Considering the complexity of poverty, a wide range of indicators is used internationally to analyze it. Thus, poverty can be measured based on monetary aggregates, such as consumer spending or income, but also using non-monetary indicators and multidimensional approaches.
In the Republic of Moldova, when calculating monetary poverty indicators, the method of measuring absolute poverty is traditionally used, based on the consumption expenditure of the population collected by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) through the Household Budget Survey (HBS).
Following user requests, in line with international best practices, this approach was supplemented in 2025 with the measurement of multidimensional poverty1, which provides a more comprehensive view of non-monetary deprivation and contributes to a better understanding of poverty in the country.
For a more comprehensive analysis of poverty, taking into account the recommendations of Eurostat (Statistical Office of the European Union (EU)), with a view to providing users with internationally comparable information, the NBS has launched the development of experimental calculationsfor estimating relative poverty by calculating the at-risk-of-poverty rate.
In line with international best practices, the experimental statistics produced by the NBS are new, innovative statistics that are currently being developed, including in the evaluation phase. Experimental statistics are developed to inform users about the results obtained during the development of new statistics, which are at the development and testing stage, as well as to engage users in assessing their necessity and quality at an early stage of development.
The development of experimental statistics is recommended by Eurostat, as it enables statistics producers to better understand the relevance and usefulness, as well as other dimensions of the quality of statistics under development, such as their accuracy and reliability, clarity for statistics users, and greater transparency in the performance of statistical activities.
In this context, the NBS has prepared an Information Note on experimental statistics developed by the National Bureau of Statistics for measuring relative poverty, which presents the initial results of this developing statistical activity, providing details on:
I. General context
II. Data source and method for estimating relative poverty based on the at-risk-of-poverty rate
III. Concepts and definitions
IV. Method for calculating the at-risk-of-poverty rate
V. Planned follow-up activities aimed at developing experimental calculations of the At-risk-of-poverty rate in the Republic of Moldova
The publication of these results, developed on an experimental basis, aims to inform potential users about the experimental calculations performed by the NBS, to consult users' opinions, to obtain any questions, comments, and suggestions regarding methodological aspects, relevance, clarity, and usefulness of the new statistics being developed and compiled by the Office.
Please send your comments and suggestions to: moldstat@statistica.md, by July 1, 2025.
The opinions expressed will be an important benchmark for the NBS's future work in this area.
Notes:
1 According to Government Decision No. 897/2024, the development of multidimensional poverty indicators has been included in the Statistical Work Program for 2025, having previously been part of experimental statistics. For more details on measuring multidimensional poverty, please visit the NBS website at: https://statistica.gov.md/ro/masurarea-saraciei-multidimensionale-10083_61340.html and the Poverty statistics section.