Map of Macedonia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995 and the two countries agreed to normalize relations. FYROM's large Albanian minority and the de facto independence of neighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.


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Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: total:25,333 km²; land:24,856 km²; water:477 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries: total:748 km; border countries:Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall

Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River

Elevation
Extremes: lowest point:Vardar River 50 m; highest point:Golem Korab (Majae Korabit) 2,753 m

Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber

Land use: arable land:24%; permanent crops:2%; permanent pastures:25%; forests and woodland:39%; other:10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 830 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: high seismic risks

Geography
Note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe


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Population: 2,022,604 (July 1999 est.); note:the Macedonian Government census of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted
Growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality: noun:Macedonian(s); adjective:Macedonian

Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66%, Albanian 23%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, Gypsies 3%, other 2%

Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%

Demographic profile

Age structure: 0-14 years:23% (male 243,190; female 228,491); 15-64 years:67% (male 680,692; female 673,923); 65 years and over:10% (male 88,116; female 108,192) (1999 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 15.21 births/1000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.83 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants
International agreements: party to:Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio: at birth:1.08 male(s)/female; under 15 years:1.06 male(s)/female; 15-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female; 65 years and over:0.81 male(s)/female; total population:1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 18.68 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population:73.05 years; male:70.93 years; female:75.34 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; conventional short form: none; local long form: Republika Makedonija; local short form: Makedonija; abbreviation:FYROM

Government type: emerging democracy

Capital: Skopje

Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, singular_opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica; note:in September 1996, the Macedonian Assembly passed legislation changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123 new municipalities are not yet available

Dependent areas

Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday: 8 September

Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state:President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991); head of government:Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30 November 1998); cabinet:Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note_cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DA, and DPA; elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999); election results:Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent of vote_Kiro GLIGOROV 78.4%

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats_85 members are elected by popular vote; 35 members come from lists of candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that parties gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms); elections:last held 18 October and 1 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2002); election results:percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_VMRO 49, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, LDP 4, Socialists 1, Roma Party 1

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected by the Judicial Council

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: BIS (pending member), CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission:Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA; chancery:3,050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20,007; telephone:[1] (202) 337 3,063; FAX:[1] (202) 337-3,093; consulate(s) general:New York
From the us: chief of mission:Ambassador Christopher Robert HILL; embassy:Bul. Ilindenska bb, 91,000 Skopje; mailing address:American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20,521-7,120 (pouch); telephone:[389] (91) 116-180; FAX:[389] (91) 117-103

Flag description: a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the red field

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 deprived Macedonia, its poorest republic, of key protected markets and large transfer payments from the center. Worker remittances and foreign aid have softened the subsequent volatile recovery period. Continued recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to attract investment, to redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro, and to maintain its commitment to economic liberalization. The economy can meet its basic food needs but depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_$1,050 (1998 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994)
By occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)