North Macedonia

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

410,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic: NA international: NA

Telephones - main lines in use

407,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

136 (1997)

Televisions

510,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Budget

revenues: $1.06 billion expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $107 million (1996 est.)

Currency

1 Macedonian denar (MKD) = 100 deni

Debt - external

$1.7 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

Taiwan $10.5 million; EU $100 million to be split with Albania (1999)

Economy - overview

The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 deprived Macedonia, then its poorest republic, of key protected markets and large transfer payments from the center. Worker remittances and foreign aid have softened the subsequent volatile recovery period. Continued recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to attract investment, to redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro, and to maintain its commitment to economic liberalization. The economy can meet its basic food needs but depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts. Growth in 1999 was held down by the severe regional economic dislocations caused by the Kosovo conflict.

Electricity - consumption

6.198 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

6.664 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 85.37% hydro: 14.63% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates

denars per US$1 - 59.773 (January 2000), 56.902 (1999), 54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996), 37.882 (1995)

Exports

$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel

Exports - partners

Germany 21%, Serbia and Montenegro 18%, US 13%, Greece 7%, Italy 6% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.6 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 13% industry: 32% services: 55% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$1.56 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products

Imports - partners

Germany 13%, Serbia and Montenegro 13%, Slovenia 8%, Ukraine 6%, Italy 6% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

-2% (1999 est.)

Industries

coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (1999 est.)

Labor force

673,000 (1995 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

35% (1999 est.)

Area

total: 25,333 sq km land: 24,856 sq km water: 477 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Vermont

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Vardar River 50 m highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,753 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution from metallurgical plants

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

830 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 748 km border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)

Land use

arable land: 24% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 39% other: 10% (1993 est.)

Location

Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

high seismic risks

Natural resources

chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land

Terrain

mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River

Administrative divisions

34 counties (opstini, singular - opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica note: in September 1996, the Macedonian Assembly passed legislation changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123 new municipalities are as follows: Aracinovo, Bac, Belcista, Berovo, Bistrica, Bitola, Blatec, Bo Lukovo, Bogdanci, Bogomila, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Cair (Skopje), Capari, Caska, Cegrane, Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Delcevo, Delogozdi, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Djepiste, Dobrusevo, Dolna Banjica, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Izvor, Jegunovce, Kamenjane, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda (Skopje), Klecevce, Kocani, Konce, Kondovo, Konopiste, Kosel, Kratovo, Kriva Orasac, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kuklis, Kukurecani, Kumanovo, Labunista, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Lukovo, Mak. Brod, Mak. Kamenica, Mavrovi Anovi, Meseista, Miravci, Mogila, Murtino, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Oblesevo, Ohrid, Opstina Centar (Skopje), Orasac, Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnia, Podares, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rakovce, Resen, Rosoman, Rostusha, Samokov, Saraj, Sipkovica, Sopiste, Sopotnika, Srbinovo, Star Dojran, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Stravina, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Topolcani, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veleista, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vitoliste, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Vratnica Vrutok, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zileno, Zitose, Zletovo, Zrnovci

Capital

Skopje

Constitution

adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991 note: Democratic Party for Albanians (DPA), which is now a member party of the government, is calling for a rewrite of the constitution to declare ethnic Albanians a national group and allow for regional autonomy

Country name

conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: none local long form: Republika Makedonija local short form: Makedonija abbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M.

Data code

MK

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael EINIK embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 91000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] (91) 116-180 FAX: [389] (91) 117-103

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 337 3063 FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Boris TRAJKOVSKI (since 15 December 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30 November 1998) 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, DA, and DPA elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Boris TRAJKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Boris TRAJKOVSKI 52.4%, Tito PETKOVSKI 46.2%

Flag description

a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the red field

Government type

emerging democracy

Independence

17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

International organization participation

BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected by the Judicial Council

Legal system

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats - 85 members are elected by popular vote; 35 members come from lists of candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that parties gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms) elections: last held 18 October and 1 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE 49, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, LDP 4, Socialist Party 1, Roma Party 1

National holiday

8 September Independence Day

Political parties and leaders

Alliance of Romas [leader NA]; Alliance of Communists [leader NA]; Civic Liberal Party [leader NA]; Communist Party [leader NA]; Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic Party for Albanians or DPA [Arben XHAFERI, president]; Democratic Party of Macedonia or DPM [Tomislav STOJANOVSK-BOMBAJ]; Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM [Dragisa MILETIC]; Democratic Party of Turks or DPTM [Erdogan SARAC]; Democratic Progressive Party of Romas [leader NA]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljubcho GEORGIEVSKI, president]; Labor Party or LP [Krste JANKOVSKI]; League of Democracy [leader NA]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Movement for All Macedonian Action or MAAK [Straso ANGELOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Action-True Path [leader NA]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PDP [Abdurahman HALITI, president]; Party for the Complete Emancipation of Romas or PCER [Bajram BERAT]; Party of Pensioners of Macedonia [leader NA]; Republican Party for National Unity [leader NA]; Social Christian Party of Macedonia [leader NA]; Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM (former Communist Party) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president]; Social Democratic Party of Macedonia or SDPM [leader NA]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995, and the two countries agreed to normalize relations. FYROM's large Albanian minority and the de facto independence of neighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$77 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.5% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 545,852 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 440,287 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 17,942 (2000 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23% (male 248,400; female 230,091) 15-64 years: 67% (male 684,025; female 678,014) 65 years and over: 10% (male 89,539; female 111,398) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

13.73 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.69 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Macedonian 66.6%, Albanian 22.7%, Turkish 4%, Roma 2.2%, Serb 2.1%, other 2.4% (1994)

Infant mortality rate

13.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.79 years male: 71.58 years female: 76.19 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian

Net migration rate

-5.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

2,041,467 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.04% (2000 est.)

Religions

Macedonian Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.82 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

dispute with Greece over its name; the border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border has made no progress so far; Albanians in F.Y.R.O.M. claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government

Illicit drugs

increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

16 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 8,684 km paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,144 km (1997 est.)

Pipelines

10 km

Ports and harbors

none

Railways

total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) note: a new 56-km line is under construction to the Bulgarian border (1999)

Waterways

none, lake transport only