Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Area:
total:25,713 sq km
land:25,433 sq km
water:280 sq km
country comparison to the world:150
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total:838 km
border countries (5):Albania 181 km, Bulgaria 162 km, Greece 234 km, Kosovo 160 km, Serbia 101 km
Coastline:
Maritime claims:
Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain:
mountainous with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
Elevation:
mean elevation:741 m
elevation extremes:50 mlowest point: Vardar River
2764 highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit)
Natural resources:
low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use:
agricultural land:44.3%(2011 est.)
arable land:16.4%(2011 est.)/permanent crops:1.4%(2011 est.)/permanent pasture:26.5%(2011 est.)
forest:39.8%(2011 est.)
other:15.9%(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
Population distribution:
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants; Skopje has severe air pollution problems every winter as a result of industrial emissions, smoke from wood-buring stoves, and exhaust fumes from old cars
Environment - international agreements:
party to:Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
Population:
2,118,945(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:146
Nationality:
noun:Macedonian(s)
adjective:Macedonian
Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Romani 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 est.)
note:Macedonia has not conducted a census since 2002; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 6.5–13% of Macedonia’s population
Languages:
Macedonian (official) 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Romani 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 est.)
note: minority languages are co-official with Macedonian in municipalities where they are spoken by at least 20% of the population; Albanian is co-official in Tetovo, Brvenica, Vrapciste, and other municipalities; Turkish is co-official in Centar Zupa and Plasnica; Romani is co-official in Suto Orizari; Aromanian is co-official in Krusevo; Serbian is co-official in Cucer Sandevo
Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 64.8%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.4%, other and unspecified 1.5%(2002 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:16.24%(male 177,719 /female 166,374)
15-24 years:13.41%(male 147,292 /female 136,851)
25-54 years:44.55%(male 478,851 /female 465,058)
55-64 years:12.43%(male 129,731 /female 133,645)
65 years and over:13.38%(male 123,101 /female 160,323)(2018 est.)
population pyramid:![\"population](\"/attachments/images/thumb/MK_popgraph.bmp?1538604962\")
This is the population pyramid for Macedonia. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:41.6(2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio:23.8(2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:17.7(2015 est.)
potential support ratio:5.6(2015 est.)
Median age:
Population growth rate:
0.19%(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:181
Birth rate:
10.8 births/1,000 population(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:182
Death rate:
9.6 deaths/1,000 population(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:44
Net migration rate:
-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:124
Population distribution:
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Urbanization:
urban population:58% of total population(2018)
rate of urbanization:0.45% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
584,000 SKOPJE (capital)(2018)
Sex ratio:
at birth:1.08 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
0-14 years:1.07 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
15-24 years:1.07 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
25-54 years:1.03 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
55-64 years:0.96 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
65 years and over:0.75 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
total population:0.99 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Maternal mortality rate:
8 deaths/100,000 live births(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:159
Infant mortality rate:
total:7.8 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
male:8.7 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
female:6.8 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:154
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:75.9 years(2018 est.)
male:73.8 years(2018 est.)
female:78.2 years(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:96
Total fertility rate:
1.49 children born/woman(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:198
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Health expenditures:
6.5% of GDP(2014)
country comparison to the world:93
Physicians density:
2.88 physicians/1,000 population(2015)
Hospital bed density:
4.4 beds/1,000 population(2013)
Drinking water source:
improved:urban:99.8% of population
rural:98.9% of population
total:99.4% of population
unimproved:urban:0.2% of population
rural:1.1% of population
total:0.6% of population(2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:urban:97.2% of population(2015 est.)
rural:82.6% of population(2015 est.)
total:90.9% of population(2015 est.)
unimproved:urban:2.8% of population(2015 est.)
rural:17.4% of population(2015 est.)
total:9.1% of population(2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
22.4%(2016)
country comparison to the world:77
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
1.3%(2011)
country comparison to the world:119
Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write(2015 est.)
total population:97.8%(2015 est.)
male:98.8%(2015 est.)
female:96.8%(2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:13 years(2014)
male:13 years(2014)
female:13 years(2014)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:48.2%(2016 est.)
male:47.9%(2016 est.)
female:48.8%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:7
Country name:
conventional long form:Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form:Macedonia
local long form:Republika Makedonija
local short form:Makedonija
former:People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia
etymology:the country name derives from the ancient kingdom of Macedon (7th to 2nd centuries B.C.)
