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.

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

Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; there are 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:Korab 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.)

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

Population: 1,995,859 (July 1997 est.); note:the Macedonian government census of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted
Growth rate: 0.68% (1997 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Macedonian 65%, Albanian 22%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, Gypsies 3%, other 4%

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

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

Age structure: 0-14 years:24% (male 245,923; female 231,621); 15-64 years:67% (male 670,535; female 665,556); 65 years and over:9% (male 82,285; female 99,939) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.68% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 15.88 births/1000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 8.13 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.01 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)

Environment
Current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants

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:0.82 male(s)/female; total population:1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 20.3 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population:72.48 years; male:70.41 years; female:74.71 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.07 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Literacy: NA

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 Parliament passed legislation changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123 new municipalities are not yet available

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state:President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991); head of government:Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 4 September 1992); cabinet:Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note - after the withdrawal of the Liberal Party (LP) from the ruling coalition in early 1996, the Council of Ministers was reorganized without LP participation; elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); election results:Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent of vote - NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections:last held 16 and 30 October 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SDSM 58, LP 29, SP 8, PDP 10, NDP 4, independents 7, other 4; note - since October 1994 elections, some members of the Assembly have changed their party affiliation; the seating as of January 1997 is as follows:SDSM 61, LP 27, SP 6, PDP 11, NDP 2, PDPA 5, independents 3, other 5

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

International organization participation: CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NACC, 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
From the us: chief of mission:Ambassador Christopher Robert HILL (18 July 1996); embassy:Ilindenska BB, 9,100 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 8 rays extending to the edges of the red field

Economy overview: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, although the poorest republic in the former Yugoslav federation, can meet basic food and energy needs through its own agricultural and coal resources. The economy slowly rebounded in 1996 after years of recession. Continued recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro; as well as on Skopje's continued commitment to economic liberalization. The economy depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts. An important supplement of GDP is the remittances from thousands of Macedonians working in Germany and other West European nations.

Real gdp growth rate: 1.1% (1996 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $960 (1996 est.)

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% (1996 est.)

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

Unemployment rate: 38% (1996 est.); note - many employed workers are, in fact, furloughees

Budget: revenues:$1.06 billion; expenditures:$1 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1996 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: total value:$900 million (1996 est.); commodities:food, beverage, tobacco 17.0%, machinery and transport equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58%; partners:Bulgaria, other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Italy

Imports: total value:$1.4 billion (1996 est.); commodities:machinery and equipment 19%, chemicals 14%, fuels 12%; partners:other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, Austria

Debt external: $1.2 billion (1996 est.)

Exchange rates: denar per US$1 - 40.5 (September 1996), 38.8 (December 1995), 39 (November 1994), 865 (October 1992)

Electricity
Capacity: 1.38 million kW (1994)
Production: 5.22 billion kWh (1994)
Consumption per capita: 2,408 kWh (1995 est.)

Telephones: 125,000

Telephone system: domestic:NA; international:NA

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: 7 billion denars (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Percent of gdp: NA%

Airports: 16 (1996 est.)
With paved runways: total:14; 2,438 to 3,047 m:2; under 914 m:12 (1996 est.)
With unpaved runways: total:2; 914 to 1,523 m:2 (1996 est.)

Pipelines: 0 km

Railways: total:699 km; standard gauge:699 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1995)

Waterways: none, lake transport only

Disputes international: dispute with Greece over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in government

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine