Drochia

For the commune in the same district with the same name, see Drochia, Drochia.

Drochia
Drochia
Flag Coat of arms
Drochia Location in Moldova
Coordinates: 48°2′N 27°45′E
Country	Moldova
District	Drochia District
Established	1777
Government
• Mayor	Cereteu Nina (PN), since 2015
Elevation	741 ft (226 m)
Population  (2014)
• Total	13,150
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	MD-52xx
Area code	+373 252 xx x xx
Climate	Dfb

Drochia (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈdroki.ja]) is a city in the northern part of Moldova. It is the administrative center of the eponymous district. The city is located 174.4 km (108.4 mi) north of the national capital, Chișinău, and 67 km (42 mi) north-east of the Romanian city of Iași. The average elevation of Drochia is 226 meters. The population at the 2004 census was 16,606.

The name of the city comes from a local type of bird, called dropie (English: great bustard).

History

Drochia is first mentioned by chroniclers in 1777. By 1830 it was a small settlement encompassing 25 families. A document dating from 1847 notes that a small grape-processing plant, the town's first industrial enterprise, had been built. Two mills situated on a local stream were built in 1875.

More intensive industrial development emerged after the railway first came through at the end of the 19th century. At the 1930 census, the locality (then a village) was known as Drochia-Gară (literally Drochia Station), and had a population of only 595. It was part of Plasa Bădiceni of the Soroca County.

Drochia received the status of a city in 1973.

Demographics

According to the 2024 census, 12,939 inhabitants lived in Drochia, a decrease compared to the previous census in 2014, when 13,150 inhabitants were registered.

Ethnic composition of Drochia (2024)

1. Moldovans (85.6%)
2. Romanians (4.70%)
3. Ukrainians (6.70%)
4. Russians (2.30%)
5. Others (0.70%)

Linguistic composition of Drochia (2024)

1. Moldovan (59.2%)
2. Romanian (24.4%)
3. Russian (13.0%)
4. Ukrainian (3.10%)
5. Other (0.30%)

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1930	595	—
1959	6,638	+1015.6%
1970	11,161	+68.1%
1979	15,280	+36.9%
1989	21,298	+39.4%
2004	16,606	−22.0%
2014	13,150	−20.8%
2024	12,939	−1.6%

Historical demographics

Ethnic composition (1930 Census)
Romanians	181
Ruthenians and Ukrainians	77
Russians	209
Jews	112
Poles	5
Armenians	7
Serbians, Croatians, Slovenes	1
others	3
Total	595

Linguistic composition (1930 Census)
Romanian	198
Russian	210
Yiddish	102
Ukrainian	80
Polish	4
other	1
Total	595

Media

Journalists interviewing Octavian Armașu during the inauguration of a biogas plant outside the city, 2012

• Radio Chișinău 93.8 FM
• Vocea Basarabiei 101,0
• Radio Studentus www.studentus.md/listen.html

Mayors of Drochia

• Anatol Pleșca 1991–1999
• Valeriu Ceban 1999–2007
• Grigore Melnic 2007 – 2011
• Igor Grozavu 2011 – 2015
• Nina Cereteu 2015 - 2023
• Nina Cereteu 2023 - present

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Moldova

Twin towns – Sister cities

Drochia is twinned with:

• Borisov, Belarus
• Dorohoi, Romania
• Kolomyia, Ukraine
• Rădăuți, Romania
• Pineto, Italy

Notable people

• Romeo V. Turcan, professor
• Victor Pînzaru, athlete

Photo gallery

• 
  Cathedral of the "Adormirea Maicii Domnului"
• 
  Monument of Mihai Eminescu
• 
  City Hall
• 
  Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu High School
• 
  Drochia Bus Terminal
• 
  Drochia District Council and the monument of Stephen III of Moldavia
• 
  Office building
• 
  Monument of Mihai Eminescu

External links

• Drochia Stadium on divizianationala.com
• Weather in Drochia
• Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu High School Webpage Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
• Drochia in Photos
• Meteo Moldova
• Drochia.md