Leova District is a district () in the central part of Moldova, bordering Romania, with the administrative center at Leova. In the 2024 Moldovan census, its population was 28,835.
The localities with the oldest documentary attestation of the district are Tigheci, Tochile-RÃÂducani, and Leova; they were first attested in the period 1436-1489. In the 16th and 17th centuries, trade and agriculture developed in Principality of Moldavia, and there was a significant population increase. During this period, the Tîrgul SÃÂrata (Leova today), was developing intensively. After the Russo-Turkish War (1806âÂÂ1812), the region was annexed by the Russian Empire, and became part of the Bessarabia Governorate from 1812 to 1917, there is an intense russification of the native population. In 1918, after the Russian Revolution and the collapse of the Russian Empire, Bessarabia united with Romania. From 1918 to 1940 and again from 1941 to 1944, the district was part of the LÃÂpuÃÂna County, in the Kingdom of Romania. In 1940, after the MolotovâÂÂRibbentrop Pact, Bessarabia was occupied by the Soviet Union. Towards the end of World War II, the district became part of the Moldavian SSR. In 1991, as a result of the proclamation of the Independence of Moldova, it became part and residence of LapuÃÂna County (1991âÂÂ2003), and in 2003 it became an administrative unit of Moldova.
Leova District is located in the southwest part of the Republic of Moldova. Its neighbors are as follows: HînceÃÂti District in the north, Gagauzia and CimiÃÂlia District in the east, Cantemir District in the south, and the state border with Romania in the west, on the river Prut. The relief is generally plain, but with altitudes above in the northern part of the district (the southern extremity of Central Moldavian Plateau), elevations of in the south (extreme north of the Tigheci Plateau), and the plains of the river Prut. Erosion processes occur with a medium intensity.
Temperate continental climate with an annual average district temperature of . July average temperature is and January . Annual precipitation is 450âÂÂ550 mm and average wind speed is 3âÂÂ6 m/s.
Typical European fauna, with the presence of mammals such as foxes, hedgehogs, deer, wild boar, polecat, wild cat, ermine, and others. Birds include: partridges, crows, eagles, starling, swallow, and more.
Forests occupy 13.0% of the district; they are complemented by tree species such as oak, ash, hornbeam, linden, maple, walnut and others. Plants include: wormwood, knotweed, fescue, nettle, and many others.
The main river is the Prut River, which crosses the western district in favor of Romania. Its main tributary that crosses the district is the Sarata River. Most lakes are of artificial origin.
As of the 2024 Census, the district's population was 28,835, of which 30.8% urban and 69.2% rural population.
Footnote: * There is an ongoing controversy regarding the ethnic identification of Moldovans and Romanians.
In the district are 11,859 total registered businesses. The share of agricultural land is 57,071 ha (73.6%) of total land area. The arable land occupies 37 925 ha (48.9%) of the total agricultural land, of which 1229 ha plantation of orchards (1.6%), vines 4718 ha (6.1%), pasture 11,617 ha (15.0%), some 1582 ha (2.0%).
In Leova district working 34 educational institutions, including: Total number of students, including 7833 children in schools, in preschool institutions in 2009 children, 280 polyvalent vocational schools students.
Voters traditional in the district Leova, said mainly center-right parties, particularly the AEI. PCRM the last three elections is in a continuous fall.
During the last three elections AEI had an increase of 57.2%
|- !style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=center colspan="2" valign=center|Parties and coalitions !style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|Votes !style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|% !style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|+/â |- | |align=left|Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova |align="right"|8,171 |align="right"|35.79 |align="right"|âÂÂ5.44 |- | |align=left|Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova |align="right"|6,561 |align="right"|28.74 |align="right"|+13.43 |- | |align=left|Democratic Party of Moldova |align="right"|4,290 |align="right"|18,79 |align="right"|+4.54 |- |bgcolor=#0033cc| |align=left|European Action Movement |align="right"|1,364 |align="right"|5.97 |align="right"|+5.97 |- | |align=left|Liberal Party |align="right"|1,182 |align="right"|5.18 |align="right"|âÂÂ5.81 |- |bgcolor="grey"| |align=left|Other Party |align="right"|1,271 |align="right"|5.53 |align="right"|-12.69 |- |align=left style="background-color:#E9E9E9" colspan="2"|Total (turnout 53.96%) |width="30" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|22,999 |width="30" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|100.00 |width="30" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|
In district works: two museums, artistic works 55, 14 bands, holding the title of the band - model, public libraries - 37.
In district works: a hospital, the general fund of 190 beds, 1 center of family doctor's in the composition of which are 16 family physician offices, 7 health center's, 11 health points.
The council of the Romanian Vaslui County, the county councils of the Moldovan Leova and Hînceà Âti districts, and the European Union (through the Phare program), have set up a program which seeks to promote tourism in these regions. The main tourist attractions of the Vaslui-Hînceà Âti-Leova touristic program are, among others, the medieval and early modern churches and monasteries, the Manuc Bei Hunting Palace and the Manuc - Mirzaian Manor Palace (similar to Manuc's Inn in Bucharest) in Hînceà Âti, as well as the region's natural riches.