There are 37 first-level administrative regions of Moldova, including 32 districts, 3 municipalities, 1 autonomous region (Gagauz), and Transnistria, which is nominally part of Moldova.
1. Municipalities directly under the Central Government
1. Chisinau (Romanian: Chișinău; Russian: Кишинёв) is the capital and largest city of Moldova in Eastern Europe, as well as the country's industrial and commercial center, located on the Berco River. With an area of 571.6 square kilometers and a population of 779,300, Chisinau is the most economically prosperous city in Moldova and the largest transportation hub.
2. Bălţi (Romanian: Bălţi; Russian: Бельцы) is the third largest city in Moldova by population (after the capital, Chisinau, and Tiraspol). It has an area of 78 square kilometers and a population of 127,600. It ranks second only to Chisinau in terms of economic importance and area. It is one of the five cities in Moldova with metropolitan status. Known as the "capital" of northern Moldova, Berzi is the most important city in the north, as well as the industrial, cultural center and transportation hub of the north. The city is located 127 km north of Chisinau, on the banks of the River Rutte.
3. Binjery (Russian: Бендеры), or translated as Bender (Moldovan: Бендер), Tigina (Romanian: Tighina), is a city on the Transnistrian River in Moldova, located on the right bank of the Dniester River in the east of the country, Binjery was founded in 1408, with an area of 97.29 square kilometers and a population of 93,751 people.
2. District
4. Nueva Aneni District (Romanian: Anenii Noi) is a district in central Moldova with an area of 892 square kilometers and the capital of Nueva Aneni. It has a population of 81,710, the majority of whom are Moldovans (84.2%), followed by Ukrainians (8.0%), Russians (5.1%), Romanians (1.0%), Bulgarians (0.6%) and Gagauz (0.3%).
5. Basarabeaska District (Romanian: Basarabeasca) is a district in the southeast of Moldova, bordering Ukraine to the east, with an area of 294.5 square kilometers and the capital of Basarabeasca. It has a population of 28,978, the majority of whom are Moldovans (69.8%), followed by Russians (8.9%), Gagauz (7.7%), Ukrainians (6.7%) and Bulgarians (5.3%).
6. Raionul Briceni is a district in the northwestern part of Moldova, bordered by Ukraine to the north and Romania to the south across the Prut River. It covers an area of 741 square kilometers. It has a population of 78,027 and the capital is Brichenyi.
7. The Cahul region (Romanian: Raionul Cahul) is the southernmost district of Moldova, bordered by Romania to the west and south (the Prut River to the west and the Danube River to the south) and Ukraine to the east. It covers an area of 1,147 square kilometers. It has a population of 119,231 and the capital is Kahur.
8. Cantamir District (Romanian: Raionul Cantemir) is a district in the southwest of Moldova, bordering Romania to the west, with an area of 870 square kilometers and the capital of Cantemir. It has a population of 60,001 people, the majority of whom are Moldovans (88.3%), followed by Bulgarians (6.2%), Ukrainians (1.6%), Romanians (1.5%) and Russians (1.2%). The name comes from the Romanian historical figure Dimitriye Cantamir (Moldovan military strategist, politician, and writer, who became the ruler of Moldova twice, joined forces with the Russian Tsarist State against the Ottoman Empire, and went into exile in Russia after the defeat. His son, Anzioch Kontemir, was a Russian poet. The commune of Dimitriye Kantamir and the Christian University of Dimitrier Kantamir in Romania and the district of Kantamir in Moldova are named after him. ）。
9. The district of Klelaşi (Romanian: Raionul Călăraşi) is a district of Moldova. It covers an area of 1,147 square kilometers. It has a population of 75,075 and the capital is Krorahi.
10. Raionul Căuşeni (Romanian: Raionul Căuşeni) is a district in southeastern Moldova, bordered by the Dniester River to the east and Ukraine to the south. It covers an area of 821 square kilometers. It has a population of 90,612 and the capital is Küuscheni.
11. The Cimişlia district (Romanian: Raionul Cimişlia) is a district in the south of Moldova, bordering Ukraine to the southeast. It covers an area of 803 square kilometers. It has a population of 60,925 and the capital is Chimisliya.
12. Cyuleni District (Romanian: Criuleni) is a district in central Moldova, bordering Ukraine to the east, with an area of 688 square kilometers and the capital of Kruleni. It has a population of 72,254, of which the majority are Moldovans (92.8%), followed by Ukrainians (3.7%), Romanians (1.6%) and Russians (1.4%).
13. Raionul Donduşeni District (Romanian: Raionul Donduşeni) is a district in southern Moldova, bordering Ukraine across the Dniester River to the northeast. It covers an area of 892 square kilometers. It has a population of 46,442 and the capital is Dondusheni.
14. Drokia District (Romanian: Raionul Drochia) is a district in the north of Moldova. It covers an area of 769 square kilometers. It has a population of 87,092 and the capital is Drokia.
15. The district of Raionul Dubăsari (Romanian: Raionul Dubăsari) is a district in eastern Moldova, divided into two disconnected parts, part in the north and completely east of the Dniester River in the south. It covers an area of 309.2 square kilometers. It has a population of 34,015 and the capital is Corderi.
16. Raionul Edineţ (Romanian: Raionul Edineţ) is a district in northwestern Moldova, separated from Romania by the Prut River to the west. It covers an area of 911 square kilometers. It has a population of 81,390 and the capital is Edinetz.
17. The district of Raionul Făleşti (Romanian: Raionul Făleşti) is a district in western Moldova, separated from Romania by the Prut River to the west. It covers an area of 1,143 square kilometers. It has a population of 90,320 and the capital is Flesti.
18. The Floreşti district (Romanian: Raionul Floreşti) is a district in northern Moldova, bordered by the Transnistrian River to the east. It covers an area of 790 square kilometers. It has a population of 89,389 and the capital is Floresti.
19. Glodeni District (Romanian: Glodeni) is a district in the northwest of Moldova, bordering Romania to the west, with an area of 754.1 square kilometers and the capital of Glodeni. The population in 2004 was 60,975, of which the majority were Moldovans (76.0 per cent), followed by Ukrainians (19.5 per cent), Russians (2.8 per cent), Bulgarians (0.1 per cent) and Gagauz (0.1 per cent).
20. Hînceşti District (Romanian: Hînceşti) is a district in western Moldova, bordering Romania to the west, with an area of 1,483.4 square kilometers and the capital Hæncesti. It has a population of 119,762, of which the majority are Moldovans (90.3%), followed by Ukrainians (5.2%), Romanians (2.5%), Russians (1.2%), Bulgarians (0.2%) and Gagauz (0.1%).