Between 1999 and February 2002, Moldova was divided into 12 territorial units, including 1 municipality, 1 autonomous territorial unit, 1 territorial unit, and 9 counties (Romanian: județe; seats in brackets):
- Chișinău municipality, surrounded by Chișinău County, but different from it
- Bălți County (Bălți)
- Cahul County (Cahul)
- Chișinău County (Chișinău)
- Edineț County (Edineț)
- Lăpușna County (Hîncești)
- Orhei County (Orhei)
- Soroca County (Soroca)
- Tighina County (Căușeni)
- Ungheni County (Ungheni)
- Găgăuzia, autonomous territorial unit (Comrat)
- Stânga Nistrului, territorial unit (Dubăsari)
In October 1999 a Taraclia County was split out from the Cahul County; it coincides with the current Taraclia District.