note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is the \"former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia\" (FYROM)
Government type:
Capital:
name:Skopje
geographic coordinates:42 00 N, 21 26 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
70 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina) and 1 city* (grad); Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Caska, Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Skopje*, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
Independence:
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 8 September (1991); also known as National Day
Constitution:
history:several previous; latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991(2018)
amendments:proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by signed agreement of at least 30 members of the Assembly, or by petition of at least 150,000 citizens; draft amendments require approval by majority vote of Assembly members, followed by public debate; passage of final amendment to include public comments requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2011(2018)
Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:no
citizenship by descent only:at least one parent must be a citizen of Macedonia
dual citizenship recognized:no
residency requirement for naturalization:8 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Judicial branch:
highest courts:Supreme Court (consists of 22 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Council, a 7-member body of legal professionals, and appointed by the Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Assembly for nonrenewable, 9-year terms
subordinate courts:Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts
Executive branch:
chief of state:President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009)
head of government:Prime Minister Zoran ZAEV (since 31 May 2017)
cabinet:Council of Ministers elected by the Assembly by simple majority vote; note - after the December 2016 election, VMRO-DPMNE won a plurality of the seats but failed to gather a majority in the Assembly to establish a government; SDSM, DUI, and the Alliance for Albanians formed an alliance; however, the president refused to give the SDSM leader the mandate to form a new government; VMRO-DPMNE blocked the election of a Speaker of the Assembly until late April 2017, when a majority of Assembly members elected Talat XHAFERI as speaker; in response, demonstrators disrupted the Assembly building, attacking journalists and Assembly members; President Gjorge IVANOV eventually gave the mandate to SDSM’s Zoran ZAEV to form a new coalition government, and the Assembly confirmed the Cabinet on 31 May 2017
elections/appointments:president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 13 and 27 April 2014 (next to be held in 2019); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Assembly
election results:Gjorge IVANOV reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV (independent) 55.3%, Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 41.1%, other 3.6%
Legislative branch:
description:unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (between 120 and 140 seats; currently 120 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; possibility of 3 directly elected in diaspora constituencies by simple majority vote provided there is sufficient voter turnout; members serve 4-year terms)
elections:last held on 11 December 2016, with a second round held in one polling station on 25 December 2016 (next to be held in 2020)
election results:percent of vote by party/coalition - VMRO-DPMNE 38.1%, SDSM coalition 36.7%, BDI 7.3%, Besa Movement 4.9%, AfA 3.1%, PDSh 2.7%, other 7.2%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE 51, SDSM coalition 49, BDI 10, Besa Movement 5, AfA 3, PDSh 2; note - the 3 seats for diaspora went unfilled because none of the candidates won the 6,500 minimum vote threshold
note: as of June 2018, seats by party/coalition - ruling coalition 68 (SDSM coalition 49, BDI 10, Besa Movement 3, PDSh 2, other 5), opposition coalition 52 (VMRO-DPMNE coalition 48, Besa Movement 2, AfA 2); composition - men 75, women 45, percent of women 37.5%
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Albanians or AfA [Ziadin SELA]
Besa Movement [Bilal KASAMI]
Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh [Menduh THACI]
Democratic Union for Integration or BDI [Ali AHMETI]
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Hristijan MICKOSKI]
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Goran MILEVSKI]
Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Zoran ZAEV]
Socialist Party of Macedonia or SPM [Ljubislav IVANOV-DZINGO]
note: during the 2016 parliamentary elections SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE each led coalitions
International organization participation:
BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Vasko NAUMOVSKI (since 18 November 2014)
chancery:2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 667-0501
FAX:[1] (202) 667-2131
consulate(s) general:Chicago, Detroit, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Jess L. BAILY (since 12 February 2015)
embassy:Str. Samoilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje
mailing address:American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone:[389] (2) 310-2000
FAX:[389] (2) 310-2499
Flag description:
a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia
National symbol(s):
eight-rayed sun; national colors: red, yellow
National anthem:
name:\"Denes nad Makedonija\" (Today Over Macedonia)
lyrics/music:Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI
note: written in 1943 and adopted in 1991, the song previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia while part of Yugoslavia
Economy - overview:
Since its independence in 1991, Macedonia has made progress in liberalizing its economy and improving its business environment. Its low tax rates and free economic zones have helped to attract foreign investment, which is still low relative to the rest of Europe. Corruption and weak rule of law remain significant problems. Some businesses complain of opaque regulations and unequal enforcement of the law.
Macedonia’s economy is closely linked to Europe as a customer for exports and source of investment, and has suffered as a result of prolonged weakness in the euro zone. Unemployment has remained consistently high at about 23%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be between 20% and 45% of GDP, which is not captured by official statistics.
Macedonia is working to build a country-wide natural gas pipeline and distribution network. Currently, Macedonia receives its small natural gas supplies from Russia via Bulgaria. In 2016, Macedonia signed a memorandum of understanding with Greece to build an interconnector that could connect to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline that will traverse the region once complete, or to an LNG import terminal in Greece.
