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Background:
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 International
recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (F.Y.R.O.M.)
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, despite continued disagreement over F.Y.R.O.M.'s
use of "Macedonia." F.Y.R.O.M.'s large Albanian
minority, an ethnic Albanian armed insurgency in F.Y.R.O.M. in
2001, and the status of neighboring Kosovo continue to be
sources of ethnic tension. |
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Location:
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Southeastern
Europe, north of Greece |
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Geographic coordinates:
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41 50 N, 22 00 E |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total:
25,333 sq km
water: 477 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger
than Vermont |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 766
km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km,
Greece 246 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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warm, dry summers
and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall |
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Terrain:
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mountainous
territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large
lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by
the Vardar River |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,753 m |
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Natural resources:
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low-grade iron
ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel,
tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land:
23.59%
permanent crops: 1.85%
other: 74.56% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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550 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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high seismic
risks |
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Environment - current issues:
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air pollution
from metallurgical plants |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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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Geography - note:
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landlocked; major
transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to
Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe |
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Population:
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2,071,210 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
21.5% (male 231,078; female 213,906)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 707,298; female 696,830)
65 years and over: 10.7% (male 97,437; female 124,661)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
32.8 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 33.9 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.39% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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13.14
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.83 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-1.45 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
11.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 12.67 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 74.73 years
male: 72.45 years
female: 77.2 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 100
(1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100
(2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Macedonian 64.2%,
Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.8%, Roma 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.3%
(2002) |
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Religions:
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Macedonian
Orthodox 70%, Muslim 29%, other 1% |
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Languages:
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Macedonian 68%,
Albanian 25%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 2%, other 2% |
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Literacy:
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definition:
NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA% |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija
abbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M.
local short form: Makedonija |
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Government type:
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parliamentary
democracy |
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Capital:
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Skopje |
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Administrative divisions:
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123
municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aracinovo, Bac,
Belcista, Berovo, Bistrica, Bitola, Blatec, Bogdanci, Bogomila,
Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Cair (Skopje), Capari, Caska,
Cegrane, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo,
Debar, Delcevo, Delogozdi, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija,
Dobrusevo, Dolna Banjica, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Skopje),
Drugovo, Dzepciste, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gostivar,
Gradsko, Ilinden, Izvor, Jegunovce, Kamenjane, Karbinci,
Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda (Skopje),
Klecevce, Kocani, Konce, Kondovo, Konopiste, Kosel, Kratovo,
Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kuklis, Kukurecani,
Kumanovo, Labunista, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Lukovo, Makedonska
Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovi Anovi, Meseista, Miravci,
Mogila, Murtino, Negotino, Negotino-Polosko, Novaci, Novo Selo,
Oblesevo, Ohrid, Orasac, Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec,
Plasnica, Podares, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen,
Rosoman, Rostusa, Samokov, Saraj, Sipkovica, Sopiste,
Sopotnica, Srbinovo, Star Dojran, Staravina, Staro Nagoricane,
Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje),
Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Topolcani, Valandovo, Vasilevo,
Velesta, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vitoliste, Vranestica,
Vrapciste, Vratnica, Vrutok, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zeleno, Zitose,
Zletovo, Zrnovci
note: the seven municipalities followed by Skopje in
parentheses collectively constitute "greater Skopje" |
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Independence:
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8 September 1991
referendum by registered voters endorsing independence (from
Yugoslavia) |
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National holiday:
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Uprising Day, 2
August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's Day and
Ilinden |
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Constitution:
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adopted 17
November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
note: in November of 2001, the Macedonian Assembly
approved a series of new constitutional amendments
strengthening minority rights |
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Legal system:
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based on civil
law system; judicial review of legislative acts |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: Acting President Ljupco JORDANOVSKI (since 26
February 2004); note - Boris TRAJKOVSKI was killed in a plane
crash 26 February 2004; Parliament Speaker Ljupco JORDANOVSKI
is acting president
head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI
(since 1 November 2002)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; election last held (first round) 14 April 2004
(second round) 28 April 2004 (next to be held NA April 2009);
prime minister elected by the Assembly; election last held 1
November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president
on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI
62.7%, Sasko KEDEV 37.3%; Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected prime
minister by the Assembly with 72% of the vote
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 SDSM, LDP,
and DUI (or BDI) |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral
Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - 85 members are elected by
popular vote, 35 members come from lists of candidates
submitted by parties based on the percentage that a party
gains from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - Together for Macedonia coalition (SDSM and LDP) 60,
VMRO-DPMNE 33, Democratic Union for Integration 16, Democratic
Party of Albanians 7, Party for Democratic Prosperity 2,
National Democratic Party 1, Socialist Party of Macedonia 1
elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held
