Quick facts
Chisinau overview
Chisinau (orange) and the other large cities of Moldova
Chisinau lies in Chișinău Municipality in Moldova at 47.01°N, 28.86°E, about 24 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Chisinau (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Moldova: the next largest cities are Tiraspol (157,000), Bălţi (125,000), Bender (110,175). Together, the three largest cities hold 31.1% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Strășeni, about 24 km away, followed by Hînceşti (28 km).
Moldova as a whole has a live population of 2,953,169 (-1% a year) and ranks #139 of 238 countries — see the Moldova population page for the full statistics and the Moldova atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Chisinau
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Strășeni Strășeni | 24 km | 19,225 |
| Hînceşti Hînceşti | 28 km | 16,900 |
| Dubăsari Transnistria | 37 km | 23,254 |
| Orhei Orhei | 42 km | 24,918 |
| Bender Bender Municipality | 51 km | 110,175 |
| Căuşeni Căuşeni | 59 km | 21,690 |
| Tiraspol Transnistria | 61 km | 157,000 |
| Slobozia Transnistria | 71 km | 15,356 |
Largest cities in Moldova
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChisinauCapital | Chișinău Municipality | 635,994 |
| 2 | Tiraspol | Transnistria | 157,000 |
| 3 | Bălţi | Bălţi | 125,000 |
| 4 | Bender | Bender Municipality | 110,175 |
| 5 | Rîbniţa | Transnistria | 55,455 |
| 6 | Cahul | Cahul | 34,492 |
| 7 | Ungheni | Ungheni | 34,422 |
| 8 | Soroca | Soroca District | 27,423 |
| 9 | Orhei | Orhei | 24,918 |
| 10 | Dubăsari | Transnistria | 23,254 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Chisinau?
Chisinau has about 635,994 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Chisinau the capital of Moldova?
Yes — Chisinau is the national capital of Moldova.
How big is Chisinau compared with the rest of Moldova?
Its 635,994 residents are 21.5% of the 2,953,169 people living in Moldova today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Chisinau?
In Chișinău Municipality, Moldova, at latitude 47.01 and longitude 28.86, 24 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Strășeni (24 km), Hînceşti (28 km), Dubăsari (37 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Chisinau Population 2026 — Moldova. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/moldova/chisinau/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/moldova/chisinau/">Chisinau Population 2026 — Moldova</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.