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This page was last updated on 19 June 2008
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| Introduction | Macedonia | Top of Page

Background: | 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. Fully implementating the Framework Agreement and stimulating economic growth and development continue to be challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both fronts over the past several years.

| Geography | Macedonia | Top of Page

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, Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 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)
Total renewable water resources: | 6.4 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): | total: 2.27 per capita: 1,118 cu m/yr (2000)
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

| People | Macedonia | Top of Page

Population: | 2,061,315 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 19.5% (male 207,954/female 193,428) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 719,708/female 708,033) 65 years and over: 11.3% (male 101,036/female 131,156) (2008 est.)
Median age: | total: 34.8 years male: 33.8 years female: 35.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: | 0.262% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: | 12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: | 8.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: | -0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 74.45 years male: 71.95 years female: 77.13 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer 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)

| Government | Macedonia | Top of Page

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
Government type: | parliamentary democracy
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: | 84 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje), Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, 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 Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (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 10 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; 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 Bosniaks [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh THACI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia [Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Albanians or BDSh [BardYL MAHMUTI]; 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 [Gjorgji TRENDAFILOV]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Jovan MANSIEVSKI]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National Alternative [Harun ALIU]; National Democratic Union or BDK [Hysni SHAQIR]; New Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Party for European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Party of Free Democrats or PSD [Ljubco JORDANOVSKI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Radmila SEKERINSKA]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO]; Union of Romas or SR [Shaban SALIU]; 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]; Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]; World Macedonian Congress [Todor PETROV]
International organization participation: | BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131 consulate(s) general: New York, Southfield (Michigan); note - consulate general in Chicago is due to open in 2008
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje mailing address: 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 | Macedonia | Top of Page

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. In 2001, during a civil conflict, 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 2003-07, expanding to 5.1% in 2007. Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and creating jobs, despite making extensive fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment remains high at nearly 35%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP, that is not captured by official statistics.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $17.35 billion note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $7.497 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $8,500 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 11.9% industry: 28.2% services: 59.9% (2007 est.)
Labor force: | 890,000 (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 19.6% industry: 30.4% services: 50% (September 2007)
Unemployment rate: | 35% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 29.8% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 39 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.3% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 17.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $2.508 billion expenditures: $2.487 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: | 30.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products: | grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs
Industries: | food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: | 3.7% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production: | 6.051 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - consumption: | 8.651 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports: | 2.6 billion kWh (2007)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - consumption: | 21,700 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - exports: | 4,134 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: | 23,150 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2007)
Natural gas - consumption: | 102.8 million cu m (2007)
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2007)
Natural gas - imports: | 102.8 million cu m (2007)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance: | -$202 million (November 200
Exports: | $3.35 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities: | 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: | $4.977 billion f.o.b. (2007 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)
Economic aid - recipient: | $230.3 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $2.219 billion (31 December 2007)
Debt - external: | $3.967 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $2.405 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $NA
Market value of publicly traded shares: | $646 million (2005)
Currency (code): | Macedonian denar (MKD)
Exchange rates: | Macedonian denars per US dollar - 44.732 (2007), 48.978 (2006), 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

| Communications | Macedonia | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 490,900 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 1.417 million (2006)
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 telephone density exceeds 90 per 100 persons international: country code - 389
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 29, FM 63, shortwave 0 (2007)
Television broadcast stations: | 52 (2007)
Internet country code: | .mk
Internet hosts: | 6,001 (2007)
Internet users: | 268,000 (2006)

| Transportation | Macedonia | Top of Page

Airports: | 17 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2007)
Pipelines: | gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2007)
Railways: | total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (223 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways: | total: 13,182 km (includes 208 km of expressways) (2002)

| Military | Macedonia | Top of Page

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: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 532,856 females age 16-49: 513,684 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 444,693 females age 16-49: 428,341 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: | males age 16-49: 15,141 females age 16-49: 14,434 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 6% (2005 est.)

| Transnational Issues | Macedonia | Top of Page

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) (2007)
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

This page was last updated on 19 June 2008