North Macedonia
Republic of MacedoniaRepublika Makedonija
parliamentary democracy
North Macedonia as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 134 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991, but 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 Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of minorities. Fully implementating 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.
Geography
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
20 fieldsLand useshare of 25,333 sq km
Terrain
- mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys;
- three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line;
- country bisected by the Vardar River
Natural resources
low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
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
Geography - note
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People
21 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2002 census)
Religions(2002 census)
Government
Parliamentary democracy; President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004); Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Assembly or Sobranie, 120 seats, elected 1 June 2008one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Macedonia
- conventional short form:
- 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)
- former:
- People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia
Capital
- name:
- Skopje
- 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
84 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje), Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), 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
Independence
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
Constitution
- adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991;
- amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights and in 2005 with amendments related to the judiciary
Legal system
- based on civil law system;
- judicial review of legislative acts;
- has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004)
- 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, NSDP, PDSh/DPA, and several small parties
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
- two-round election last held 14 April and 28 April 2004 (next to be held by April 2009);
- prime minister elected by the Assembly following legislative elections
- election results:
- Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%, Sasko KEDEV 37.3%
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; serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 1 June 2008 (next to be held by July 2012)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - For a Better Macedonia 48.80%, Sun-Coalition for Europe 23.65%, Democratic Union for Integration 12.77%, Democratic Party of Albanians 8.48%, Party for European Future 1.47%, other 4.83%;
- seats by party - For a Better Macedonia 63, Sun-Coalition for Europe 27, Democratic Union for Integration 18, Democratic Party of Albanians 11, Party for European Future 1
Judicial branch
- Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges;
- Constitutional Court - the Assembly appoints the judges;
- Republican Judicial Council - the Assembly appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders
- Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV];
- Democratic League of Bosniaks [Rafet MUMINOVIC];
- Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh THACI];
- Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC];
- Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI];
- Democratic Renewal of Macedonia [Liljana POPOVSKA];
- Democratic Union of Albanians or BDSh [BardYL MAHMUTI];
- Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [Mitko KOSTOV];
- Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI];
- For a Better Macedonia coalition [Nikola GRUEVSKI] (includes VMRO-DPMNE, SP, Democratic Union, Democratic Renewal of Macedonia, Democratic Party of Turks, Democratic Party of Serbs, SR, and smaller parties);
- Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI];
- Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna [Gjorgji TRENDAFILOV];
- League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC];
- Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Jovan MANSIEVSKI];
- Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV];
- National Alternative [Harun ALIU];
- National Democratic Union or BDK [Hysni SHAQIR];
- New Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI];
- Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Abduljhadi VEJSELI];
- Party for European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI];
- Party of Free Democrats or PSD [Ljubco JORDANOVSKI];
- Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Zoran ZAEV (until May 2009)];
- Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO];
- Sun-Coalition for Europe [Radmila SKERINSKA] (includes ;
- Union of Romas or SR [Shaban SALIU];
- United Party for Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]
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];
- World Macedonian Congress [Todor PETROV]
International organization participation
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, 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, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI
- chancery:
- 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 667-0501
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 667-2131
- consulate(s) general:
- New York, Southfield (Michigan); note - consulate general in Chicago is due to open in 2008
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Philip T. REEKER
- embassy:
- Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje
- mailing address:
- American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
- telephone:
- [389] 2 311-6180
- FAX:
- [389] 2 311-7103
Economy
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.
51 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
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. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. In 2001, during a civil conflict, the economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty.
Growth barely recovered in 2002 to 0.9%, then averaged 4% per year during 2003-07, expanding to 5.1% in 2007. 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 nearly 35%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP, that is not captured by official statistics.
Industries
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals
Exchange rates
Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 44.732 (2007), 48.978 (2006), 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- competition from the mobile-cellular segment of the telecommunications market has led to a drop in fixed-line telephone subscriptions
- domestic:
- combined fixed line and mobile telephone density approaching 100 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 389 (2007)
Transportation
6 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Military
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV), Special Operations Regiment (2007)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV), Special Operations Regiment (2007)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Macedonia.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/north-macedonia/2008.