North Macedonia

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)

Internet country code

.mk

Internet hosts

62,826 (2012) country comparison to the world: 92

Internet users

1.057 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 97

Telephone 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

407,900 (2012) country comparison to the world: 103

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.235 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 142

Agriculture - products

grapes, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs

Budget

revenues: $3.023 billion expenditures: $3.438 billion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Central bank discount rate

3.25% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 3.75% (31 December 2012 est.) note: series discontinued in January 2010; the discount rate has been replaced by a referent rate for calculating the penalty rate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.) country comparison to the world: 124 6.8% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$194.1 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 -$385.2 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$7.451 billion (30 September 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $6.818 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.2 (2011) country comparison to the world: 65 43.2 (2009)

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.

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)

Exports

$4.267 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 $4.002 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron, steel; automotive parts

Exports - partners

Germany 36.9%, Bulgaria 7.6%, Italy 6.5%, Kosovo 6.5%, Serbia 6.3%, Greece 5% (2012 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.65 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$22.57 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $21.89 billion (2012 est.) $21.98 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars; Macedonia has a large informal sector that may not be reflected in these data

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 77.5% government consumption: 15.3% investment in fixed capital: 22.5% investment in inventories: 3.1% exports of goods and services: 47.7% imports of goods and services: -66.1% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 10.2% industry: 27.5% services: 62.3% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,800 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $10,600 (2012 est.) $10,700 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 -0.4% (2012 est.) 2.9% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

23.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 24.7% of GDP (2012 est.) 23.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 34.5% (2009 est.)

Imports

$6.6 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $6.511 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products

Imports - partners

Great Britain 11%, Greece 10.6%, Germany 10.5%, Serbia 7.9%, Italy 6.5%, China 5.8%, Bulgaria 5.5%, Turkey 4.8% (2012 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Industries

food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 3.3% (2012 est.)

Labor force

960,700 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 18.8% industry: 27.5% services: 53.7% (31 September 2013)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.214 billion (31 December 2013) country comparison to the world: 89 $2.423 billion (31 December 2012) $2.495 billion (31 December 2011)

Population below poverty line

30.4% (2011)

Public debt

34.3% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 34.1% of GDP (2012 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, as well as intra-governmental debt; there are no debt instruments sold for social funds

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.747 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $2.891 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$6.286 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $5.708 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA $564 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$4.695 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $4.361 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$5.211 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 $4.681 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.57 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $1.414 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

30.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Unemployment rate

28.6% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 31% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6.947 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013) country comparison to the world: 152

Crude oil - imports

51,510 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est. est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity - consumption

6.989 billion kWh (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Electricity - exports

62.36 million kWh (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Electricity - from fossil fuels

66.4% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

33.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.4% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Electricity - imports

2.491 billion kWh (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.953 million kW (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Electricity - production

5.676 billion kWh (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Natural gas - consumption

158.6 million cu m (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013) country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - imports

158.6 million cu m (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013) country comparison to the world: 165

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Refined petroleum products - consumption

17,490 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Refined petroleum products - exports

6,750 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Refined petroleum products - imports

21,530 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Refined petroleum products - production

17,030 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Area

total: 25,713 sq km country comparison to the world: 150 land: 25,433 sq km water: 280 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Vermont

Climate

warm, dry summers and autumns; 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) 2,764 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.03 cu km/yr (21%/67%/12%) per capita: 502 cu m/yr (2007)

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

1,278 sq km (2004)

Land boundaries

total: 766 km border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km

Land use

arable land: 16.1% permanent crops: 1.36% other: 82.54% (2011)

Location

Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

6.4 cu km (2011)

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

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

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended several times, last in 2011 (2011)

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

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

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)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009) 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, DUI, and several small parties (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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%

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters 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), 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

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

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

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

National anthem

name: "Denes Nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

eight-rayed sun

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 532,196 females age 16-49: 511,964 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 443,843 females age 16-49: 426,251 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 16,144 female: 14,920 (2010 est.)

Military 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 expenditures

1.38% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 74 1.27% of GDP (2011) 1.38% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.7% (male 191,682/female 178,510) 15-24 years: 14.1% (male 151,901/female 142,679) 25-54 years: 43.8% (male 464,392/female 451,038) 55-64 years: 12.1% (male 123,272/female 129,081) 65 years and over: 12.1% (male 111,090/female 148,074) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

11.64 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 16,782 percentage: 6 % (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.8% (2005) country comparison to the world: 124

Death rate

9.04 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 41.2 % youth dependency ratio: 23.4 % elderly dependency ratio: 17.8 % potential support ratio: 5.6 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 98.8% of population total: 99.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 1.2% of population total: 0.6% of population (2012 est.)

Ethnic groups

Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Health expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 94

Hospital bed density

4.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 157 male: 8.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

Macedonian (official) 66.5%, Albanian (official) 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.8 years country comparison to the world: 89 male: 73.23 years female: 78.56 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.4% male: 98.7% female: 96% (2011 est.)

Major urban areas - population

SKOPJE (capital) 499,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

10 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 153

Median age

total: 36.8 years male: 35.7 years female: 37.9 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.2 (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian

Net migration rate

-0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.1% (2008) country comparison to the world: 92

Physicians density

2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

2,091,719 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Population growth rate

0.21% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Religions

Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 97.2% of population rural: 82.8% of population total: 91.4% of population unimproved: urban: 2.8% of population rural: 17.2% of population total: 8.6% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2010)

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.59 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 53.9% country comparison to the world: 4 male: 55.2% female: 51.7% (2012)

Urbanization

urban population: 59.3% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.33% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 905 (2012)

Airports

10 (2013) country comparison to the world: 155

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 6 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Pipelines

gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2013)

Railways

total: 699 km country comparison to the world: 100 standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (234 km electrified) (2012)

Roadways

total: 14,038 km (includes 259 km of expressways) country comparison to the world: 124 paved: 9,489 km unpaved: 4,549 km (2012)