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 over 130 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
Land: 25,433 km²
Water: 280 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries
Border countries: (5) Albania 151 km; Bulgaria 148 km; Greece 246 km; Kosovo 159 km; Serbia 62 km

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
Extremes highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m

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

Land use
Permanent crops: 1.36%
Other: 82.54% (2011)

Irrigated land: 1278 km² (2004)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 6.4 km³ (2011)

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: 2,087,171 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 146
Growth rate: 0.22% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 175
Below poverty line: 30.4% (2011)

Nationality
Adjective: Macedonian

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
15-24 years: 14.3% (male 154,084/female 144,908)
25-54 years: 43.8% (male 463,282/female 450,261)
55-64 years: 11.9% (male 121,097/female 127,742)
65 years and over: 12.1% (male 108,324/female 143,809) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 23.5 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 17.4 %
Potential support ratio: 5.7 (2013)

Median age
Male: 35.4 years
Female: 37.6 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.22% (2013 est.)
Rank: 175

Birth rate: 11.72 births/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 167

Death rate: 9 deaths/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 67

Net migration rate: -0.48 migrant(s)/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 135

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: SKOPJE (capital) 480,000 (2009)

Environment
Current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 26 (2010 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 156
Male: 8.35 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.85 deaths/1000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 91
Male: 73.03 years
Female: 78.33 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Rank: 179

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 2.62 physicians/1000 population (2009)

Hospital bed density: 4.6 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 146
People living with hivaids: fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 158
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
Deaths rank: 134

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 21.1% (2008)
Rank: 92

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.8% (2005)
Rank: 120

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Total population: 97.4%
Male: 98.7%
Female: 96% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 13 years
Female: 14 years (2010)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional short form: Macedonia
Local long form: Republika Makedonija
Local short form: Makedonija
Former: People's Republic of Macedonia Socialist Republic of Macedonia

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital
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: 71 municipalities (opstini singular - opstina); 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 Grad Skopje 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 Sopiste Staro Nagoricane Stip Struga Strumica Studenicani Sveti Nikole Tearce Tetovo Valandovo Vasilevo Veles Vevcani Vinica Vrapciste 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: several previous; latest adopted 17 November 1991 effective 20 November 1991; amended several times last in 2011 (2011)

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
Head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE BDI and several small parties
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); two-round election: first round held on 22 March 2009 second round held on 5 April 2009 (next to be held in March 2014); prime minister elected by the Assembly following legislative elections; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister
Election results: Gjorge IVANOV elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV 63.1% Ljubomir FRCKOSKI 36.9%

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)
Elections: last held on 5 June 2011 (next to be held by June 2015)
Election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 39% SDSM-led block 32.8% BDI 10.2% PDSh 5.9% other 12.1%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 56 SDSM-led block 42 BDI 15 PDSh 8 RDK 2

Judicial branch
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 legislature for nonrenewable 9-year terms
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts

Political parties and leaders:

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
In the us chancery: 2,129 Wyoming Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 667-2,131
In the us consulate general: Chicago New York Southfield (MI)
From the us embassy: Str. Samolilova Nr. 21 1000 Skopje
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Skopje US Department of State 7,120 Skopje Place Washington DC 20,521-7,120 (pouch)
From the us telephone: [389] (2) 310-2000
From the us FAX: [389] (2) 310-2,499

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
Lyrics and music: Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI

National heritage


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Economy overview: Macedonia is vulnerable to economic developments in Europe - due to strong 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 has remained consistently high at more than 31% since 2008 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 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. However 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 at about 3% both in 2010 and 2011 and inflation was under control. The government loosened fiscal policy in 2012 and the budget deficit expanded to 3.5% of GDP.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 129

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 182

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 113

Gross national saving:
Rank: 49

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 18.3%
Investment in fixed capital: 22.3%
Investment in inventories: 6.4%
Exports of goods and services: 53.4%
Imports of goods and services: -75.9%: (2012 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 27.6%
Services: 61.3% (2012 est.)

Agriculture products: grapes tobacco vegetables fruits; milk eggs

Industries: food processing beverages textiles chemicals iron steel cement energy pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2012 est.)
Rank: 102

Labor force: 943,100 (2012 est.)
Rank: 146
By occupation industry: 26%
By occupation services: 57.3% (September 2012)

Unemployment rate: 31.4% (2011 est.)
Rank: 183

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 30.4% (2011)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: 34.5% (2009 est.)

Distribution of family income gini index: 39 (2003)
Rank: 48

Budget
Expenditures: $3.254 billion (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -3.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 142

Taxes and other revenues: 30.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 92

Public debt: 27.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Rank: 107

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.9% (2011 est.)
Rank: 105

Central bank discount rate: 4% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 96

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 8.87% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 105

Stock of narrow money: $1.29 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 137

Stock of broad money: $5.34 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 124

Stock of domestic credit: $4.418 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 113

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 94

Current account balance: $-273.5 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 98

Exports: $4.429 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 121
Commodities: food beverages tobacco; textiles miscellaneous manufactures iron steel; automotive parts
Partners: Germany 27.3% Italy 6.5% Bulgaria 5.5% Greece 4.8% (2012)

Imports: $6.759 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 119
Commodities: machinery and equipment automobiles chemicals fuels food products
Partners: Greece 19% Germany 11.8% UK 9.5% Bulgaria 9% Italy 5.2% Turkey 5% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.677 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 110

Debt external: $6.271 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 110

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $4.229 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 89

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $564 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 5.81 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Production rank: 113
Consumption: 7.25 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 99
Exports: 12.82 million kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 89
Imports: 2.692 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 50
Installed generating capacity: 1.94 million kW (2012 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 105
Generation sources fossil fuels: 64.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 125
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 136
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 35.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 63
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 202

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 40.87 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 126
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2012)
Crude oil exports rank: 153
Crude oil imports: 18,800 bbl/day (2012)
Crude oil imports rank: 68
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 162

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 17,030 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 97
Products consumption: 17,490 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 136
Products exports: 6,750 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 88
Products imports: 21,530 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 103

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2012)
Production rank: 165
Consumption: 136.6 million m³ (2011)
Consumption rank: 105
Exports: 0 m³ (2012)
Exports rank: 145
Imports: 136.6 million m³ (2012)
Imports rank: 73
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 es)
Proven reserves rank: 169

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 6.947 million Mt (2011 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 113

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 407,900 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 103
Mobile cellular: 2.235 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 142

Telephone system
Domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership about 130 per 100 persons
International: country code - 389 (2012)

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 (2012)

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: 11

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 (2013)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 10 (2013)
Rank: 155
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 6 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways: 1 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines: gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2013)

Railways
Rank: 100
Standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (234 km electrified) (2012)

Roadways
Rank: 124
Paved: 9,489 km
Unpaved: 4,549 km (2012)

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