Moldova National Public Opinion Survey on Remittances July, 2007
Methodology Sample size 2,073 Moldovan adults Dates of interviews Languages of interviews Margin of error December 16 January 16, 2007 Moldovan, Romanian, Russian 2 percentage points 96
Demographics of Remittance Recipients in Moldova 97
Age 18-24 12% 18% 25-34 15% 21% Adult population* 35-49 28% 27% 50-64 20% 25% Remittance recipients 65 + 13% 20% 0% 10% 20% 30% 98 *National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova
Gender Adult population 47% 53% Male Remittance recipients 39% 61% Female 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 99
Monthly Household Income 400 lei or less 14% 23% 401-800 lei 801-1200 lei 17% 15% 22% 23% Adult population 1201-1750 lei 1751 lei or more Don't know/no Answer 14% 10% 19% 16% 15% 13% Remittance recipients 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 100 Official exchange rate is US$0.079 to 1 leu, National Bank of Moldova
Education Primary school or less Some secondary school 17% 15% 13% 13% Adult population Completed secondary school Some university or technical school University graduate or more 15% 16% 29% 28% 24% 27% Remittance recipients 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 101
Poll Sample More than 90 percent of the Moldovan population resides in the 32 raions, 2 municipalities and the autonomous region of Gagauzia where polling was conducted. No interviews were conducted in Transnistria or the municipalities of Tiraspol, and Tighina / Bender. 102
Administrative Divisions (Raions) 1- Chişinău 21% 19% 2 - Balti, Faleşti, Glodeni, Rişcani, Singereni 13% 18% 3 - Aneii Noi, Criuleni, Dubăsari, Ialoveni, Străşeni 4 - Soroca, Drochia, Floreşti 6% 8% 11% 10% Adult population 5 - Basarabeasca, Hînceşti, Leova, Cimişlia 8% 12% 6 - Orhei, Rezina, Şoldăneşti, Teleneşti 8% 8% 7 - Briceni, Edinet, Ocniţa, Donduşeni 8% 7% 8 - Ungheni, Călărasi, Nisporeni 9 - Cahul, Cantemir 10 - Căuşeni, Ştefan Voda 5% 5% 5% 4% 7% 7% Remittance recipients 11 - Găgăuzia 4% 4% 12 - Taraclia 1% 1% 103 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Regions North Balti, Faleşti, Glodeni, Rişcani, Singereni, Soroca, Drochia, Briceni, Edinet, Ocniţa, Donduşeni and Floreşti Center Ungheni, Călărasi, Nisporeni, Orhei, Rezina, Şoldăneşti, Teleneşti, Chişinău, Aneii Noi, Criuleni, Dubăsari, Ialoveni and Străşeni South Cahul, Cantemir, Căuşeni, Ştefan Voda, Găgăuzia, Taraclia, Basarabeasca, Hînceşti, Leova, Cimişlia 104
Regions North 29% 31% Adult population Center 44% 48% South 23% 25% Remittance recipients 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 105
Type of Locality Municipality 22% 24% Town with population greater than 15,000 9% 9% Adult population Town with population less than 15,000 Rural 8% 11% 56% 61% Remittance recipients 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 106
Urban vs. Rural Adult 39% population 61% Urban Remittance recipients 44% 56% Rural 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 107
Do you rent or own your home? Adult 8% population 90% Rent Remittance recipients 12% 86% Own 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 108
109 Remittances to Moldova
Do you have family members living in another country outside of Moldova? 48% 52% Yes No 110
Have any of your relatives living in another country outside of Moldova ever sent you money? 21% Yes 48% No 31% Do not have family in another country 111
Remittance Recipients By Location Basarabeasca, Hînceşti, Leova and Cimişlia Balti, Faleşti, Glodeni, Rişcani, Singereni 30% 32% Orhei, Rezina, Şoldăneşti, Teleneşti Ungheni, Călărasi, and Nisporeni Cahul and Cantemir Briceni, Edinet, Ocniţa, and Donduşeni Chişinău Aneii Noi, Criuleni, Dubăsari, Ioloveni, and Străşeni Găgăuzia Căuşeni and Ştefan Voda Soroca, Drochia and Floreşti 23% 22% 21% 20% 19% 19% 17% 16% 15% Taraclia 8% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 112
Remittance Recipients By Monthly Household Income 800 lei or less 16% More than 800 lei 26% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 113
Major Findings Twenty-one percent of Moldovan adults approximately 580,000 people received remittances on a regular basis during 2006. 114
In which countries does the family member who sends you money live in? Russia 41% Italy 33% Western Europe* 14% Turkey / Israel 4% USA 3% Eastern Europe** 3% Other 2% 115 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% *France, Germany, Belgium, England, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal **Ukraine, Czech Republic, Romania
In what city or region of Russia does your family member or relative live? Moscow Saint Petersburg Central Volga Murmansk Tambov Salekhard Noyabrsk Rostov Ural North Western Far Eastern Siberia Don't know/no answer 9% 4% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 73% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 116
What is your relationship to the person who sends you money? Father or Mother Sister or Brother Husband or Wife 17% 17% 19% Son or Daughter 37% Aunt / Uncle / Cousin / Other 10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 117
How frequently does your family member or relative send you money? 2 times a month or more 3% Once a month 18% Every 2 to 3 months 36% Every 4 to 6 months 22% About once a year 17% Don't know/no answer 4% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 118
