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Macedonia
Background:
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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. 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 Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the
fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of
minorities. Fully implementing 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.
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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: 25,713
sq km
49
land:
25,433 sq km
water:
280 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,
Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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Current Weather
warm, dry summers and
autumns; 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) 2,764 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: 22.01%
permanent crops:
1.79%
other:
76.2% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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550 sq km (2003)
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Total
renewable water resources:
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6.4 cu km (2001)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 2.27
per capita:
1,118 cu m/yr (2000)
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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, 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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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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2,072,086 (July 2010 est.)
43
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 18.8%
(male 202,149/female 187,801)
15-64 years:
69.7% (male 728,036/female 715,357)
65 years and over:
11.5% (male 103,327/female 135,416) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 35.4
years
male:
34.4 years
female:
36.5 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.257% (2010 est.)
6
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Birth rate:
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11.92 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
66
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Death rate:
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8.87 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-0.48 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
08
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 67%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.077
male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.76 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 8.76
deaths/1,000 live births
59
male:
8.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
8.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 74.92
years
male:
72.4 years
female:
77.64 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.58 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
9
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2007
est.)
46
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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fewer than 200 (2007
est.)
59
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 100 (2003
est.)
38
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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 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2%
(2002 census)
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Religions:
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Macedonian Orthodox
64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63%
(2002 census)
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Languages:
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Macedonian 66.5%,
Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002
census)
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.1%
male:
98.2%
female:
94.1% (2002 census)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 12
years
male:
12 years
female:
12 years (2005)
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Education expenditures:
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3.5% of GDP (2002)
29
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Country name:
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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
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy
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Capital:
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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
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Administrative divisions:
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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
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Independence:
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8 September 1991
(referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
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National holiday:
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Ilinden Uprising Day, 2
August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's Day
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Constitution:
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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
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Legal system:
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based on civil law
system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal
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Executive branch:
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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/DUI, and several small
parties
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
election results:
Gjorge IVANOV elected president on second-round
ballot; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV 63.1%, Ljubomir FRCKOSKI 36.9%
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Legislative branch:
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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; members serve four-year terms)
elections:
last held on 1 June and 15 June 2008 (next to be
held by July 2012)
election results:
percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block
49%, SDSM-led block 24%, BDI/DUI 13%, PDSh/DPA 8%, other 6%; seats by
party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 63, SDSM-led block 27, BDI/DUI 18, PDSh/DPA
11, PEI 1
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court;
Constitutional Court; Republican Judicial Council
note:
the Assembly appoints the judges
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic Alliance or DS
[Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia [Ivan
STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of the Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh
THACI]; Democratic Party of Turks in Macedonia [Kenan HASIPI];
Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Liberal
Democratic Party or LDP [Jovan MANSIJEVSKI]; Liberal Party [Borce
STOJANOVSKI]; Movement for Reconstruction of Macedonia or DOM [Liljana
POPOVSKA]; New Alternative [Gjorgji OROVCANEC]; New Democracy or DR
[Imer SELMANI]; New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI];
Party for Democratic Action in Macedonia or SDAM [Avdija PEPIC]; Party
for European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Social-Democratic Union of
Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Socialist Party or SP [Ljubisav
IVANOV-ZINGO]; The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonia or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola
GRUEVSKI]; Union of Roma of Macedonia [Amdi BAJRAM]; United for
Macedonia or OM [Ljube BOSKOVSKI]; VMRO-Macedonian [Borislav STOJMENOV]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Federation of Free Trade
Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of Trade Unions [Vanco
MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture [Dojcin
CVETANOSKI]
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International organization participation:
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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, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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:
Southfield (Michigan), Chicago
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Philip T. REEKER
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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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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Having a small, open economy makes
Macedonia vulnerable to economic developments in Europe 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 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 averaged 4% per year during 2003-06 and more than 5% per year
during 2007-08. 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 32%, but
may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market,
estimated to be more than 20% of GDP, that is not captured by official
statistics. In the wake of the global economic downturn, Macedonia has
experienced decreased foreign direct investment, lowered credit, and a
large trade deficit, but the financial system remained sound.
Macroeconomic stability was maintained by a prudent monetary policy,
which kept the domestic currency at the pegged level against the euro,
at the expense of raising interest rates. As a result, GDP fell in 2009.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$18.77 billion (2009
est.)
26
$19.05
billion (2008 est.)
$18.09
billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
Macedonia
has a large informal sector
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$8.929 billion (2009
est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-1.5% (2009 est.)
34
5%
(2008 est.)
5.9%
(2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$9,000 (2009 est.)
12
$9,200
(2008 est.)
$8,800
(2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 12.1%
industry:
29.5%
services:
58.4% (2009 est.)
