204 Bulgarians, 69 Gagauzians, 12 Gyps ...

Cimișlia Cimișlia () is a town located in the southern part of Moldova situated on the banks of the Cogâlnic River, between the capital of Chișinău and the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia ( ro, Găgăuzia). Cimişlia had a population of 11 ...

Leova Leova (russian: Леóва) is a city in Moldova, located 92 km southwest of the national capital, Chișinău. It is the administrative center of Leova District. The city is situated on the east bank of the river Prut bordering Romania. H ...

Ștefan Vodă Ștefan Vodă is a city and the administrative centre of Ștefan Vodă District, Moldova. It was known as ''Suvorov'' (Суворов) during the Soviet period, until 22 May 1990. Media * Vocea Basarabiei Vocea Basarabiei ( en, Voice of Bessa ...

# Taraclia two autonomous territorial units: #

Gagauzia Gagauzia or Gagauz-Yeri, or ; ro, Găgăuzia; russian: Гагаузия, Gagauziya officially the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia; ro, Unitatea Teritorială Autonomă Găgăuzia, ''UTAG''; russian: Автономное территор ...

(officially the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, it lies in the Southern Region of Moldova) # Left Bank of the Dniester (officially the Administrative-Territorial Units of the Left Bank of the Dniester) The final status of the latter has not been settled yet, as the region, such as defined administratively, in fact is not under the control of Moldovan authorities. The cities of

Comrat Comrat ( ro, Comrat, ; gag, Komrat, Russian and bg, Комрат, Komrat) is a city and municipality in Moldova and the capital of the autonomous region of Gagauzia. It is located in the south of the country, on the Ialpug River. In 2014, Comr ...

and

Tiraspol Tiraspol or Tirișpolea ( ro, Tiraspol, Moldovan Cyrillic: Тираспол, ; russian: Тира́споль, ; uk, Тирасполь, Tyraspol') is the capital of Transnistria (''de facto''), a breakaway state of Moldova, where it is the th ...

also have municipality status, but are not among first-tier units of Moldova; they are the seats of

and

Transnistria Transnistria, officially the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), is an unrecognised breakaway state that is internationally recognised as a part of Moldova. Transnistria controls most of the narrow strip of land between the Dniester riv ...

, respectively. Besides Chișinău, Bălți, Tighina, Comrat, and Tiraspol, on 13 April 2017 eight more became municipalities:

Ceadîr-Lunga Ceadîr-Lunga (, also spelled ''Ceadâr-Lunga''; Gagauz: ''Çadır-Lunga'') is a city and municipality Edineț Edineț (, uk, Є́динці, yi, יעדינעץ, Yedinets, pl, Jedeńcy) is a town and municipality in northern Moldova. It is the administrative center of the eponymous district. The town is located 201 km north of the national capit ...

, Soroca, Strășeni, and

Localities

Moldova has a total of 1,682 localities; from these 982 are incorporated (''de jure'' with 982 mayors and 982 local councils), including 53 cities/towns, other 13 cities with municipality status (see

municipiu A municipiu (from Latin ''municipium''; English: municipality) is a level of administrative subdivision in Romania and Moldova, roughly equivalent to city in some English-speaking countries. In Romania, this status is given to towns that are lar ...

), and 916 rural localities. They cover the entire area of the country. A number of villages are self-governed, while others 700 villages are too small to have a separate administration, and are part of either cities/towns/municipalities (41 of them) or

(659). Few localities are inhabited.

Current divisions

In the administrative-territorial structure of Moldova are 898 first level administrative territorial units (cities/towns, sectors and villages/communes). The status of Chișinău, Bălți, and Tighina as municipalities and first-level territorial units of the country allows their suburb villages to have, when large enough, their own mayor and local council. By contrast, the villages that are administratively part of (some of) the other cities do not retain self-rule. * Districts (32): * Municipalities of first-tier (3): * Autonomous territorial units (2): ¹ Tighina and the Administrative-Territorial Units of the Left Bank of the Dniester are under the control of the unrecognized separatist

Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Transnistria, officially the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), is an unrecognised breakaway state that is internationally recognised as a part of Moldova. Transnistria controls most of the narrow strip of land between the Dniester riv ...

