Updated
Overview
Ukraine has 17 times the population of Moldova: 38.98 million people against 2.36 million (2025).
Ukraine's economy is 11 times the size of Moldova's, at $214.23B versus $20.35B.
Per person, Moldova is the wealthier of the two: $8,622 against $5,866 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Ukraine | Moldova | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $214.23B | $20.35B | 2025 | $190.74B / $18.20B |
| GDP per capita | $5,866 | Higher: $8,622 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.8% | Higher: 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 12.7% | Lower: 7.8% | 2025 | 6.5% / 4.7% |
| Unemployment | 9.8% | Lower: 1.5% | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 31 | 43 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $459 | Higher: $501 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $192 | Higher: $316 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.34 | $4.56 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 38.98 million | 2.36 million | 2025 | 35.66 million / 3.58 million |
| Population growth | 2.9% | -1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 41.8 yrs | 38.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.00 | 1.72 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 74.7 yrs | 71.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 44% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 82% | 77% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 603,500 km² | 33,846 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 64.6/km² | 69.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 142 Mt | Lower: 5.33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.8 t | Lower: 1.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.70B | $110.73M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 34.5% | 0.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 298,000 | 6,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Moldova is growing faster: 2.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.8%.
Ukraine runs the hotter price environment: 12.7% inflation versus 7.8%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Ukraine: a price level of 31 versus 43 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Moldova: $501 against $459 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Moldova is the younger society: median age 38.6 versus 41.8 years.
Life expectancy is 3.4 years longer in Ukraine (74.7 vs 71.3).
Ukraine is considerably more urbanized: 70% of people live in cities, against 44%.
Geography
By land area, Ukraine is 18 times the size of Moldova: 603,500 km² versus 33,846 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Ukraine spends 584 times as much on defence as Moldova: $64.70B versus $110.73M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Ukraine carries the heavier military burden: 34.5% of GDP versus 0.6%.
Ukraine fields the larger armed forces: 298,000 personnel against 6,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Ukraine bigger than Moldova?
- Ukraine is larger by land area. Ukraine covers 603,500 km² while Moldova covers 33,846 km², so Ukraine is 18 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Ukraine or Moldova?
- Ukraine has the larger population: 38.98 million versus 2.36 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Ukraine richer than Moldova?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Moldova is richer: $8,622 against $5,866. Total GDP tells a different story: $214.23B for Ukraine versus $20.35B for Moldova.
- Who spends more on their military, Ukraine or Moldova?
- Ukraine spends more: $64.70B versus $110.73M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).