Ionita: By 2030, More Moldovan Children Will Be Born Abroad Than at Home

The economic expert said that Moldova is facing a dramatic population decline. This undermines the rationale for investing in local community development, given the dwindling number of residents. The demographic crisis is so severe that, according to Vуaceslav Ionita, the only solution today is to bring foreign citizens into the labor market, ziua.md reports. “Over the past five years, Moldova’s population has declined as much as it did in the previous two decades. Today, more than 40 percent of women giving birth are abroad. In 2030, more Moldovan children will be born abroad than at home. The situation has reached a critical point. A comprehensive policy to support families is needed. For the next 50 years, any government must prioritize its people,” the expert said. He pointed out that rural areas are hardest hit by demographic decline, with nearly all young residents departing. “We are renovating schools, but the number of children is decreasing. In some areas, the number of students has halved in just a few years. Chisinau sees growth as families move from villages, resulting in roughly 4 square meters per child in city schools. In contrast, in rural areas, my data shows schools with 150 square meters per student. Some buildings have only 20 children studying. These are deep structural problems,” Ionita explained.