North Macedonia
Republic of MacedoniaRepublika Makedonija
parliamentary democracy
North Macedonia as the 2012 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 155 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. 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 133 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.
Geography
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
20 fieldsLand useshare of 25,713 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 and Society
30 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2012 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2002 census)
Religions(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)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.08 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.08 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.75 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Government
Parliamentary democracy; President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009); Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Assembly or Sobranie, 123 seats, elected 5 June 2011one 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, 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
Independence
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006)
- cabinet:
- ; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- 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
- Supreme Court;
- Constitutional Court;
- Judicial Council
note: the Judicial Council appoints all basic, appellate, and supreme court judges; Legislative Assembly appoints Constitutional Court Judges
Political parties and leaders
- Albanian Democratic Union or BDSh [Bardhyl MAHMUTI];
- Democratic League of Bosniaks in Macedonia [Rafet MUMINOVIC];
- Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia or DPSM [Ivan STOILJKOVIC];
- Democratic Party of the Albanians or PDSh [Menduh THACI];
- Democratic Party of Turks of Macedonia or DPTM [Kenan HASIPI];
- Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM [Liljana POPOVSKA];
- Democratic Union or DS [Pavle TRAJANOV];
- Democratic Union for Integration or BDI [Ali AHMETI];
- Dosoinstvo (Diginity) [Stojance ANGELOV];
- Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI];
- Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI];
- Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Andrej ZENOVSKI];
- Liberal Party of Macedonia or LP [Ivon VELICKOVSKI];
- Movement for Turkish National Union [Erdogan SARAC];
- National Democratic Revival or RDK [Rufi OSMANI];
- New Democracy or ND [Imer SELMANI];
- New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI];
- Party for Democratic Action of Macedonia or SDA [Avdija PEPIC];
- Party for the Total Emancipation of Roma or PCER [Samka IBRAIMOVSKI];
- Party of United Democrats of Macedonia or PODEM [Zivko JANKULOVSKI];
- Party on European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI];
- Serbian Progressive Party in Macedonia or SPSM [Dragisha MILETIC];
- Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI];
- Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVNAOV DZINGO];
- Union of Roma of Macedonia or SR [Amdi BAJRAM];
- United for Macedonia or OM [Ljube BOSKOSKI]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Federation of Free Trade Unions [Rasko MISHKOSKI];
- Federation of Trade Unions [Zivko MITREVSKI];
- Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture [Yakim NEDELKOV]
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
- 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:
- Southfield (Michigan), Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Paul D. WOHLERS
- embassy:
- Str. Samolilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje
- mailing address:
- American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
- telephone:
- [389] (2) 310-2000
- FAX:
- [389] (2) 310-2499
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 anthem
- name:
- "Denes Nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia)
- 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
Economy
Macedonia is vulnerable to economic developments in Europe - due to strong banking and trade ties - and dependent on regional integration and progress toward EU membership for continued economic growth.
39 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2012 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Economy - overview
Macedonia is vulnerable to economic developments in Europe - due to strong banking and 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 remains high at more than 31%, 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, lowered credit availability, 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.
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, from 2010 to 2012, and inflation was under control.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
44.2 (2008) · 39 (2003) country comparison to the world: 47
Public debt
27.3% of GDP (2012 est.) · 28.7% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 note: data cover Central Government debt
Central bank discount rate
4% (31 December 2011 est.) · 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 note: series discontinued in January 2010; the discount rate has been replaced by a referent rate for calculating the penalty rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
8.8% (31 December 2012 est.) · 8.87% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Stock of narrow money
$1.335 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $1.29 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Stock of broad money
$5.415 billion (31 December 2011 est.) · $5.076 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Stock of domestic credit
$4.487 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $4.418 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Current account balance
-$242 million (2012 est.) · -$273.5 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 83
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.698 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $2.677 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Debt - external
$6.74 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $6.727 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$4.036 billion (31 December 2011 est.) · $3.739 billion (31 October 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$NA (31 December 2011); $564 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates
Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 48.1 (2012 est.) · 44.231 (2011 est.) · 46.485 (2010 est.) · 44.1 (2009) · 41.414 (2008)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 1.54 million kW(2009 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
8.231 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Communications
7 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-cellular telephone subscribership about 130 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 389 (2011)
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 (2010)
Transportation
6 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV); Logistic Support Command; Training Command (2010)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
- Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM):
- Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV);
- Logistic Support Command;
- Training Command (2010)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 (2011)
Transnational Issues
2 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 2012. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/north-macedonia/2012.