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

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Background: Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition which occurred under the provisional designation of 'the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.' In 1995 Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution are ongoing. Since 2004 the United States and 133 other nations have recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name Republic of Macedonia. Some ethnic Albanians angered by perceived political and economic inequities launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the support of the majority of Macedonia's ethnic Albanian population and led to the internationally-brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement which ended the fighting and established guidelines for the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. Fully implementing the Framework Agreement maintaining momentum on democratic reforms and stimulating economic growth and development continue to be challenges for Macedonia although progress has been made over the past several years.


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Location: Southeastern Europe north of Greece

Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N 22 00 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 150
Comparative: slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: warm dry summers and autumns; 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

Natural resources: low-grade iron ore copper lead zinc chromite manganese nickel tungsten gold silver asbestos gypsum timber arable land

Land use

Irrigated land: 1280 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 6.4 km³ (2001)

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: 2,082,370 (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 145
Growth rate: 0.237% (2012 est.)
Growth rate rank: 174
Below poverty line: 30.9% (2010)

Nationality

Ethnic groups: Macedonian 64.2% Albanian 25.2% Turkish 3.9% Roma (Gypsy) 2.7% Serb 1.8% other 2.2% (2002 census)

Languages: Macedonian (official) 66.5% Albanian (official) 25.1% Turkish 3.5% Roma 1.9% Serbian 1.2% other 1.8% (2002 census)

Religions: Macedonian Orthodox 64.7% Muslim 33.3% other Christian 0.37% other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.237% (2012 est.)
Rank: 174

Birth rate: 11.8 births/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 165

Death rate: 8.95 deaths/1000 population (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 68

Net migration rate: -0.48 migrant(s)/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 141

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 155

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 89

Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Rank: 180

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 2.546 physicians/1000 population (2006)

Hospital bed density: 4.63 beds/1000 population (2006)

Sanitation facility access:
Unimproved:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 138
People living with hivaids: fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 158
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
Deaths rank: 120

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.8% (2005)
Rank: 112

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital

Administrative divisions: 84 municipalities (opstini singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje) Aracinovo Berovo Bitola Bogdanci Bogovinje Bosilovo Brvenica Butel (Skopje) Cair (Skopje) Caska Centar (Skopje) Centar Zupa Cesinovo Cucer Sandevo Debar Debarca Delcevo Demir Hisar Demir Kapija Dojran Dolneni Dorce Petrov (Gjorce Petrov) (Skopje) Drugovo Gazi Baba (Skopje) Gevgelija Gostivar Gradsko Ilinden Jegunovce Karbinci Karpos (Skopje) Kavadarci Kicevo Kisela Voda (Skopje) Kocani Konce Kratovo Kriva Palanka Krivogastani Krusevo Kumanovo Lipkovo Lozovo Makedonska Kamenica Makedonski Brod Mavrovo i Rostusa Mogila Negotino Novaci Novo Selo Ohrid Oslomej Pehcevo Petrovec Plasnica Prilep Probistip Radovis Rankovce Resen Rosoman Saraj (Skopje) Sopiste Staro Nagoricane Stip Struga Strumica Studenicani Suto Orizari (Skopje) Sveti Nikole Tearce Tetovo Valandovo Vasilevo Veles Vevcani Vinica Vranestica Vrapciste Zajas Zelenikovo Zelino Zrnovci

Dependent areas

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: adopted 17 November 1991 effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001 2005 and in 2009

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (123 seats; all members elected by popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall vote the parties gain in each of six electoral and three diaspora districts; members serve four-year terms)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Judicial Council

Political parties and leaders: Albanian Democratic Union or BDSh [Bardhyl MAHMUTI]; Democratic League of Bosniaks in Macedonia [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia or DPSM [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of the Albanians or PDSh [Menduh THACI]; Democratic Party of Turks of Macedonia or DPTM [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM [Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union or DS [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Union for Integration or BDI [Ali AHMETI]; Dosoinstvo (Diginity) [Stojance ANGELOV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Andrej ZENOVSKI]; Liberal Party of Macedonia or LP [Ivon VELICKOVSKI]; Movement for Turkish National Union [Erdogan SARAC]; National Democratic Revival or RDK [Rufi OSMANI]; New Democracy or ND [Imer SELMANI]; New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Action of Macedonia or SDA [Avdija PEPIC]; Party for the Total Emancipation of Roma or PCER [Samka IBRAIMOVSKI]; Party of United Democrats of Macedonia or PODEM [Zivko JANKULOVSKI]; Party on European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Serbian Progressive Party in Macedonia or SPSM [Dragisha MILETIC]; Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVNAOV DZINGO]; Union of Roma of Macedonia or SR [Amdi BAJRAM]; United for Macedonia or OM [Ljube BOSKOSKI]