NA 2006) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court -
the Assembly appoints the judges; Constitutional Court - the
Assembly appoints the judges; Republican Judicial Council -
the Assembly appoints the judges |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic
Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic
Union for Integration or DUI (also BDI) [Ali AHMETI];
Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH [Arben XHAFERI,
president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or
VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian
Revolutionary Organization-True Macedonian Reform Option or
VMRO-VMRO [Boris ZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal Macedonian
Revolutionary Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV];
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan
ANDOV]; National Democratic Party or PDK [Basri HALITI]; Party
for Democratic Prosperity or PPD [Abdulmenaf BEXHETI]; Social
Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI,
president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav
IVANOV, president]; Together for Macedonia coalition
(including the SDSM and LDP) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Union of
Romanies of Macedonia or SRM [leader NA] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV
chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington,
DC 20007
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3063 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Lawrence Edward BUTLER
embassy: Bul. Ilinden bb, 91000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of
State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 2 311-6180
FAX: [389] 2 311-7103 |
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Economy - overview:
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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 center and eliminated advantages
from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of
infrastructure, UN sanctions on Yugoslavia, one of its largest
markets, 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. However, the leadership's commitment to economic reform,
free trade, and regional integration was undermined by the
ethnic Albanian insurgency of 2001. 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
rose to 2.8% in 2003. Unemployment at one-third of the
workforce remains the most critical economic problem. The gray
economy is estimated at around 40% of GDP. Politically, the
country is more stable than in 2002. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $13.81 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.8% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $6,700 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
9.9%
industry: 25.3%
services: 64.8% (2003 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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30.2% (2002 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.2% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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860,000 (2003
est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA%,
industry NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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36.7% (2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$1.03 billion
expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital
expenditures of $80 million $NA (2003 est.) |
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Industries:
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coal, metallic
chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products,
tobacco, food processing, buses, steel |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3% (2003 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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6.465 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
83.7%
hydro: 16.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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6.112 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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20,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rice, tobacco,
wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus,
vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton |
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Exports:
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$1.346 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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food, beverages,
tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel |
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 27.4%,
Italy 13.2%, US 9.5%, Croatia 7.9%, Greece 6.6%, Netherlands
5.6% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$2.184 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and
equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products |
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Imports - partners:
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Greece 18.2%,
Germany 13.6%, Yugoslavia 8.6%, Slovenia 8.4%, Bulgaria 7%,
Italy 6.4%, Turkey 5.6% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.7 billion
(2003 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$250 million
(2003 est.) |
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Currency:
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Macedonian denar
(MKD) |
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Currency code:
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MKD |
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Exchange rates:
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Macedonian denars
per US dollar - NA (2003), 64.35 (2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9
(2000), 56.9 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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560,000 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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365,300 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 389 |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 29, FM 20,
shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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31 (plus 166
repeaters) (1995) |
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Internet country code:
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.mk |
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Internet hosts:
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3,167 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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100,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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total: 699
km
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km
electrified) (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
8,684 km
paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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note: lake
transport only, on the Greek and Albanian borders |
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Pipelines:
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gas 268 km; oil
120 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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none |
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Airports:
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17 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army of the
Republic of Macedonia (ARM; including Air and Air Defense
Command) |
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Military manpower - military age:
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19 years of age
(2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 555,611 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 448,095 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males:
17,595 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$200 million
(FY01/02 est.) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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6% (FY01/02 est.) |
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Disputes - international:
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the Albanian
government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic
Albanians in F.Y.R.O.M. while continuing to seek regional
cooperation; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo resist demarcation of
the F.Y.R.O.M.-Serbia and Montenegro boundary in accordance
with the 2000 delimitation treaty, which transfered a small
amount of land to F.Y.R.O.M.; dispute with Greece over
country's name persists |
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Illicit drugs:
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major
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for
Europe; although most criminal activity is thought to be
domestic and not a financial center, money laundering is a
problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak
enforcement (no arrests or prosecutions for money laundering
to date) |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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