Page "Bessarabia" Paragraph 79

The population before World War II consisted of Romanians ( including Moldovans ), Ukrainians ( including Ruthenians ), Russians, Bulgarians, Gagauz, Germans, and Jews.

According to the census data of the Russian Empire, during the 19th century the ethnic Romanians decreased from 86 % ( 1817 ) to 47. 6 % ( 1897 ).