Abstract
Depopulation in Moldova has become the predominant trend, which is difficult to solve, due to significant international migration. The birth number decline is associated primarily with a decrease in the population, while cohort fertility rates are decreasing gradually, but did not go lower than 1,75 live births per woman.
Completed cohort fertility rate of women born in 1960 is 2,2 children per woman, those born in 1970 -1,94. High levels of mortality accelerate the natural decline of the population.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, life expectancy at birth dropped up to 65,9 years for men (-0,9) and 73,9 years for women (-1,2), the negative natural population growth reached -3.8 %o. Migration outflow determines depopulation by 90%.
In the last few years, the negative net migration rate has varied between 8-15%o. The highest rates of negative net migration are at ages 15-29.
Return migration in 45-70 age leads to ageing acceleration.