Macedonia maintained macroeconomic stability through the global financial crisis by conducting prudent monetary policy, which keeps the domestic currency pegged to the euro, and inflation at a low level. However, in the last two years, the internal political crisis has hampered economic performance, with GDP growth slowing in 2016 and 2017, and both domestic private and public investments declining. Fiscal policies were lax, with unproductive public expenditures, including subsidies and pension increases, and rising guarantees for the debt of state owned enterprises, and fiscal targets were consistently missed. In 2017, public debt stabilized at about 47% of GDP, still relatively low compared to its Western Balkan neighbors and the rest of Europe.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$31.03 billion(2017 est.)
$31.02 billion(2016 est.)
$30.15 billion(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars; Macedonia has a large informal sector that may not be reflected in these data
country comparison to the world:131
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.37 billion(2017 est.)(2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0%(2017 est.)
2.9%(2016 est.)
3.9%(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:197
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,900(2017 est.)
$15,000(2016 est.)
$14,600(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:113
Gross national saving:
30.3% of GDP(2017 est.)
29.9% of GDP(2016 est.)
28.5% of GDP(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:29
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:65.6%(2017 est.)
government consumption:15.6%(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:13.6%(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:20.2%(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:54%(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:-69%(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:10.9%(2017 est.)
industry:26.6%(2017 est.)
services:62.5%(2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grapes, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs
Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts
Industrial production growth rate:
-7.8%(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:198
Labor force:
950,800(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:147
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:16.2%
industry:29.2%
services:54.5%(2017 est.)
Unemployment rate:
22.4%(2017 est.)
23.8%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:191
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:25%(2015 est.)
highest 10%:25%(2015 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.7(2015)
35.2(2014)
country comparison to the world:111
Budget:
revenues:3.295 billion(2017 est.)
expenditures:3.605 billion(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
29% (of GDP)(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:88
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.7% (of GDP)(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:122
Public debt:
39.3% of GDP(2017 est.)
39.5% of GDP(2016 est.)
note: official data from Ministry of Finance; data cover central government debt; this data excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; includes treasury debt held by foreign entitites; excludes debt issued by sub-national entities; there are no debt instruments sold for social funds
country comparison to the world:134
Fiscal year:
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4%(2017 est.)
-0.2%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:78
Central bank discount rate:
3.25%(31 March 2017)
3.75%(31 December 2016)
note: series discontinued in January 2010; the discount rate has been replaced by a referent rate for calculating the penalty rate
country comparison to the world:106
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.21%(31 December 2017 est.)
6.61%(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:125
Stock of narrow money:
$2.403 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$1.909 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:129
Stock of broad money:
$2.403 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$1.909 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:136
Stock of domestic credit:
$6.243 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$5.01 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:123
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.078 billion(31 December 2016)
$1.853 billion(31 December 2015)
$2.269 billion(31 December 2014)
country comparison to the world:98
Current account balance:
-$151 million(2017 est.)
-$293 million(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:92
Exports:
$4.601 billion(2017 est.)
$3.75 billion(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:114
Exports - partners:
Germany 46.7%, Bulgaria 6.1%, Serbia 4.4%, Belgium 4.1%(2017)
Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron, steel; automotive parts
Imports:
$6.63 billion(2017 est.)
$5.805 billion(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:116
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products
Imports - partners:
Germany 11.9%, UK 10%, Greece 8%, Serbia 7.1%, China 5.9%, Italy 5.5%, Turkey 4.5%, Bulgaria 4.3%(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.802 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$2.755 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:112
Debt - external:
$8.79 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$7.685 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:117
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$6.937 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$6.8 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:99
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.169 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$849.1 million(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:88
Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar -
55.8(2017 est.)
55.733(2016 est.)
55.733(2015 est.)
55.537(2014 est.)
46.437(2013 est.)
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:100%(2016)
Electricity - production:
5.396 billion kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:119
Electricity - consumption:
6.42 billion kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:112
Electricity - exports:
58.5 million kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:84
Electricity - imports:
2.191 billion kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:55
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.828 million kW(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:115
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
60% of total installed capacity(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:132
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:133
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
37% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:57
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
3% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:126
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:165
Crude oil - exports:
142 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:80
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:157
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:161
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:169
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:138
Refined petroleum products - exports:
3,065 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:99
Refined petroleum products - imports:
23,560 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:111
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:162
Natural gas - consumption:
198.2 million cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:105
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:143
Natural gas - imports:
198.2 million cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:72
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:163
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
7.459 million Mt(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:123