2024 Edition Primary

Background

North Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991 under the name of "Macedonia." Greece objected to the new country’s name, insisting it implied territorial pretensions to the northern Greek province of Macedonia, and democratic backsliding for several years stalled North Macedonia's movement toward Euro-Atlantic integration. Immediately after Macedonia declared independence, Greece sought to block its efforts to gain UN membership if the name "Macedonia" was used. The country was eventually admitted to the UN in 1993 as "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," and at the same time it agreed to UN-sponsored negotiations on the name dispute. 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 amid ongoing negotiations. As an interim measure, the US and over 130 other nations recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an armed conflict in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. In 2018, the government adopted a new law on languages, which elevated the Albanian language to an official language at the national level and kept the Macedonian language as the sole official language in international relations, but ties between ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians remain complicated. In 2018, Macedonia and Greece signed the Prespa Agreement whereby Macedonia agreed to change its name to North Macedonia, and the agreement went in to force on 12 February 2019. North Macedonia joined NATO in 2020 after amending its constitution as agreed and opened EU accession talks in 2022 after a two-year veto by Bulgaria over identity, language, and historical disputes. The 2014 legislative and presidential election triggered a political crisis that lasted almost three years and escalated in 2015 when the opposition party began releasing wiretapped material revealing alleged widespread government corruption and abuse. The country still faces challenges, including fully implementing reforms to overcome years of democratic backsliding, stimulating economic growth and development, and fighting organized crime and corruption. 

Area

land

25,433 sq km

total

25,713 sq km

water

280 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Vermont; almost four times the size of Delaware

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m

lowest point

Vardar River 50 m

mean elevation

741 m

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

844 sq km (2016)

Land boundaries

border countries

Albania 181 km; Bulgaria 162 km; Greece 234 km; Kosovo 160 km; Serbia 101 km

total

838 km

Land use

agricultural land

44.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 16.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 26.5% (2018 est.)

forest

39.8% (2018 est.)

other

15.9% (2018 est.)

Location

Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

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

Population distribution

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

16% (male 176,423/female 164,945)

15-64 years

68.4% (male 740,649/female 719,627)

65 years and over

15.6% (2024 est.) (male 147,655/female 186,323)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

3.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

10.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

0.3%

women married by age 18

7.5% (2019 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.9% (2018/19)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

59.9% (2018/19)

Current health expenditure

7.9% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

66.5% (2023 est.)

Death rate

9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

21.4

potential support ratio

4.7 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

44.6

youth dependency ratio

23.2

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 99% of population

improved: total

total: 99.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.7% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.3% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Macedonian 58.4%, Albanian 24.3%, Turkish 3.9%, Romani 2.5%, Serb 1.3%, other 2.3%, no ethnic affiliation data available 7.2% (2021 est.)

note

note: data represent total resident population; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 6.5–13% of North Macedonia’s population

Gross reproduction rate

0.74 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

7.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Languages

Macedonian (official) 61.4%, Albanian (official) 24.3%, Turkish 3.4%, Romani 1.7%, other (includes Aromanian (Vlach) and Bosnian) 2%, unspecified 7.2% (2021 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Книга на Светски Факти, неопходен извор на основни информации. (Macedonian)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note

note: data represent mother tongue; minority languages are co-official with Macedonian in municipalities where at least 20% of the population are speakers, with Albanian co-official in Tetovo, Brvenica, Vrapciste, and other municipalities, Turkish in Centar Zupa and Plasnica, Romani in Suto Orizari, Aromanian in Krusevo, Serbian in Cucer Sandevo

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.6 years

male

75.3 years

total population

77.3 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.6% (2020)

male

99.1%

total population

98.4%

Major urban areas - population

611,000 SKOPJE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

41.6 years

male

39.4 years

total

40.5 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.9 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Macedonian

noun

Macedonian(s)

Net migration rate

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.4% (2016)

Physician density

2.87 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

female

1,070,895 (2024 est.)

male

1,064,727

total

2,135,622

Population distribution

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Population growth rate

0.1% (2024 est.)

Religions

Macedonian Orthodox 46.1%, Muslim 32.2%, other Christian 13.8%, other and non-believers 0.5%, unspecified 7.4% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 98% of population

improved: total

total: 99.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 2% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2020)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.53 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

59.5% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

80 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina) and 1 city* (grad); 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, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostuse, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Skopje*, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci. The Greater Skopje area is comprised of 10 municipalities:     Aerodrom, Butel, Centar, Chair, Gazi Baba, Gjorce Petrov, Karposh, Kisela Voda, Saraj, and Shuto Orizari.