(PMR, also known as Transnistria). There, Tighina is known as ''Bender''.

Notes

Areas not under central government control include: *

, which with the exception of six

(comprising a total of ten localities) corresponds to the geographic part of Moldova situated to the east of the

Dniestr The Dniester, ; rus, Дне́стр, links=1, Dnéstr, ˈdⁿʲestr; ro, Nistru; grc, Τύρᾱς, Tyrās, ; la, Tyrās, la, Danaster, label=none, ) ( ,) is a transboundary river in Eastern Europe. It runs first through Ukraine and th ...

(Romanian: ''Nistru'') river, is ''de jure'' a part of Moldova, but in fact is governed by breakaway authorities (''see also: War of Transnistria''). The city of Dubăsari (geographically and administratively in Transnistria, and not in the

Dubăsari District The Dubăsari District () is a district in the east of Moldova, with the administrative center at Cocieri. As of January 1, 2011, its population was 35,200. This does not include the 715 people that live in the village of Roghi, which is control ...

), and six communes (administratively in the

of Moldova, and not in the administrative definition of Transnistria), all controlled by the central authorities (except the village of ''Roghi'' in commune Molovata Nouă, which is controlled by Tiraspol), form the northern part of the security zone set at the end of the war. *

municipality (the city itself, plus the commune

Proteagailovca Proteagailovca is a village in the municipality of Bender (Tighina), Moldova. It had a population of 3,142 at the 2004 Census. The locality, although situated on the right (western) bank of the river Dniester, is under the control of the breakawa ...

), and three communes (five localities) of

Căușeni District Căușeni District ( ro, Raionul Căușeni, ) is a district in the central part of Moldova, with the administrative center at Căușeni. The other major city in the district is Căinari. According to the 2014 Moldovan Census, the population of th ...

(

Gîsca Gîsca (meaning " hegoose" in Romanian; russian: Гиска) is a village near in Căușeni District, Moldova, composed of a single village with the same name, population 4,841 at the 2004 Census. The locality, although situated on the right (we ...

Chițcani Chițcani (russian: Кицканы, Kitskany; uk, Кіцкань, Kitskan) is a commune in Căușeni District, Moldova. It consists of the village ''Chițcani'' and two small villages (hamlets), ''Merenești'' and ''Zahorna''. Chițcani is situa ...

, and Cremenciug) are ''de facto'' controlled by the breakaway regime of Transnistria. Together with the commune Varnița of

Anenii Noi District Anenii Noi District ( ro, Raionul Anenii Noi, ) is a district (''raion'') in the central part of Moldova. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 83,100. Its seat is the city of Anenii Noi. History Localities with the oldest documentary attesta ...

and the commune

Copanca Copanca is a village in Căușeni District, Moldova.Căușeni District Căușeni District ( ro, Raionul Căușeni, ) is a district in the central part of Moldova, with the administrative center at Căușeni. The other major city in the district is Căinari. According to the 2014 Moldovan Census, the population of th ...

under Moldovan control, these localities form the southern part of the security zone set at the end of the war. The city of Tighina has both a Moldovan police force (mostly symbolic) and a Transnistrian ''

militsiya ''Militsiya'' ( rus, милиция, , mʲɪˈlʲitsɨjə) was the name of the police forces in the Soviet Union (until 1991) and in several Eastern Bloc countries (1945–1992), as well as in the non-aligned SFR Yugoslavia (1945–1992). The ...

'' force (practically in charge in most instances). In Transnistria, Tighina is known as ''Bender''.

Population

* The smallest entity electing a mayor is the commune of Salcia, in

Taraclia District Taraclia (, ) is a district () in the south of Moldova, with the administrative center at Taraclia. As of 1 January 2012, its population was 44,100, 65.6% of whom were ethnic Bulgarians. The district covers an area of and has the lowest popu ...

(population 441). It consists of the village of ''Salcia'', population 382, and the village of ''Orehovca'', population 59. The largest entity is the municipality of

, electing a mayor for 712,218 inhabitants. * The largest number of localities governed by a single commune or city government in Moldova is 6. This is the case for: ** city of

, population 11,463, of which 3,105 in the 5 suburban villages ** commune Copăceni,

Sîngerei District Sîngerei () is a district () in the north of Moldova, with the administrative center at Sîngerei. The other major city is Biruința. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 93,400. Between 1944 and 1991, Sîngerei district was called ''Lazo ...

, population 3,315 ** commune Natalievca, Fălești District, population 2,231 ** commune

Tătărăuca Veche Tătărăuca Veche is a commune in Soroca District, Moldova. It is composed of six villages: Decebal, Niorcani, Slobozia Nouă, Tătărăuca Nouă, Tătărăuca Veche and Tolocănești.Soroca District Soroca is a district in north-east Moldova. Its administrative center is the town of Soroca. In 2018, the population of the region was 100,078. History Ancient beginnings Archeological evidence of prehistoric occupation dating to 35000 to 500 ...

, population 2,203 :On the opposite end, 42 of the 66 cities, and about half the communes of Moldova have local administration providing services for a single locality. * There are four or five localities in Moldova with a zero population: ** village ''Armanca'', commune Vasileuți, Rîșcani District ** village ''Chetrișul Nou'', commune Chetriș, Fălești District ** village ''Pelinia, loc. st. c. f.'', commune Pelinia,

Drochia District Drochia district (), also known as Drokievsky district, is a district in the north of Moldova. Its administrative center is the city of Drochia. As of 2011, its population was 90,100. History The oldest historical attestations about the settleme ...

** village ''Stălinești'', commune Corestăuți,

Ocnița District Ocnița () is a district () in the north of Moldova, with the administrative center at Ocnița. The other major cities are Otaci and Frunză. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 56,100. History The first evidence of a locality in the dist ...

:The village of ''Schinoasa'' was outlined within commune Țibirica,

Călărași District Călărași () is a district ( ro, raion) in the centre of Moldova, with the administrative headquarters in Călărași. As of January 1, 2011, its population was 78,800. History The district territory is inhabited since Paleolithic, 50–40,0 ...

in 2007, and information is not available yet whether it has any population. * Village (hamlet) ''Ivanovca'', commune Natalievca, Fălești District, population 19, inhabited by 14 Russians and 5 Ukrainians, is the only inhabited locality in Moldova without any ethnic

Moldovans Moldovans, sometimes referred to as Moldavians ( ro, moldoveni , Moldovan Cyrillic: молдовень), are a Romance-speaking ethnic group and the largest ethnic group of the Republic of Moldova (75.1% of the population as of 2014) and a sign ...

. On the opposite end, one commune, Cigîrleni,

Ialoveni District Ialoveni () is a district ( ro, raion) in the central part of Moldova, with the administrative center at Ialoveni. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 99,100. History Localities with the oldest documentary attestation of the district are: ...

, population 2,411, and 42 villages of sub-commune level (population varying from 1 to 673), have a 100% Moldovan population.

Coincidal names

There are 147 settlement names shared by multiple localities in Moldova. Most notable cases includes these: * A town

Mărculești Mărculești () is a city in Florești District, in northern Moldova, with a population of 2,081 at the 2004 census. The city was once the site of a Jewish agricultural and mercantile colony until its destruction in the Holocaust. In film and ...

, and a different commune

, both situated in the

Florești District Florești () is a district () in the north-east of Moldova, with the administrative center at Florești. The other major cities are Ghindeşti and Mărculeşti. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 90,000. History Localities with the oldest ...

* A city

, and a different commune

, both situated in the Dondușeni District * A city

, and a different commune

, both situated in the

* A town

Costești Costești () is a town in Argeș County, Muntenia, Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hunga ...

, in Rîșcani District, with a population of 2,247 (4,109 with 4 suburb villages), the 8th smallest city in Moldova, and a commune (village)

, in

, population 11,128, the 2nd largest village in Moldova * A town Cornești, in

Ungheni District Ungheni () is a district ( ro, raion) in the central part of Moldova, bordering Romania, with the administrative center at Ungheni. The other major city is Corneşti. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 117,400. History Villages with an ...

