Macedonia Population: 2,087,171
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| 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 United States and 133 other nations have recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. 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 ethnic Albanian population and led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. Fully implementing the Framework Agreement, maintaining momentum on democratic reforms, and stimulating economic growth and development continue to be challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made over the past several years. |
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| Geography | |
| Landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe | |
| Location: | Southeastern Europe, north of Greece |
| Geographic coordinates: | 41 50 N, 22 00 E |
| Area: | total: 25,713 sq km land: 25,433 sq km water: 280 sq km Size comparison: 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: | 1,280 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | high seismic risks |
| Current Environment Issues: | air pollution from metallurgical plants |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 2,087,171 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 17.9% (male 193,507/female 180,157) 15-24 years: 14.3% (male 154,084/female 144,908) 25-54 years: 43.8% (male 463,282/female 450,261) 55-64 years: 11.9% (male 121,097/female 127,742) 65 years and over: 12.1% (male 108,324/female 143,809) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 36.2 years male: 35.1 years female: 37.2 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.237% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 11.8 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8.95 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 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: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 8.32 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 75.36 years male: 72.82 years female: 78.1 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.59 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | fewer than 200 (2007 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 (official) 66.5%, Albanian (official) 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: 97.3% male: 98.7% female: 95.9% (2010 est.) |
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| Government | |
| 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, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Gjorce Petrov) (Skopje), Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, 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: | Independence Day, 8 September (1991); also known as National Day |
| Constitution: | adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001, 2005, and in 2009 note: amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights, in 2005 with amendments related to the judiciary, and in 2009 with amendments related to the threshold required to elect the president |
| Legal system: | civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| 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, BDI, and several small parties (For more information visit the World 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 22 March 2009, second round held on 5 April 2009 (next to be held in March 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 elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV 63.1%, Ljubomir FRCKOSKI 36.9% |
| 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 six electoral and three diaspora districts; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 5 June 2011 (next to be held by June 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 39%, SDSM-led block 32.8%, BDI 10.2%, PDSh 5.9%, other 12.1%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 56, SDSM-led block 42, BDI 15, PDSh 8, RDK 2 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Judicial Council note: the Judicial Council appoints all basic, appellate, and supreme court judges; Legislative Assembly appoints Constitutional Court Judges |
| Political parties and leaders: | Albanian Democratic Union or BDSh [Bardhyl MAHMUTI]; Democratic League of Bosniaks in Macedonia [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia or DPSM [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of the Albanians or PDSh [Menduh THACI]; Democratic Party of Turks of Macedonia or DPTM [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM [Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union or DS [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Union for Integration or BDI [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]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Andrej ZENOVSKI]; Liberal Party of Macedonia or LP [Ivon VELICKOVSKI]; Movement for Turkish National Union [Erdogan SARAC]; National Democratic Revival or RDK [Rufi OSMANI]; New Democracy or ND [Imer SELMANI]; New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Action of Macedonia or SDA [Avdija PEPIC]; Party for the Total Emancipation of Roma or PCER [Samka IBRAIMOVSKI]; Party of United Democrats of Macedonia or PODEM [Zivko JANKULOVSKI]; Party on European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Serbian Progressive Party in Macedonia or SPSM [Dragisha MILETIC]; Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVNAOV DZINGO]; Union of Roma of Macedonia or SR [Amdi BAJRAM]; United for Macedonia or OM [Ljube BOSKOSKI] |
| 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] |
| 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 |
| 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: Chicago, New York, Southfield (MI) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Paul D. WOHLERS 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 |
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| Economy | |
| Macedonia is vulnerable to economic developments in Europe - due to strong trade ties - and dependent on regional integration and progress toward EU membership for continued economic growth. 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 the Socialist Federal Republic 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. Since then, 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 more than 31%, 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. In the wake of the global economic downturn, Macedonia has experienced decreased foreign direct investment and a large trade deficit. However, as a result of conservative fiscal policies and a sound financial system, in 2010 the country credit rating improved slightly to BB+ and was kept at that level in 2011-12. However, macroeconomic stability has been maintained by a prudent monetary policy, which keeps the domestic currency pegged against the euro. As a result, GDP growth was modest, but positive at about 3% both in 2010 and 2011, and inflation was under control. The government loosened fiscal policy in 2012 and the budget deficit expanded to 3.7% of GDP. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $21.94 billion (2012 est.) $21.94 billion (2011 est.) $21.28 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars; Macedonia has a large informal sector that may not be reflected in these data |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $10.5 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 0% (2012 est.) 3.1% (2011) 2.9% (2010) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $10,700 (2012 est.) $10,600 (2011 est.) $10,300 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 9.6% industry: 27.3% services: 63.1% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 940,600 (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 16.7% industry: 26% services: 57.3% (September 2012) |
| Unemployment rate: | 31.3% (2012 est.) 31.4% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 30.4% (2011) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 34.5% (2009 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 43.2 (2009) 39 (2003) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (2012 est.) 3.9% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 26.7% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $2.884 billion expenditures: $3.255 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 27.3% of GDP (2012 est.) 28.7% of GDP (2011 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 |
| Agriculture - products: | grapes, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs |
| Industries: | food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 4% (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 5.81 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 7.25 billion kWh (2012 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 12.82 million kWh (2012 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 2.692 billion kWh (2012 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2012) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 136.6 million cu m (2011) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2012) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 136.6 million cu m (2012) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$323 million (2012 est.) -$273.5 million (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $4.002 billion (2012 est.) $4.455 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron, steel; automotive parts |
| Exports - partners: | Germany 28.1%, Italy 7.2%, Bulgaria 5.4%, Greece 4.9% (2011) |
| Imports: | $6.511 billion (2012 est.) $7.007 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products |
| Imports - partners: | Greece 14.2%, Germany 13.2%, Bulgaria 11.1%, UK 8%, Turkey 5.4%, Italy 5.4% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $2.891 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.677 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $6.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $6.27 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $4.284 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.229 billion (10 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $NA (31 December 2011) $564 million (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $2.423 billion (31 December 2012) $2.495 billion (31 December 2011) $2.647 billion (31 December 2010) |
| Exchange rates: | Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 47.885 (2012 est.) 44.231 (2011 est.) 46.485 (2010 est.) 44.1 (2009) 41.414 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 422,100 (2011) country comparison to the world: 104 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 2.213 million (2011) |
| 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .mk |
| Internet hosts: | 62,826 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 1.057 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 14 (2012) country comparison to the world: 151 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (234 km electrified) (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 13,736 km (includes 216 km of expressways) (2010) |
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| Military | |
| 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 service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 (2013) |
| 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.) |
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