Objective: In Moldova, cardiovascular disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality. High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for the CVD burden. It is common habit in Moldova to add salt to food at the table and when cooking and to eat processed food. The aim was to measure population salt consumption, potassium and iodine in a random sample of men and women. Design and method: A population survey was carried out in three steps: questionnaire survey, physical measurements and 24 h urine collections. The sample was selected with a stratifi ed probabilistic method from the nationally representative master sample of the National Bureau of Statistics. From 1,950 households and individuals selected from the sampling frame, 1,307 (67%) provided suitable data for inclusion. Of these 449 (34%) were excluded during quality control check on completeness of urine collections. The fi nal sample was of 858 participants (66% of the suitable sample), 326 men and 532 women, age 18–69 years. Results: Mean urinary sodium (Na) was 173 [79] mmol/24 h, higher in men than women (184 [86] vs 166 [74] mmol/24 h, p < 0.01) and higher in rural than urban areas (180 [80] vs 160 [76] mmol/24 h, p < 0.001). Na excretion was equivalent to a mean salt consumption of 10.8 [4.9] g per day. Men consumed more salt than women (11.5 [5.4] vs 10.3 [4.6] g per day; p = 0.001). Salt consumption was higher in rural than urban areas (11.3 [5.0] vs 10.0 [4.8] g per day, p < 0.001). Only 11.3% had a salt consumption of 5 g per day or less; in rural areas the proportion was lower (10.0%) than in urban areas (13.5%). Mean urinary potassium (K) excretion was 73 [31] mmol/24 h, higher in men than women (76 [33] vs 71 [30] mmol/24 h, p = 0.02).The proportion of participants consuming adequate amounts of K (>90 mmol per day) was 49.7%, higher in men than women (52.5% vs 47.9%). 41% of the population have adequate iodine intake, whilst 29% are still defi cient (only 2.9% severely) and 30% have excessive intake. Conclusions: In the Republic of Moldova, salt intake is high and K intake is low.