, and a different village Cornești in the same Ungheni District, and also a village Cornești in Hîncești District * etc.

Previous divisions

Counties (1998-2003)

Between 1998 and February 2003, Moldova was divided into 12 territorial units, including 1 municipality, 1 autonomous territorial unit, 1 territorial unit, and 9

counties A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

(Romanian: ''județe''; seats in brackets): #

municipality, surrounded by Chișinău county, but different from it # Bălți County (

) # Cahul County (

) #

Chișinău County Chișinău was a county of Moldova from 1998 to 2003. Its population in 2003 was 382,400. Its capital was Chișinău, which was not part of the county. It was bordered by the counties of Orhei, Ungheni, Lăpușna, and Tighina, and by Transnist ...

(

) #

Edineț County Edineț was a county of Moldova from 1998 to 2003. Its population in 2003 was 279,100. Its capital was Edineț. It was bordered by Romania and Ukraine, and with the Moldovan counties of Bălți and Soroca. It had 165 localities, 8 of which had ...

(

) # Lăpușna County (

) # Orhei County (

) # Soroca County ( Soroca) #

Tighina County (Moldova) Tighina County was a county (Romanian: ''județ'') in Moldova from 1998 to 2003. It bordered Ukraine, Lăpușna County, Chișinău County, and Transnistria. Its ''de jure'' capital was the city of Tighina, but due to the Transnistria situatio ...

(

) #

Ungheni County Ungheni County ( ro, Județul Ungheni) was a county of Moldova from 1998 to 2003. Its population in 2003 was 260,300. Its capital was Ungheni. It was bordered by the Moldovan counties of Bălți, Orhei, Chişinău, and Lăpușna, and with Romani ...

(

) #

Găgăuzia Gagauzia or Gagauz-Yeri, or ; ro, Găgăuzia; russian: Гагаузия, Gagauziya officially the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia; ro, Unitatea Teritorială Autonomă Găgăuzia, ''UTAG''; russian: Автономное территор ...

, autonomous territorial unit (

) # Left Bank of the Dniester, territorial unit (

) In October 1999, Taraclia County was split out from the Cahul County; it coincides with the current

Cities and districts (1991-1998)

Between 1991-1998, Moldova was divided into 10 cities and 40 districts:www.statoids.com
/ref> ;Cities *

* Dubăsari *

* Rîbnița * Soroca *

;Districts * Anenii Noi * Basarabeasca * Brinceni * Cahul * Camenca * Cantemir * Căinari * Călărași * Căușeni * Ceadîr-Lunga * Cimișlia * Comrat * Criuleni * Dondușeni * Drochia * Dubăsari * Edineț * Fălești * Florești * Glodeni * Grigoriopol * Hîncești * Ialoveni * Leova * Nisporeni * Ocnița * Orhei * Rezina * Rîbnița * Rîșcani * Sîngerei * Slobozia * Soroca * Strășeni * Șoldănești * Ștefan Vodă * Taraclia * Telenești * Ungheni * Vulcănești

References

External links

Moldovan Ministry of Local Public Administration
* Law № 764-XV/2001 on the administrative organization of the Republic of Moldova available on

Wikisource Wikisource is an online digital library of free-content textual sources on a wiki, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Wikisource is the name of the project as a whole and the name for each instance of that project (each instance usually re ...

. *
Modification 37-XV-14.02.2003
*
Modification 124-XV-18.03.2003
* Moldovan Law 431-XIII from April 19, 1995, , no. 31-32/340, June 9, 1995 {{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of European countries

Moldova 1 Moldova 1 is the national Moldovan television channel A television channel is a terrestrial frequency or virtual number over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refe ...

Moldova geography-related lists

Localities

Current divisions

Notes

Population

Coincidal names

Previous divisions

Counties (1998-2003)

Cities and districts (1991-1998)

See also

References

External links