2010 Edition

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. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue. 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 Albanian population and led to the internationally-brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of minorities. Fully implementing the Framework Agreement and stimulating economic growth and development continue to be challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both fronts over the past several years.

Area

land

25,433 sq km

total

25,713 sq km

water

280 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Vermont

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m

lowest point

Vardar River 50 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution from metallurgical plants

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

1,118 cu m/yr (2000)

total

2.27

Geographic coordinates

41 50 N, 22 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

550 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km

total

766 km

Land use

arable land

22.01%

other

76.2% (2005)

permanent crops

1.79%

Location

Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

high seismic risks

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

6.4 cu km (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.2% (male 206,054/female 191,354) 15-64 years: 69.4% (male 722,823/female 710,830) 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 102,231/female 133,426) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

11.92 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

8.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2002)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 200 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

8.98 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.64 years (2010 est.)

male

72.4 years

total population

74.92 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.1% (2002 census)

male

98.2%

total population

96.1%

Median age

female

36.5 years (2010 est.)

male

34.4 years

total

35.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Macedonian

noun

Macedonian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

2,072,086 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.257% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2007)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.077 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.58 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

67% of total population (2008)

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 note: the 10 municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses collectively constitute the larger Skopje Municipality

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

42 00 N, 21 26 E

name

Skopje

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001, 2005 and in 2009 note: amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights, in 2005 with amendments related to the judiciary, and in 2009 with amendments related to the threshold required to elect the president

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Macedonia

conventional short form

Macedonia

former

People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia

local long form

Republika Makedonija

local short form

Makedonija note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Philip T. REEKER

embassy

Str. Samolilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje

FAX

[389] 2 310-2499

mailing address

American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)

telephone

[389] 2 310-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI

consulate(s) general

Southfield (Michigan), Chicago

FAX

[1] (202) 667-2131

telephone

[1] (202) 667-0501

Executive branch

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/DUI, and several small parties (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009)

election results

Gjorge IVANOV elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV 63.1%, Ljubomir FRCKOSKI 36.9%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)

International organization participation

BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Republican Judicial Council note: the Assembly appoints the judges

Legal system

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats; members elected by popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; members serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 49%, SDSM-led block 24%, BDI/DUI 13%, PDSh/DPA 8%, other 6%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 63, SDSM-led block 27, BDI/DUI 18, PDSh/DPA 11, PEI 1

elections

last held on 1 June and 15 June 2008 (next to be held by July 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI note: adopted 1991; the song, written in 1943, previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia while part of Yugoslavia

name

"Denes Nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia)

National holiday

Independence Day, 8 September (1991); also known as National Day

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Alliance or DS [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of the Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh THACI]; Democratic Party of Turks in Macedonia [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization--Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Jovan MANSIJEVSKI]; Liberal Party [Borce STOJANOVSKI]; Movement for Reconstruction of Macedonia or DOM [Liljana POPOVSKA]; New Alternative [Gjorgji OROVCANEC]; New Democracy or DR [Imer SELMANI]; New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Action in Macedonia or SDAM [Avdija PEPIC]; Party for European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Social-Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Socialist Party or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO]; Union of Roma of Macedonia [Amdi BAJRAM]; United for Macedonia or OM [Ljube BOSKOVSKI]; VMRO-Macedonian [Borislav STOJMENOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

grapes, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2009) 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.07% (31 December 2009 est.) 9.68% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$328 million (2010 est.) -$645.6 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$5.52 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39 (2003)

Economy - overview

Having a small, open economy makes Macedonia vulnerable to economic developments in Europe 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 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 33%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20% 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, and a large trade deficit, but the financial system remained sound. Macroeconomic stability was maintained by a prudent monetary policy, which kept the domestic currency at the pegged level against the euro, at the expense of raising interest rates. As a result, GDP fell in 2009. but returned to positive in 2010.

Electricity - consumption

7.797 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

1.635 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

6.162 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 47.601 (2010), 44.1 (2009), 41.414 (2008), 44.732 (2007), 48.978 (2006)

Exports

$3.171 billion (2010 est.) $2.686 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel

Exports - partners

Germany 20.31%, Greece 13.09%, Italy 11.08%, Bulgaria 10.61%, Croatia 7.74% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

12.1%

industry

29.6%

services

58.3% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,400 (2010 est.) $9,300 (2009 est.) $9,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2010 est.) -0.7% (2009 est.) 4.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.58 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$19.46 billion (2010 est.) $19.18 billion (2009 est.) $19.31 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars; Macedonia has a large informal sector

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)

Imports

$5.113 billion (2010 est.) $4.842 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products

Imports - partners

Germany 15.11%, Greece 14.88%, Bulgaria 9.08%, Italy 7.68%, Turkey 7.59%, Slovenia 6.26%, Hungary 4.31% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

1.3% (2010 est.)

Industries

food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2010 est.) -0.8% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

942,000 (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

18.6%

industry

29.5%

services

51.9% (September 2009)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.859 billion (31 December 2009) $823.5 million (31 December 2008) $2.715 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

80 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

82 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

4,672 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

28.7% (2008)

Public debt

25.7% of GDP (2010 est.) 32.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.127 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.292 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.134 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.217 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$3.528 billion (31 October 2009 est.) $3.357 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$4.001 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.055 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.146 billion (31 December 2010 est) $1.184 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

33.1% (2010 est.) 32.2% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

public television broadcaster operates 3 national channels and a satellite network; 5 privately-owned TV channels broadcast nationally; roughly 50 local commercial TV stations broadcasting; large number of cable operators offering domestic and international programming; public radio broadcaster operates over multiple stations; 3 privately-owned radio stations broadcast nationally; roughly 65 local commercial radio stations functioning (2007)

Internet country code

.mk

Internet hosts

60,533 (2010)

Internet users

1.057 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership about 115 per 100 persons

general assessment

competition from the mobile-cellular segment of the telecommunications market has led to a drop in fixed-line telephone subscriptions

international

country code - 389 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

442,200 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.943 million (2009)

Airports

14 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2009)

Railways

standard gauge

699 km 1.435-m gauge (234 km electrified) (2009)

total

699 km

Roadways

total

13,736 km (includes 216 km of expressways) (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 530,966 females age 16-49: 511,534 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 442,953 females age 16-49: 425,981 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

14,445 (2010 est.)

male

15,338

Military branches

Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM)

Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV); Special Operations Regiment; Logistic Support Command; Training Command (2010)

Military expenditures

6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

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

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-based economy and weak enforcement page last updated on January 12, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2007)