International organization participation: BIS CD CE CEI EAPC EBRD EU (candidate country) FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (NGOs) ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM (observer) 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

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 symbols: eight-rayed sun

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Macedonia is vulnerable to economic developments in Europe - due to strong banking and trade ties - and dependent on regional integration and progress toward EU membership for continued economic growth. At independence in September 1991 Macedonia was the least developed of the Yugoslav republics producing a mere 5% of the total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the central government and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure UN sanctions on the downsized Yugoslavia and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996. Since then Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation but it has so far lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and creating jobs despite making extensive fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment remains high at more than 31% but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market estimated to be between 20% and 45% of GDP that is not captured by official statistics. In the wake of the global economic downturn Macedonia has experienced decreased foreign direct investment lowered credit availability and a large trade deficit. However as a result of conservative fiscal policies and a sound financial system in 2010 the country credit rating improved slightly to BB+ and was kept at that level in 2011-12. Macroeconomic stability has been maintained by a prudent monetary policy which keeps the domestic currency pegged against the euro. As a result GDP growth was modest but positive from 2010 to 2012 and inflation was under control.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 126

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 162

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 108

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: grapes tobacco vegetables fruits; milk eggs

Industries

Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2011 est.)
Rank: 82

Labor force: 936,000 (2012 est.)
Rank: 144

Unemployment rate: 31.4% (2011 est.)
Rank: 181

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 30.9% (2010)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index: 39 (2003)
Rank: 47

Budget
Surplus or deficit: -2.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 90

Taxes and other revenues: 28.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 108

Public debt: 28.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Rank: 118

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.9% (2011 est.)
Rank: 90

Central bank discount rate: 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 54

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 8.87% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 107

Stock of narrow money: $1.29 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 139

Stock of broad money: $5.076 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 127

Stock of domestic credit: $4.418 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 117

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 92

Current account balance: -$273.5 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 83

Exports: $4.429 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 121
Commodities: food beverages tobacco; textiles miscellaneous manufactures iron and steel
Partners: Germany 28.1% Italy 7.2% Bulgaria 5.4% Greece 4.9% (2011)

Imports: $6.759 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 117
Commodities: machinery and equipment automobiles chemicals fuels food products
Partners: Greece 14.2% Germany 13.2% Bulgaria 11.1% UK 8% Turkey 5.4% Italy 5.4% (2011)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.677 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 111

Debt external: $6.727 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 104

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $3.739 billion (31 October 2010 est.)
Rank: 88

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 6.39 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Production rank: 109
Consumption: 9.024 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Consumption rank: 93
Exports: 0 kWh (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 99
Imports: 2.634 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 46
Installed generating capacity: 1.54 million kW (2009 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 111
Generation sources fossil fuels: 65.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 125
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 137
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 34.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 62
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 158

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 165
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 152
Crude oil imports: 18,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 71
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 164

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 21,280 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products production rank: 95
Products consumption: 17,490 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 138
Products exports: 7,706 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Products exports rank: 91
Products imports: 21,530 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products imports rank: 103

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Production rank: 165
Consumption: 136.8 million m³ (2011)
Consumption rank: 104
Exports: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 115
Imports: 136.8 million m³ (2011)
Imports rank: 73
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2012 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 169

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 8.231 million Mt (2010 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 108

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 422,100 (2011)
Main lines in use rank: 104
Mobile cellular: 2.213 million (2011)
Mobile cellular rank: 137

Telephone system

Broadcast media: public TV broadcaster operates 3 national channels and a satellite network; 5 privately-owned TV channels broadcast nationally using terrestrial transmitters and about 15 broadcast on national level via satellite; roughly 75 local commercial TV stations; large number of cable operators offering domestic and international programming; public radio broadcaster operates over multiple stations; 3 privately-owned radio stations broadcast nationally; about 70 local commercial radio stations (2010)

Internet
Country code: .mk
Hosts: 62,826 (2012)
Hosts rank: 92
Users: 1.057 million (2009)
Users rank: 97

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 9

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 (2011)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 14 (2012)
Rank: 150

Heliports

Pipelines: gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2010)

Railways
Rank: 100

Roadways
Rank: 127

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008; Greece continues to reject the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash