MOLDOVA (formerly Moldavia), independent democratic republic belonging to the CIS, which proclaimed its independence in May 1990. In 1979 it had 80,100 Jews and in 1989–65,800 (of whom 35,700 lived in Kishinev). The estimated Jewish population at the end of 1991 was 28,500. In 1988 the Jewish birth rate was 9.3 per 1,000 and mortality rate—17.1 per 1,000.
Bessarabia, region between the rivers Prut and Dniester; before 1812 part of Moldavia, with several districts under direct Ottoman rule; within Rusia 1812–1918; part of Rumania 1918–40; returned to Rusia 1940. The larger (central) part is in Moldova; the extreme northern and southern sections in the Ucrania.