North Macedonia
Republic of MacedoniaRepublika Makedonija
parliamentary democracy
North Macedonia as the 2014 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 162 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 US and over 130 other nations have recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an insurgency in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities.
Although Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005, the country still faces challenges, including fully implementing the Framework Agreement, improving relations with Bulgaria, carrying out democratic reforms, and stimulating economic growth and development. Macedonia's membership in NATO was blocked by Greece at the Alliance's Summit of Bucharest in 2008.
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
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 1.03 cu km/yr (21%/67%/12%)
- per capita:
- 502 cu m/yr (2007)
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
34 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2014 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2014 est.)
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
- 0-14 years:
- 1.07 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.07 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.99 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.75 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
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, 124 seats, elected 27 April 2014one 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
71 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); 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, Grad Skopje, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
Independence
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
Constitution
- several previous;
- latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991;
- amended several times, last in 2011 (2011)
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, DUI, 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 13 April 2014, second round held on 27 April 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 re-elected president in second-round;
- percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV 55.3%, Stevo PENDAROVSKI 41.1%;
- note - 13 April 2014 first round results - Gjorge IVANOV 51.7%, Stevo PENDAROVSKI 37.5%
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 the six domestic and three diaspora electoral districts; members serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 27 April 2014 (next to be held in April 2019)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE 43.0%, SDSM 25.3%, DUI 13.7%, DPA 5.9%, GROM 2.8%, NDR 1.6%, other 4.3%, invalid 3.4%;
- seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE 61, SDSM 34, DUI 19, DPA 7, GROM 1, NDR 2
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court (consist of NA 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 legislature for nonrenewable, 9-year terms
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts
Political parties and leaders
- Alliance for Positive Macedonia or APM [Ljupco ZIKOV]
- Citizens Option for Macedonia or GROM [Stevco JAKIMOVSKI]
- Democratic Party of Albanians or DPA [Menduh THACI]
- Democratic Union for Integration or DUI [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]
- National Democratic Revival or NDR [Rufi OSMANI]
- Party for a European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]
- Party for Democratic Prosperity [Abdyladi VEJSELI]
- Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Zoran ZAEV]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Federation of Free Trade Unions [Mirjana ANDREVSKA]
- Federation of Trade Unions [Zivko MITREVSKI]
- Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture [Jakim 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 (since 22 March 2007)
- chancery:
- 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 667-0501
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 667-2131
- consulate(s) general:
- Chicago, New York, Southfield (MI)
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Paul D. WOHLERS (since 11 August 2011)
- 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
Economy
Since its independence in 1991, Macedonia has made significant progress in liberalizing its economy and improving its business environment, but has lagged the Balkan region in attracting foreign investment.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2013 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
Since its independence in 1991, Macedonia has made significant progress in liberalizing its economy and improving its business environment, but has lagged the Balkan region in attracting foreign investment. Unemployment has remained consistently high at more than 30% since 2008, 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.
Macedonia’s economy is closely linked to Europe as a customer for exports and source of investment, and has suffered as a result of prolonged weakness in the euro zone. Macedonia maintained macroeconomic stability through the global financial crisis by conducting prudent monetary policy, which keeps the domestic currency pegged against the euro, and by limiting fiscal deficits.
The government has been loosening fiscal policy, however, and the budget deficit expanded to 4.2% of GDP in 2013. Macedonia achieved modest GDP growth in 2013 after a small contraction in 2012; inflation is under control.
Gross national saving
23.2% of GDP (2013 est.) · 24.7% of GDP (2012 est.) · 23.2% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Industries
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals
Distribution of family income - Gini index
39.2 (2011) · 43.2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 65
Public debt
34.3% of GDP (2013 est.) · 34.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 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, as well as intra-governmental debt; there are no debt instruments sold for social funds
Central bank discount rate
3.25% (31 December 2013 est.) · 3.75% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 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
6.4% (31 December 2013 est.) · 6.8% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Stock of narrow money
$1.57 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $1.414 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Stock of broad money
$6.286 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $5.708 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Stock of domestic credit
$5.211 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $4.681 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Current account balance
-$194.1 million (2013 est.) · -$385.2 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Exports - commodities
- food, beverages, tobacco;
- textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron, steel;
- automotive parts
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.747 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $2.891 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Debt - external
$7.451 billion (30 September 2013 est.) · $6.818 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$4.695 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $4.361 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Exchange rates
Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 46.398 (2013 est.) · 47.885 (2012 est.) · 46.485 (2010 est.) · 44.1 (2009) · 41.414 (2008)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 1.953 million kW(2013 est.)
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 (2012)
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 (2012)
Transportation
6 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM; includes General Staff and subordinate Joint Operational Command, Training and Doctrine Command, Special Operations Regiment) (2012)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM; includes General Staff and subordinate Joint Operational Command, Training and Doctrine Command, Special Operations Regiment) (2012)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 (2013)
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 2014. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/north-macedonia/2014.