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

Skopje derives from its ancient name Scupi, the Latin designation of a Dardanian and classical era Greco-Roman frontier fortress town; the name goes back to a pre-Hellenic, Illyrian times

geographic coordinates

42 00 N, 21 26 E

name

Skopje

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of North Macedonia

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

8 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by at least 30 members of the Assembly, or by petition of at least 150,000 citizens; final approval requires a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2019; this amendment was the result of the 2018 Prespa Agreement with Greece, in which the constitutional name of the country would be modified to Republic of North Macedonia in exchange for assurances that Greece would no longer object to its integration in international organizations; note - a referendum on  amendments to the constitution is expected in 2024

history

several previous (since 1944); latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of North Macedonia

conventional short form

North Macedonia

etymology

the country name derives from the ancient kingdom of Macedon (7th to 2nd centuries B.C.)

former

Democratic Federal Macedonia, People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Macedonia

local long form

Republika Severna Makedonija

local short form

Severna Makedonija

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Angela AGGELER (since 8 November 2022)

email address and website

SkopjeACS@state.govhttps://mk.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Str. Samoilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje

FAX

[389] (2) 310-2499

mailing address

7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120

telephone

[389] (2) 310-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Zoran POPOV (since 16 September 2022)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Detroit, New York

email address and website

washington@mfa.gov.mkUnited States (mfa.gov.mk)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-2104

telephone

[1] (202) 667-0501

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers elected by the Assembly by simple majority vote

chief of state

President Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (since 12 May 2024)

election results

2024: Hristijan MICKOSKI elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 77 for, 22 against2024: Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote - Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (VMRO-DPMNE) 69%, Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 31%2024: Talat XHAFERI elected caretaker prime minister; Assembly vote - 65 for (opposition boycott)2022: Dimitar KOVACEVSKI elected prime minister; Assembly vote - NA

elections/appointments

president directly elected using a modified 2-round system; a candidate can only be elected in the first round with an absolute majority from all registered voters; in the second round, voter turnout must be at least 40% for the result to be deemed valid; president elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 April and 8 May 2024 (next to be held in 2029); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Assembly

head of government

President Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (since 12 May 2024)

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 republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

note

note: North Macedonia is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of 22 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)

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 Assembly for nonrenewable, 9-year terms

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Assembly - Sobranie in Macedonian, Kuvend in Albanian (between 120 and 140 seats, current 123; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; possibility of 3 directly elected in diaspora constituencies by simple majority vote provided there is sufficient voter turnout; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party/coalition - Your Macedonia 44.6%, For a European Future 15.8%, European Front 14%, VLEN 10.9%, The Left 7%, For Our Macedonia 5.7%, other 1.9%; seats by party/coalition - Your Macedonia 58, For a European Future 18, European Front 18, VLEN 14, The Left 6, For Our Macedonia 6; composition - TBD

elections

last held on 8 May 2024 (next to be held on 31 May 2028)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI

name

"Denes nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia)

note

note: written in 1943 and adopted in 1991, the song previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia while part of Yugoslavia

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region; Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians

total World Heritage Sites

2 (both natural)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

eight-rayed sun; national colors: red, yellow

Political parties

Alliance for Albanians or AfA or ASHAlternative (Alternativa) or AAABesa Movement or BESACitizen Option for Macedonia or GROM Democratic Alliance or DSDemocratic Movement or LD Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSHDemocratic Party of Serbs or DPSMDemocratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOMDemocratic Union for Integration or BDIEuropean Democratic Party or PDE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNEInternal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NPLiberal Democratic Party or LDPNew Social-Democratic Party or NSDPSocial Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSMSocialist Party of Macedonia or SPMSrpska Stranka in Macedonia or SSMThe Left (Levica) The People Movement or LPTurkish Democratic Party or TDP Turkish Movement Party or THP We Can! (coalition includes SDSM/BESA/VMRO-NP, DPT, LDP)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, grapes, chilies/peppers, wheat, potatoes, apples, tomatoes, cabbages, maize, barley (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

33% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$4.666 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$4.141 billion (2021 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BB+ (2019)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BB- (2013)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$374.85 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$864.777 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$99.23 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

upper-middle-income European economy; recovering from energy-driven inflation; macroeconomic support from IMF and EU lending facilities; stalled progress on EU accession; fiscal consolidation hampered by deficit spending on public works; structural challenges of emigration, low productivity growth, and governance

Exchange rates

Currency

Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

54.947 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

54.144 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

52.102 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

58.574 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

56.947 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$9.208 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$10.126 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$10.748 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

reaction and catalytic products, insulated wire, electricity, garments, vehicle parts/accessories (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 42%, Serbia 8%, Greece 7%, Bulgaria 5%, Italy 3% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

72.8% (2023 est.)

government consumption

16.8% (2023 est.)

household consumption

72.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-86.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.5% (2021 est.)

investment in inventories

0.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

7% (2023 est.)

industry

21.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

58.2% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.761 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

33.5 (2019 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

22.9% (2019 est.)

