The population of Moldova has dropped below the 3 million mark to 2,913,281 people, 11.29% of whom, or 329,108 people, are in external migration, according to the preliminary data of the latest Population and Household Census published by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The country's overall sex ratio is 48.41% to 51.58%, or 94 men to 100 women. The sex ratio in urban areas is 90 men to 100 women, with the biggest disparity being recorded in Balti Municipality and Briceni district – 84 men to 100 women.
Urban areas are home to 995,227 people, and 1,918,054 Moldovans live in rural areas, with the ratio being 34.2% to 65.8%.
62% of the country's population live in the North and Center.
Seven districts have populations under 50,000 people, accounting for 9% of the total population, 21 districts have populations ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 people, accounting for 51.1% of the total. Four districts and the Gagauz autonomy have populations of over 100,000 people, accounting for 19.4% of the total.
Chisinau and Balti are home to 20.5% of the population, with 493,000 and 105,000 residents respectively.
The census was conducted in May 2014.
