North Macedonia

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 515,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.mk

Internet users

percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 439,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 1.98 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

chillies/peppers, milk, wheat, potatoes, grapes, barley, cabbages, maize, watermelons, tomatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 30.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $4.787 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $5.514 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance

-$374.385 million (2024 est.) $56.573 million (2023 est.) -$868.965 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$5.637 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

upper-middle-income European economy; GDP growth driven by private consumption, public infrastructure investments, and wage growth; stalled progress on EU accession; public debt rising due to high pensions, wages, and interest payments; structural challenges of emigration, low productivity growth, and governance

Exchange rates

Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 56.873 (2024 est.) 56.947 (2023 est.) 58.574 (2022 est.) 52.102 (2021 est.) 54.144 (2020 est.)

Exports

$10.445 billion (2024 est.) $10.691 billion (2023 est.) $10.123 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

reaction and catalytic products, insulated wire, electricity, garments, seats (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 39%, Serbia 8%, Bulgaria 6%, Greece 5%, Czechia 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.685 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 67.9% (2024 est.) government consumption: 16.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 28.4% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 62.7% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -75.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 6% (2024 est.) industry: 22.7% (2024 est.) services: 59.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

33.5 (2019 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9% (2019 est.) highest 10%: 22.9% (2019 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$12.644 billion (2024 est.) $12.748 billion (2023 est.) $13.009 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

platinum, refined petroleum, laboratory ceramic ware, cars, natural gas (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

UK 12%, Germany 10%, Greece 9%, China 9%, Serbia 8% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (2024 est.) 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)

3.5% (2024 est.) 9.4% (2023 est.) 14.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

779,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

21.8% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

39.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$43.844 billion (2024 est.) $42.668 billion (2023 est.) $41.801 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

2.8% (2024 est.) 2.1% (2023 est.) 2.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$24,500 (2024 est.) $23,300 (2023 est.) $22,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

2.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 3.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.252 billion (2024 est.) $5.015 billion (2023 est.) $4.12 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

17.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

13.5% (2024 est.) 13.2% (2023 est.) 14.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 30.3% (2024 est.) male: 29.2% (2024 est.) female: 32.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

production: 4 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 5.344 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 58,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 41,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 332 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 2.467 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 5.896 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 7.081 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 7.232 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 993.662 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 68.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 24% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

56.104 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 348.078 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 347.981 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

7.369 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.014 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 3.682 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 673,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

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

Environmental issues

air pollution from metallurgical plants, smoke from wood-burning stoves, and vehicle emissions

International environmental 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: 49.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 16.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 31.5% (2023 est.) forest: 40.9% (2023 est.) other: 9.5% (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

28.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

6.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 305.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 31.54 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 139 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 627,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.9% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 25,713 sq km land: 25,433 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

total: 838 km border countries (5): Albania 181 km; Bulgaria 162 km; Greece 234 km; Kosovo 160 km; Serbia 101 km

Land use

agricultural land: 49.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 16.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 31.5% (2023 est.) forest: 40.9% (2023 est.) other: 9.5% (2023 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

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 composed of 10 municipalities: Aerodrom, Butel, Centar, Chair, Gazi Baba, Gjorce Petrov, Karposh, Kisela Voda, Saraj, and Shuto Orizari

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 etymology: the name is of Illyrian or Macedonian origin, and the meaning is unclear; derives from Scupi, its name during the Roman era

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

history: several previous (since 1944); latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991 amendment process: 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

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of North Macedonia conventional short form: North Macedonia local long form: Republika Severna Makedonija local short form: Severna Makedonija former: Democratic Federal Macedonia, People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Macedonia etymology: the name derives from the ancient kingdom of Macedon (7th to 2nd centuries B.C.), whose name origin is unclear; it may derive from the mythological Macedon, the son of the Greek god Zeus; alternatively, it may come from the Greek word makednos , meaning "tail," or the Illyrian word maketia , meaning "cattle"

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Angela AGGELER (since 8 November 2022) embassy: Str. Samoilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje mailing address: 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 telephone: [389] (2) 310-2000 FAX: [389] (2) 310-2499 email address and website: SkopjeACS@state.gov https://mk.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran POPOV (since 16 September 2022) chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2104 email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.mk United States (mfa.gov.mk) consulate(s) general: Chicago, Detroit, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (since 12 May 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Hristijan MICKOSKI (since 23 June 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Assembly by simple majority vote election/appointment process: 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 valid; president elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the Assembly usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister most recent election date: 24 April and 8 May 2024 election results: 2024: Hristijan MICKOSKI elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 77 for, 22 against 2024: 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 expected date of next election: 2029

Flag

description: a red field with a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) in the center, with eight broadening rays extending to the edges meaning: the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

8 September 1991 (referendum 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: 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

legislature name: Assembly of the Republic (Sobranie) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 123 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 5/8/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Coalition "Your Macedonia" (led by VMRO-DPMNE) (58); Coalition "European Front" (led by the Democratic Union for Integration – DUI) (18); Coalition "For a European Future" (led by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia – SDSM) (18); Coalition VLEN (14); ZNAM (Movement "I know": For our Macedonia) (6); The Left (Levica) (6) percentage of women in chamber: 39.2% expected date of next election: May 2028

National anthem(s)

title: "Denes nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia) lyrics/music: Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI history: written in 1943 and adopted in 1991, the song previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, when it was part of Yugoslavia

National color(s)

red, yellow

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region; Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

eight-rayed sun

Political parties

Alliance for Albanians or AfA or ASH Alternative (Alternativa) or AAA Besa Movement or BESA Citizen Option for Macedonia or GROM Democratic Alliance or DS Democratic Movement or LD Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM Democratic Union for Integration or BDI European Democratic Party or PDE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP Liberal Democratic Party or LDP New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM Socialist Party of Macedonia or SPM Srpska Stranka in Macedonia or SSM The Left (Levica) The People Movement or LP Turkish 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

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.

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 (2025)

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 (2025) 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 military personnel (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is a mix of Russian/Soviet-era armaments and growing quantities of more modern equipment from countries such as T rkiye, the UK, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2007 (2025) note: as of 2024, women made up about 10% of the military's full-time personnel

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

total: 3.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

10.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 0.3% (2019) women married by age 18: 7.5% (2019)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.9% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

66.1% (2021 est.)

Death rate

9.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 46.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 23.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.2 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 97.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 97.8% of population (2022 est.) urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 2.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)

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: 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 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

8.5% of GDP (2021) 12.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6 deaths/1,000 live births

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: 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

total population: 77.3 years (2024 est.) male: 75.3 years female: 79.6 years

Literacy

female: 97.8% (2018 est.)

Major urban areas - population

611,000 SKOPJE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 40.9 years (2025 est.) male: 39.4 years female: 41.6 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.9 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian

Net migration rate

0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.4% (2016)

Physician density

2.94 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

total: 2,137,556 (2025 est.) male: 1,065,634 female: 1,071,922

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

0.08% (2025 est.)

Religions

Orthodox 46.1%, Islam 32.2%, Christian 13.2%, Other 7.2%; less than 1%: atheist, Catholic, other religions, not specified, Protestant (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years (2022 est.) male: 14 years (2022 est.) female: 15 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 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 total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.53 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 20,937 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 159 (2024 est.)

Airports

13 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Z3

Heliports

13 (2025)

Railways

total: 699 km (2020) 313 km electrified