lowest 10%

1.9% (2019 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$11.362 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$13.008 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$12.745 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

platinum, refined petroleum, electricity, precious metal compounds, natural gas (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

UK 16%, Greece 13%, Germany 9%, Serbia 8%, China 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-1.07% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

3.23% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

14.2% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

9.36% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

801,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

21.8% (2019 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: official data from Ministry of Finance; data cover central government debt; this data excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; includes treasury debt held by foreign entitites; excludes debt issued by sub-national entities; there are no debt instruments sold for social funds

Public debt 2017

39.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$41.099 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$42.012 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$42.444 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.51% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.22% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.03% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$22,400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$22,900 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$23,400 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

3.33% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3.13% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$4.129 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$4.12 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$5.015 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.39% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

15.8% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

14.48% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

13.08% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

31.5% (2023 est.)

male

27% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

28.6% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

3.132 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

532,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

3.111 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

6.775 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

5.776 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

53,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

750,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

production

5.075 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

332 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

5.791 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

5.662 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

7.074 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

2.153 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.064 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

71.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

24.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

46.564 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

274.928 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

274.918 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

22,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

23 (2020 est.)

total

475,569 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

public service TV broadcaster Macedonian Radio and Television operates 5 national terrestrial TV channels and 2 satellite TV channels; additionally, there are 11 regional TV stations broadcasting nationally, 29 regional and local broadcasters, a large number of cable operators offer domestic and international programming; the public radio broadcaster operates 3 stations; there are 4 privately owned national radio stations that broadcast and 60 regional and local operators (2023)

Internet country code

.mk

Internet users

percent of population

83% (2021 est.)

total

1.743 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line roughly 20 per 100 and mobile-cellular 92 per 100 subscriptions (2021)

general assessment

as part of the EU pre-accession process, North Macedonia has built closer economic ties with the Union which accounts for 79% of Macedonia’s exports and 49% of its imports; closer regulatory and administrative ties with European Commission (EC) institutions have done much to develop the telecom sector and prepare the market for the competitive environment encouraged in the EU; as part of EU integration legislation North Macedonia has implemented the principles of the EU’s regulatory framework for communications, established an independent regulator and set out several provisions to provide for a competitive telecom market, including wholesale access to the incumbent’s fixed-line network; broadband services are widely available, with effective competition between DSL and cable platforms complemented by wireless broadband and a developing fiber sector; the number of DSL subscribers has continued to fall in recent years as customers are migrated to fiber networks; the MNOs are increasingly focused on expanding their 5G networks, seeking stronger coverage across North Macedonia’s high value urban areas; mobile data services are also becoming increasingly important following investments in LTE network rollouts and in upgrades to LTE-A technology (2022)

international

country code - 389

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

436,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

98 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

2.048 million (2022 est.)

Airports

13 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Z3

Heliports

8 (2024)

Pipelines

262 km gas, 120 km oil (2017)

Railways

total

699 km (2020) 313 km electrified

Roadways

total

15,170 km (2022)

Military - note

the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM) is responsible for the defense of the country’s territory and independence, fulfilling North Macedonia’s commitments to NATO and European security, and contributing to EU, NATO, and UN peace and security missions; the ARSM has participated in multinational missions and operations in Afghanistan (NATO), Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU), Eastern Europe (NATO), Iraq (NATO), Kosovo (NATO), and Lebanon (UN); a key area of focus over the past decade has been improving capabilities and bringing the largely Soviet-era-equipped ARSM up to NATO standards; it has increased its participation in NATO training exercises since becoming the 30th member of the Alliance in 2020 and currently has small numbers of combat troops deployed to Bulgaria and Romania as part of NATO’s Enhance Forward Presence mission implemented because of Russian military aggression against Ukraine (2024)

Military and security forces

Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM or ARNM): joint force with air, ground, reserve, special operations, and support forces (2024)

note

note: the Police of Macedonia maintain internal security, including migration and border enforcement, and report to the Ministry of the Interior

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 6,000 active-duty personnel (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet-era and increasing amounts of modern equipment from countries such as Turkey, the UK, and the US, with more on order (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.2% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.6% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.7% of GDP (2023)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2007 (2024)

note

note: as of 2024, women made up about 10% of the military's full-time personnel

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

note

note: 579,828 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-February 2024)

refugees (country of origin)

18,915 (Ukraine) (as of 22 February 2024)

stateless persons

521 (2022)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

7.05 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

2.28 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

25.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

air pollution from metallurgical plants; Skopje has severe air pollution problems every winter as a result of industrial emissions, smoke from wood-buring stoves, and exhaust fumes from old cars

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

44.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 16.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 26.5% (2018 est.)

forest

39.8% (2018 est.)

other

15.9% (2018 est.)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.15% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

6.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

140 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

310 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

59.5% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

796,585 tons (2016 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

1,434 tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

0.2% (2013 est.)