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. The undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement, and a weak economy continue to be challenges for Macedonia.
Location
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total
25,333 sq km
land
24,856 sq km
water
477 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries
total
766 km
border countries
Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Serbia 221 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain
mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Vardar River 50 m
highest point
Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m
Natural resources
low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use
arable land
22.01%
permanent crops
1.79%
other
76.2% (2005)
Irrigated land
550 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
high seismic risks
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
Geography - note
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
Population
2,055,915 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
19.8% (male 210,418/female 195,884)
15-64 years
69.1% (male 715,997/female 704,739)
65 years and over
11.1% (male 99,892/female 128,985) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
34.4 years
male
33.5 years
female
35.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.263% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
12.02 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.074 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.016 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.774 male(s)/female
total population
0.997 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
9.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male
9.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female
9.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
74.21 years
male
71.73 years
female
76.88 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.57 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality
noun
Macedonian(s)
adjective
Macedonian
Ethnic groups
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
Religions
Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)
Languages
Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
96.1%
male
98.2%
female
94.1% (2002 census)
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 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
former
People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Capital
name
Skopje
geographic coordinates
41 59 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
85 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, Debartsa, 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 Rastusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), 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 ten municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses collectively constitute the larger Skopje Municipality
Independence
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday
Ilinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's Day
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 July 2006 (next to be held by July 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE 33%, SDSM 22%, BDI/DUI 12%, PDSh/DPA 7%, NSDP 6%, VMRO-Narodna 6%, other 14%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE 45, SDSM 32, BDI/DUI 17, PDSh/DPA 11, NSDP 7, VMRO-Narodna 6, other 2
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 the Bosniaks [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Arben XHAFERI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia [Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [Mitko KOSTOV]; Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; 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 [Vesna JANEVSKA]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National Alternative [Harun ALIU]; National Democratic Party-New Democratic Forces or PDK-FRO [Hysni SHAQIR]; New Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Future [Alajdin DEMIRI]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Party for European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Radmila SEKERINSKA]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO]; Union of Romas or SR [Saliu SHABAN]; 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]; World Macedonian Congress [Todor PETROV]
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
Flag description
a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field
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. However, the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, and regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian insurgency of 2001. 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 2003-06. Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it has lagged the region in attracting foreign investment, and job growth has been anemic. Macedonia has an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP, that falls outside official statistics.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$16.94 billion
note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$6.225 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$8,300 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
9%
industry
29%
services
62% (2006 est.)
Labor force
899,000 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
21.7%
industry
32.6%
services
45.7% (September 2006)
Unemployment rate
36% (September 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
30% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index
28.2 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
9.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$2.234 billion
expenditures
$2.284 billion; including capital expenditures of $24 million (2006 est.)
food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners
Serbia and Montenegro 23.2%, Germany 15.6%, Greece 15.1%, Italy 9.9%, Bulgaria 5.4%, Croatia 5.2% (2006)
Imports
$3.631 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products
Imports - partners
Russia 15.1%, Germany 9.8%, Greece 8.5%, Serbia and Montenegro 7.5%, Bulgaria 6.7%, Italy 6% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.867 billion (November 2006)
Debt - external
$2.285 billion (November 2006)
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
Currency (code)
Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code
MKD
Exchange rates
Macedonian denars per US dollar - 48.978 (2006), 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003), 64.35 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
533,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
1.261 million (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
NA
domestic
NA
international
country code - 389
Radio broadcast stations
AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions
510,000 (1997)
Internet country code
.mk
Internet hosts
3,716 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
6 (2000)
Internet users
392,671 (2005)
Airports
17 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
10
2,438 to 3,047 m
2
under 914 m
8 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
7
914 to 1,523 m
3
under 914 m
4 (2006)
Pipelines
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2006)
Railways
total
699 km
standard gauge
699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways
total
8,684 km
paved
5,540 km
unpaved
3,144 km (1999)
Military branches
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV), Special Operations Regiment (2007)
Military service age and obligation
mandatory military service phased out by mid-2006; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
498,259
females age 18-49
481,317 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
411,156
females age 18-49
397,839 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
16,686
females age 18-49
15,664 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
6% (2005 est.)
Disputes - international
ethnic Albanians in Kosovo object to demarcation of the boundary with Serbia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia and Montenegro delimitation agreement; Greece continues to reject the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2006)
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