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Labor force:
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929,000 (2009 est.)
45
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: 18.6%
industry:
29.5%
services:
51.9% (September 2009)
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Unemployment rate:
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32.2% (2009 est.)
81
33.8%
(2008 est.)
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Population
below poverty line:
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28.7% (2008)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%:
29.6% (2003)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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39 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 68
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Investment (gross fixed):
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21.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $2.914
billion
expenditures:
$3.161 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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32.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
28.7%
of GDP (2008)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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-0.8% (2009 est.)
8.3%
(2008 est.)
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Central bank
discount rate:
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6.5% (31 December 2009)
6.5%
(31 December 2008)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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9.33% (31 December 2009)
9.68%
(31 December 2008)
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Stock of money:
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$1.224 billion (31
December 2009)
07
$1.307
billion (31 December 2008)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$3.132 billion (31
December 2009)
$3.254
billion (31 December 2008)
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Stock of
domestic credit:
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$4.143 billion (31
December 2009)
$3.906
billion (31 December 2008)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$2.859 billion (31
December 2009)
01
$823.5
million (31 December 2008)
$2.715
billion (31 December 2007)
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Agriculture - products:
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grapes, tobacco,
vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs
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Industries:
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food processing,
beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy,
pharmaceuticals
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-7.7% (2009 est.)
32
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Electricity -
production:
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6.162 billion kWh (2009
est.)
05
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Electricity -
consumption:
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7.797 billion kWh (2009
est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2009 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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1.635 billion kWh (2009
est.)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
68
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Oil - consumption:
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14,200 bbl/day (2009
est.)
38
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Oil - exports:
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4,672 bbl/day (2009 est.)
08
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Oil - imports:
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20,000 bbl/day (2009
est.)
13
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2009
est.)
42
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Natural gas -
production:
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0 cu m (2009 est.)
51
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Natural gas -
consumption:
|
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80 million cu m (2009
est.)
05
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2009 est.)
59
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Natural gas - imports:
|
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82 million cu m (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2009
est.)
64
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Current account balance:
|
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-$646 million (2009 est.)
20
-$1.21
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$2.687 billion (2009
est.)
23
$3.971
billion (2008 est.)
|
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Exports - commodities:
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food, beverages, tobacco;
textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
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Exports - partners:
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Serbia and Montenegro
20.1%, Germany 15.1%, Greece 12.3%, Bulgaria 9.9%, Italy 8.7%, Croatia
6.4% (2008)
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Imports:
|
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$4.844 billion (2009
est.)
10
$6.523
billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment,
automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 13.2%, Greece
12.3%, Bulgaria 9.8%, Serbia and Montenegro 6.9%, Italy 6.2%, Turkey
5.6%, Slovenia 5.2%, Poland 4.3% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
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$2.292 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
09
$2.109
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
|
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Debt - external:
|
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$5.458 billion (31
September 2009 est.)
$4.658
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
|
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
|
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$3.528 billion (31
October 2009 est.)
$3.357
billion (2007 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
|
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$NA
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Exchange rates:
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Macedonian denars (MKD)
per US dollar - 45.129 (2009), 41.414 (2008), 44.732 (2007), 48.978
(2006), 48.92 (2005)
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| Communications
::Macedonia |
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
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457,100 (2008)
02
|
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
|
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2.502 million (2008)
16
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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 approaching 150 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 389 (2008)
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Radio broadcast stations:
|
|
AM 1, FM 68, shortwave 0
(2009)
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Television
broadcast stations:
|
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76 (2009)
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Internet country code:
|
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.mk
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Internet hosts:
|
|
57,763 (2009)
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Internet users:
|
|
847,900 (2008)
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| Transportation
::Macedonia |
Airports:
|
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14 (2009)
51
|
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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 (2009)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
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total: 4
914 to 1,523 m:
1
under 914 m:
3 (2009)
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Pipelines:
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gas 268 km; oil 120 km
(2009)
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Railways:
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total: 699
km
05
standard gauge:
699 km 1.435-m gauge (234 km electrified) (2009)
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Roadways:
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total: 13,182
km (includes 208 km of expressways) (2002)
27
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Military branches:
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|
Army of the Republic of Macedonia
(ARM): Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko
Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV); Special Operations Regiment; Logistic
Support Command; Training Command (2010)
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|
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
|
18 years of age for
voluntary military service; no conscription (2007)
|
|
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
|
males age 16-49: 530,966
females age 16-49:
511,534 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
|
males age 16-49: 442,953
females age 16-49:
425,981 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
|
|
male: 15,338
female:
14,445 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures:
|
|
6% of GDP (2005 est.)
0
|
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| Transnational Issues
::Macedonia |
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
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
|
|
IDPs: fewer
than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2007)
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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
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