Russians in Moldova

Russians in Moldova
Total population
369,896 (2004 census) (9.39% of total population)
Regions with significant populations
Transnistria (30.37%)
Languages
Russian, Moldovan and Romanian
Related ethnic groups
Russian diaspora

Russians in Moldova form the second largest ethnic minority in the country. According to the Moldovan Census (2004) and a separate 2004 Census in Transnistria, about 370,000 persons identified themselves as ethnic Russians in Moldova.

Self-identification Moldovan
census
% Core
Moldova
Transnistrian
census
% Transnistria
+ Bender
Total %
Russians 201,218 5.95% 168,678 30.37% 369,896 9.39%

The Russophone population could be even larger, considering that some ethnic Ukrainians, Gagauz, and Bulgarians might be Russophones.

Population of Moldova Romanian Russian Ukrainian Gagauz Bulgarian Other languages
or undeclared
by native language 2,588,355
76.51%
380,796
11.26%
186,394
5.51%
137,774
4.07%
54,401
1.61%
35,612
1.04%
by language of first use 2,543,354
75.17%
540,990
15.99%
130,114
3.85%
104,890
3.10%
38,565
1.14%
25,419
0.75%

The Russian and Ukrainian dominated Transnistria region broke away from government control amid fears the country would soon reunite with Romania.