The number of children has declined. On January 1, 2022, the number of children aged between 0 and 17 in Moldova was 559,400 or 21.5% of the population with ordinary residence. The children born alive in 2021 totaled 29,200, a decline of 5.2%, on a year before. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the birth rate in 2021 was 11.2 living newborns per 1,000 people, which is the lowest rate in the past five years, IPN reports.
The same data show the incomes of families with children are lower than the incomes of families without children. In 2021, the disposable incomes of families with children were 3,005.0 lei a month on average per person or 1.3 times less than the incomes of families without children. If the number of children in a family is higher, the average incomes of this decrease from 3,568.1 lei a month in the case of families with one child to 2,034.7 lei in the case of families with three and more children.
On the occasion of International Children’s Day, President Maia Sandu transmitted a message, noting that it is our duty to offer all the children in Moldova a happy childhood. “A happy childhood is a childhood lived in safety and peace, alongside the family, without poverty, violence and fear, with the mother and father listening to your sorrows and encouraging you when the obstacle seems insurmountable. A happy childhood is when you have time for school, for play and the right to education is guaranteed and secured. This way, with kindness, warmth and equal development chances, honest, kindhearted and happy people are raised, learn and develop. And these people, for their part, will have happy children,” stated the official.
Maia Sandu noted that this is the reality wanted in the Republic of Moldova too. That’s why the Government designed the National Child Protection Program for 2022-2026, which will be launched today, June 1. The program includes measures to reduce poverty, to ensure zero tolerance of violence, to integrate institutionalized children into the family and to attenuate the effects of parents’ migration onto children.
Mayor of Chisinau Ion Ceban also congratulated all the children, wishing them a happy childhood. “Today is their day, Children’s Day! Let’s spend more time near them. Let’s dream, play and tell them how much we love them! We prepared a broad cultural-artistic program for all the children, with tens of surprises in all the districts of Chisinau, with painting workshops, puppet shows and performances of music and dances, sports and recreational activities and many other interesting things! Also, entrance to the Zoological Garden is free,” stated the mayor.