How frequently does your family member or relative send you money? By Country of Origin of Remittance 2 times a month or more 3% 5% 1% Once a month 18% 22% 14% Russia Every 2 to 3 months 31% 32% 43% Italy Every 4 to 6 months 20% 21% 27% Other About once a year 14% 17% 22% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 119
Major Findings The average Moldovan remittance recipient receives money 6 times a year. 120
For how many years has this family member or relative been sending you money? Less than one year 21% Between one and three years 45% Between three and five years 17% More than five years 15% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 121
How much money - on average - does your family member or relative send to you each time? In US dollars $100 or less 39% $101 to $200 28% $201 to $300 8% $301 to $400 $401 to $500 More than $500 Don't know / No answer 3% 5% 7% 11% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 122
Major Findings The average remittance to Moldova is US$171. 123
Major Findings The survey indicates that Moldova received approximately US$595 million or 440 million during 2006. 124
Remittances Country of family member Russia Italy Western Europe Turkey / Israel USA Eastern Europe Other Total Amount in remittances 181 million 145 million 62 million 18 million 13 million 13 million 8 million 440 million 125
126 The Remittance Process
How do you receive this money? At a bank 48% Family member or friend traveling to Moldova By courier 16% 21% At a remittance company 9% Other 5% Don't know / No answer 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 127
How do you receive this money? By Age At a bank 40% 53% By courier Family member or friend traveling to / from Moldova 18% 14% 16% 29% 18-49 At a remittance company 9% 9% 50+ Other 3% 8% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 128
How do you receive this money? By Gender At a bank 38% 53% By courier Family member or friend traveling to / from Moldova 21% 14% 19% 22% Male At a remittance company 6% 13% Female Other 4% 8% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 129
How do you receive this money? By Country of Family Member At a bank 40% 44% 55% By courier 12% 21% 19% Russia Family member or friend traveling to / from Moldova 19% 23% 21% Italy At a remittance company 8% 9% 10% Other Other 5% 5% 5% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 130
How do you receive this money? By Monthly Household Income At a bank 36% 54% By courier Family member or friend traveling to / from Moldova 18% 15% 16% 33% 800 lei or less At a remittance company 6% 11% More than 800 lei Other 4% 7% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 131
How satisfied are you with the services of the bank or remittance company? Very satisfied 48% Somewhat satisfied 44% Not satisfied 2% Don't know / No answer 6% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 132
Approximately what portion of the money you receive do you spend on daily expenses? All of it 63% About three quarters of it About half of it 11% 17% Less than a quarter of it None of it Don't know / No answer 4% 4% 2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 133
Major Findings Moldovan remittance recipients spend approximately 81 percent of the money they receive on basic daily expenses such as food, housing, clothing, utilities and medicine. 134
Do you use these money for something else other than daily expenses? Buy or build a house 35% Education 27% Health / Life Insurance 13% Open a savings account 12% Start a business 9% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 135
How often do you communicate with this family member or relative the one that sends you money? Everyday 9% Once a week 40% Once a month 35% A few times a year 12% Once a year 1% Very rarely / Almost never 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 136
How many people including yourself benefit from the money you receive from your family member or relative? 1 person 15% 2 people 3 people 29% 33% 4 people 15% 5 people 5% More than 5 people 3% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 137
Major Findings Approximately 1 million Moldovans benefit from remittances. 138
The Moldova Banking System and Investment Potential 139
Overall, how do you see your family s personal economic situation in Moldova? Remittance Recipients Excellent 0% Good 19% Mediocre 49% Bad 31% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 140
Overall, do you have a positive or negative opinion of the banks in Moldova? Remittance Recipients 20% Positive Negative 20% 60% Don't know / No answer 141
Why do you have a negative opinion of the banks in Moldova? Remittance Recipients Bad experience 36% Charge too much for services 25% Think money is not safe 23% Not famliar with banks 8% Don't treat you well 6% Don't know /No answer 2% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 142
Do you have a bank account? Adult population 14% 84% Yes Remittance recipients 19% 79% No 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 143
Do you have any investments in Moldova? Remittance Recipients Savings account 6% Property 5% Business 2% Another type of investment 3% None 84% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 144
Remittance recipients very interested in financial investment products Mortgage / Loan to buy house 20% Health / Life insurance 19% Loan to finance business 19% Finance university education 19% Open savings account 15% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 145